Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1949-07-29
Liberals Take
Offensive Against
Depression Threat
BY NATHAN ROBERTSON

WASHINGTON (LPA)-Ihe threat OF de-
preston has brought revival of New Deal
fervor in Washington revival which offers
the first real hope of economic reform legis-
lation in ten years
Evidence of the sudden change in mood has
accumulated rapidly within the past couple
of weeks. 1t included the Presidents economic
report to Congress demanding positive action
to avert depression; the even more New Deal
ish economic report by Robert Nathan, for the
CIO, outlining liberal program of action; the
Presidents fighting fireside chat to the nation;
and his whole-hearted endorsement of the
House monopoly investigation.
On Capital Hill the evidence has included
the passage, after years of delay, of the Ad-
ministration housing bill, revival of hopes for
action on the Brannan farm program, opening
of the monopoly investigation before Rep.
Celler's Judiciary Committee, approval by the
House of the rural telephone bill, and the in
PRODUCTION by bipartisan bloc in both houses
of broad legislation to avert depression and
turn the nation toward the goal of $500 bill
lion dollar economy.
Another strong evidence that the liberals
have taken the offensive was the conference of
labor and liberal groups under the leadership
of Americans for Democratic Action to rally
support behind the drive for legislation to re-
verse the economic trend. Nothing like this
has been seen in Washington for long time.
A mere listing of these development does
not tell the whole story Behind them is a new
spirit-a spirit that has not been in evidence
in Washington since before the war. For more
than 10 years now, the New Deal has been
dead. The last major economic reform passed
by Congress was the wage-hour law more than
10 years ago. Since then the executive and the
legislative branches of government have been
in constant conflict on domestic issues-a con-
flict that not only has blocked new reform
leglslation-but has hamstrung and dScour-
aged the liberal voices in the executive branch
of the government.
During this period of war and postwar in
hation, the Administrations of President
Roosevelt and Truman have fought a rear
guard battle to save the New Deal reforms
Any new gains were out of the queston-they
could only be talked about With the single
exception Of the full employment law-passed
early in l946 in modified form after bitter
conflict with Congress-the New Deal and
Fair Deal Presidents have done little more
than try to hold a conservative Congress in
check.
Even after President Truman's sweeping
victory last fall, and the election of a more
liberal Congress, the deadlock continued The
Southern Democratic Republican coalition in
Congress still had slight edge in votes. The
country was prosperous - more prosperous
than it had ever been before, despite some
obvious economic Embellishments that few
people outside of the economists could get
excited about Talk of further reform, no mat
ter how badly needed, fell on deaf ears as long
as this condition prevailed
But in recent months the country has noted
with increasing concern the signs of a down.
ward turn in the economy Unemployment has
doubled, and fears of being out of work
fears forgotten since before the war-have
arisen again, People have begun to wonder
once more whether these recurring depres-
u oil fhntF Eta
necessary. They have begun to question, once
again the shibboleths of big business
The change in mood in Washington. which
probably reflects change throughout the
country, is startling. Proposals which would
have been laughed at two months ago are be-
Ing seriously considered. Some of the Presi-
dents program which had been dtched, is now
back on the track. For the first time in 10
years there is a real chance to plug some of
The obvious loop-holes in the antitrust laws
and perhaps even in the tax laws.
Bills which Congress has been kicking
around for yearS-Such expansion of social
security, modernization of the wage hour law,
md tightening the laws against corporate mer-
'ers-now have chance. The economy drive
far less dangerous than it was The change
n Congress is not yet as evident as il is in
'ther quarters but it will be soon if the econ
'my continues to slide downward.
The tragic part of this is that hopes for
lew reform legislation hang on continued bad
news II the steps being taken now
o avert depression are successful if the tide
; turned, and prosperity returns before we
lide into needless depression, the conserva-
ives will get away with the same old cliches,
nd the same old arguments for status quo.
they probably will even claim the credit for
Iverting the epression-although at the mo-
nent they are fighting hard to block the meas
ires needed 10 do Just that