| Show Prevailing Opinions Opinio s 1 I Comment of the American Press B Beware w re of Re Reaction The Chamber of Commerce of the United States concludes its Washington conference by adoptIng adopting adopting adopt adopt- ing a of resolutions denouncing denouncing denouncing ing the new deal and opposing virtually vir vir- vir- vir every ever item on the administrations administration's administrations administration's adminis program Such a conclusion conclusion sion aba Is no surprise From the beginning beginning beginning be be- ginning o of their session these busness business business busi bus ness leaders were swayed b by the spirit of reaction Politically the hostile attitude of these business organizations may be helpful to the president The knowledge that big business is against it has frequently been the most effective help toward the enactment enactment en en- of legislation So perhaps Mr Roosevelt is to be congratulated ed upon the enemies he has made or at least because some of at those enemies are now out In the open At the same time it must be disturbing disturbing disturbing dis dis- dis- dis to the vast majority of the rood Americans who have no political ax to grind and who hold to none of the isms of the extremists to see sec this very nite cleavage between the national administration and the spokesmen for tor business For it is obviously a setback to the cooperation which should attend recovery As a member of the of middle the the-r the road majority the Plain Dealer views this mass attack upon the new deal by bl big business as both sighted short-sighted and dangerous to the security of the nation Ve We do not challenge the right of the leaders of business or of back back- ward lookers like G Governor vernor Allen to express themselves forcefully and fully But we do question the wisdom of big business in striving to undermine what is In reality its last bulwark against drastic social change and a possible destruction of the whole profit system This bulwark Is the Roosevelt recover recovery program a design for a better national national national na na- na- na living based upon moderation moderation modera modera- tion and the attainable If It the Roosevelt program fails the alternative alternative alter alter- native is certain to be something i far tar more unpalatable to tho those e who have the most interest in the preservation preservation preservation pres pres- of ot a democratic order based upon properly controlled capitalism For beyond the Roosevelt Roose Roese- velt bulwark are arc the millions who howl with Huey Hue Long who are arc swayed by th the economic sophistries of Father Coughlin and ond Dr Towns- Towns end If It these forces break down the Roosevelt bulwark It will be good bye for tor big business We have questioned the value of many administration measures especially es cs- cs- cs those concerning monetary monetary monetary mone mone- tary policy So it Is not with any thought of repression that we would urge business to think twice and especially to refresh its recollection recollection recollection lection of the last few years cars before before be be- fore it turns thumbs down on the new deal Its pleas picas for less government government gov Jov- In business is 15 fundamentally fundamentally fundamentally tally sound But it should remember remember ber that two years ago the same spokesmen who are denouncing d the new deal today were at the gates of ot Washington crying Save us lest we perish And for the love of Mike be quick about itt HI That plea was answered First aid was administered Business was given the shot In the arm it need need- ed cd Collapse was averted Then began a process of recovery It has been slow at times barely dis dis- dis ls- ls Frequently the progress upward might well be described as steady by jerks But It has stopped slopped the downward spiral brought a avast avast avast vast number of men and women back to the work stopped the despair de of a nation which two years ears ago had seemingly reached the point of being ing too sick to fight Today business belittles the need of building up reserve strength to guard against a possible re re- re- re lapse Dont bother about reform reform reform re re- re- re form ft argues lets have recover er cry ery Fine but It was that very lack of of- reform in th the sion years which plunged the patient pa pa- tlc tient t into the 1929 fever from which it has taken almost six years to recover If It the counsels of reaction prevail pre vail these necessary measures of long range protection will not be erected We might ride along for fora a few easy y years ars and then take a 1 cropper which would make the tumble of ot 1929 look like a toe stub dub Cleveland Plain Dealer realer |
