Evening Star Newspaper, September 11, 1936, Page 4

SN STAND DRAWS REPLY OF PARTIES Each Major Faction Has Its Own Interpretation of Action. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. The political effect of the Balti- more Sun’s declaration that “in this campaign it is unable to advocate the re-election of President Roosevelt” was assessed in politically minded ‘Washington today. Roosevelt supporters were quick to say that the Baltimore Sun, as set forth in its editorial today taking leave of the Democratic national ticket, has strongly and editorially opposea many of the Roosevelt policles and measures. They could not see, there- fore, that the definite announcement would be particularly effective. The Roosevelt opposition, however, took a great deal of encouragement, for the newspaper has been de- voted to the cause of Democracy and the Democratic party for 100 years, Its only previous splits with Democratic national tickets came in 1896 and 1908, when the newspaper failed to support the late William Jennings Bryan. In both these years, Maryland gave its electoral votes to the Republican candidates for Presi- dent. Four years ago the Sun sup- ported President Roosevelt, who car- ried the State 314,314 to 184,184, Landon Not Backed—Yet. Maryland this year is a battle- ground, with both the Republicans and the Democrats claiming advan- tage. From any point of view, it does not appear that the withdrawal of support by the Baltimore Sun can be considered an asset to the Roosevelt cause. The Sun has not yet announced its definite support of Gov. Alf M. Lan- don of Kansas, the Republican presi- dential candidate. However, after set- ting forth its own belief in a system of competitive capitalism, neither dominated by great private industries nor by the Government, the Sun uses this significant language: “Does Gov. Landon believe any of this? And does he believe that the fundamental policy to which the Gov- ernment should commit itself is a gen- uine competitive system, with suci lib~ eral adjustments in lower tariff poli- dces, in debt policies, in eredit policies, in currency stabilization policies, in law-enforcement policies and in labor policies as will promote the kind of competition that is healthy and real? In the Sun’s opinion, there is reason to believe that he does.” Willing to Give Support. ‘The Bun said that if Landon should Following is the text of the edi- torial in the Baltimore Sun, published today, stating iis position on Roose- velt’s candidacy for re-election: Within 60 days the people must make their choice in the presidential election. It is therefore incumbent upon those who undertake to address themselves to public opinion to give expression to their views. The Sun now states that in this campaign it is unable to advocate the re-election of President Roosevelt. This statement is made with regret. ‘We remember Mr. Roosevelt's courage in the black days of March, 1933. We respect his devotion to the cause of the unfortunate. We believe he has created in many citizens a new sense of civic duty. We admire him for the enemies he has made among pirates of high finance. Standing at the crossroads and looking back over three years, memories of gallantry arise in the mind and they make criticism an unpleasant task. But we cannot close our eyes to what we conceive to have been fundamental errors in Mr. Roosevelt’s policies. Economic Concepts Assailed. In April, 1933, Mr. Roosevelt began to turn away from the spirit and to a large extent the letter of his plat- form and from the spirit of his first acts as President. He inaugurated the New Deal and he based it upon vaguely formed and superficially con- sidered ideas of planned economy. These ideas were directed toward na- tionalistic limitation of economic life and toward overriding Federal con- trol of economic life within this Na- tion. The Sun was definitely op- posed to the concept and to the details. We opposed the President's gold policy, which was a part of the con- cept, and we think his later caution proved the wisdom of opposition. We opposed the silver policy. We oposed th: price-fixing, production-controlling national recovery act. We opposed A. A. A. and its plowing under of food products. We protested the truculent message with which Mr. Roosevelt in July, 1933, wrecked the World Eco- nomic Conference. Moreover, in those special under- takings in which Mr. Roosevelt has been right in purpose, it has been necessary to criticize practice. Relief, C. W. A. and W. P. A. have been extravagant. Unemployment insurance and old-age pensicns, which are necessary and long overdue, have been badly organized. T. V. A. has passed beyond the status of a power yard- stick at Muscle Shoals and threatens to become a Government octopus. And speak “in clear and bold terms,” a confession of faith in line with its own, 1t would support him, “no mat- ter what his prospects may be.” If the Republican candidate does not speak so clearly and boldly, then “the Bun intends to continue its fight for ideas that it believes to be sound and in the interest of the people, and will make the best of a situation in which it cannot advocate the election of either candidate.” Gov. Landon is to speak in Maine tomorrow night, winding up the cam- paign there-for the election of a Gov- ernor, a United States Senator and members of the House, It may be that in that address the Sun will find the assurance which it demands for the support of the Republican candi- date. The wide publication of the fact that the Baltimore Sun has deter- mined not to support the Roosevelt candidacy doubtless will have some effect in States other than Maryland, where so-called Jeffersonian Demo- crats already have organized to try to defeat the President. In Maryland it- self nearly 20,000 of them went to the polls in the Democratic primary last 8pring to vote for Col. Henry Breck- inridge, who entered for presidential preference against President Roosevelt, ‘The decision of The Sun is likely to help hold most of these voters in line against Roosevelt in the November election, and perhaps to attract others. Mrs. Whitman Switches. While the Republicans and anti- Roosevelt Democrats were taking sat- isfaction from the Baltimore Sun edi- torial, the Roosevelt New Dealers ‘were rejoicing in the fact that Mrs. Charles S. Whitman, wife of a for- mer Republican Governor of New ‘York, had announced she would sup= port Roosevelt. Mrs. Whitman said that she had talked the matter over with her husband, but would not comment on his attitude in any way in this matter. She has always voted the Republican ticket in the past. She was quoted as saying in New York: “I have always voted the straight Republican ticket without thinking very much about it. My change of political beliefs was crystallized by Joining a class for public speaking at the Women's Republican Club, where the literature handed me attacking the administration and on which I was supposed to base my speeches turned me definitely for Mr. Roose- velt. I found I could ‘not speak egainst him. “There may be criticism of the methods employed in the working out of his policies, but there can be none on the policies themselves. It seems to me this country has been waiting for them for a long time, and I think ‘we had better stick by them until they are made to work in good order. e STRONG MAN HELD IN MUIR KILLING Carnival Employe Quiszed by Po- lice—Justice Department Aid Asked. S By the Associated Press. in connection with the slaying of Miss Ruth Muir at La Jolla. Ledford admitted being in San Diego August 31, the day Miss Muir, River- side Y. W. C. A. secretary, was blud- ‘Vagrancy, offenses, Trainor said. ' In Riverside Representative Samuel A Tremendous Loyalty For Our Old Store ... J115 F Street, \ L CROSBY \ - ; - sterpite® Baltimore Sun Editorial Democratic Paper Declares It Is Unable to Advo- cate Re-election of Roosevelt. in legislating to regulate security mar- kets and holding companies, the in- nocent were jeopardized in pursuit of the guilty. In short, there has been little of an economic character in the admin- istration that the Sun has been able whole-heartedly to support, save the work of the step-child of the admin- istration, Cordell Hull. But opposition to Mr. Roosevelt does not mean support of Hooverism or of Old Guardism. In 1933 some of our readers seemed to be unable to understand how we could oppose Mr. Roosevelt’s hastily contrived schemes of planned economy without indorsing the course of the Harding- Coolidge-Hoover regime. They were wrong then in thinking there was no other alternative, and they will be wrong now if they think there is no alternative. We think this can be shown. The Sun stands for competitive cap- italism. It is the system which most effectively uproots the unfit, the un- worthy, the lazy. It is the system which gives place to the vigorous, the competent, the purposeful.” It is the system which constantly enlarges achievement. It is the system which carries technological advance to its rational conclusion of lower ptices and increased mass consumption. Even as distorted in recent periods it has produced in this country a degree of well-being which has never been equaled, and in that well-being all classes of men have shared. In the worst of depressions our store of resources has been such that we have been able to extend relief on a scale probably without precedent. ‘This system is not inconsistent with social responsibility. On the contrary, we have set the pace for the world in public education and in philanthiopy. Within this system modern iustru- ments for the relief of the unforiu- nate and the handicapped have been established and can be expanded. ‘Within this system labor may crgan- ize and exercise its rights to bargain collectively. Progressively wise distri- bution of wealth need not be an in- soluble problem, if we but persist in the policy which produces an abun- dant store of wealth to cistribute among the people. ‘This system of competition is, more- over, the protecticn of political liberty. It is the best protection for the ordi- nary citizen, the working man. In 1933 The Sun contended that planned economy could not ke effectual with- out such control over individuals as would negative liberty. It was not leng before N. R. A. made that fact ap- parent. Further proof is piled up each day in the planned economies, of the Right and of the Left, in Europe. ‘When government controls one'’s prop- erty, government controls une’s vote. It is the economic freedom of compe- titlon which guards political freedom. 1t is the economic freedom of competi- tion which gives the ordinary man his best defense against coercion. Holding these views, it s no more poss:ble for The Sun to give its support to Hooverism or ta Old Guardism than to give support to Rooseveltism. The period between 1920 and 1932 was & period in which private restraint upon competition became the rule and was fostered by the Government. Private control of production and private fix- ing of prices spread with scarcely a gesture of disapproval by the Govern- ment. On the contrary, tariff policies, debt policies, credit policies and law- enforcement policies supported the manipulators. ‘There is truth in the statement made by Newton D. Baker, Lewis W. Douglas and Leo Wolman that Mr. Roosevelt'’s efforts to regulate indus- try were but an extension of the poli- cies of the Harding-Coolidge-Hoover regime. The latter fostered monopo- lies at the expense of competitive capitalism, even while professing to be the guardian angel of capitalism. Mr. Roosevelt, instead of attacking the conditions he found, as his plat- form directed, accepted them, and at- tempted to regulate them from Wash- ington behind the alluring facade of planned economy. ‘This question now presents itself: ‘Where does Gov. Landon stand? Does he propose merely to take over what is left of the New Deal and to ad- minister it more economically? Does he propose to revert to Hooverism? Or does he stand for genuinely free com- petition? It can be argued, witn some effec- tiveness, that if he stands merely for economical administration of the New Deal, something would be gained by his election. If we are to go on with a program in which a Cordell Hull, who understands and serves the competi- tive system, is to be treated as a lonely stepchild, while the administration plays with schemes for direct or in- direct control of our daily affairs and pays subsidies in all directions, then it would be something to have a frugal, careful man in the White House. But we should recognize that his frugali« ties would be in pennies, not in dol- lars. The paternalistic bounty system feeds upon itself, as the farm bounties have shown. There is, in brief, little ground for enthusiasm over a merely frugal Roosevelt. For acceptance of such an alternative means acceptance of the essential fact of Rooseveltism and lim- its debate to shades of emphasis and administration. No effectual steps could be looked for to break down re- straints on trade. Enterprise would be undermined with consequent un- dermining of employment, as at pres- ent, and rellef charges would con- tinue to be a burden and a danger, as at present. Meantime, groups would A Thrillfng Ovation For Our New Store ... 414 7th Street, N.W. N.W. ® Come to Crosby’s ... a wonderland of style, where every new Fall idea is yours to choose from. You'll be amazed that $2 buys so much in quality . . . you'll be thrilled with the complete selection of materials and colors at this low price. & wl avery W T P i 414 7th Stredt, N.W. ¢ 115 F | t. N. W. & continue to appear wxth demands for subsidy in compensation for disad- vantages under which they labor be- cause of restraints on trade practiced by other groups with the Federal Government's connivance. Does Gov. Landon believe any of this? And does he believe that the fundamental.policy to which the Gov- ernment should commit itself is & genuine competitive system, with such liberal adjustments in lower tariff policles, in debt policies, in credit policies, in currency stabilization pol- icies, in law-enforcement polcies and in labor policies as will promote the kind of competition that is healthy and real? In the Sun's opinion, there is rea- son to believe that he does. His brief confession of faith at his birthplace pointed in that direction and there have been hints and indications in other speeches, as in certain of his acts before he became a candidate. But the fact remains that he has not taken & position in terms that com- mit him or his party. He has not taken a position in terms that would form the public support he will need if, being elected, he attempted to re- verse the whole system of rcstraints on trade—as practiced by Hoover or as practiced by Roosévelt—and sought to release the constructive energies of the free competitive system at home and abroad. Gov. Landon has not spoken in terms that bind him. It is stil possible for him to be another Roosevelt or another Hoover and to eat very few of his words. And, in the fallure thus far to speak in unequivocal terms in favor of a return to economic liberalism, he not only has failed to give the leadership that is required in domestic affairs. He also has failed to give the leader- ship that is required in our foreign relations. The accumulating threats of general war in Europe are a men- ace to our well-being. General war in Europe will create a vast popular demand for economic withdrawal to assure safety against military involve- ment. The cost of economic with- drawal would be staggering. There- fore, it is the part of self-intcrest to help restore order in Europe. But preaching will not help. Only by liberal economic policies, the freeing of trade and of finance and the re- lieving of economic tensions, can we help Europe and guard ourselves. Shall we have social responsibility? An emphatic yes. Shall we have old- age pensions? Yes. Shall we have unemployment insurance? Yes. Shall we guard the helpless, the unfortu- nate, the handicapped? Yes. But, as the sure foundation of it all, let us restore and preserve the system which produces in abundance the wealth with which we support both the for- tunate and the unfortunate. If Gov. Landon speaks in clear and bold terms, facing specific problems and taking his stand unequivocally on the side of this true economie lib- eralism, the Sun will support him, no matter what his prospects may be. If he does not speak in clear terms, the Sun intends to continue to fight for ideas that it believes to be sound and in the interest of the people, and No Deto urs) oncler Clothes come straight from maker to No “round about” way of doing business here. No middleman gets in the picture! No one blocks the road to saving you money! This ie a Factory-Store! We buy our own woolens direct from the mills. We get our trimmings. linings. materials. straight from the makers. We make every garment we sell, and the only way you can buy a Wonder Suit is in o Wonder Factory-Stoss! 4000 Newest FALL SUITS-TOPCOATS .50 100% All Wool NO CHARGE FOR ALTERATIONS! You'll find fabrics you never dreamed seeing with an $18.50 price tag. Hard finished worsteds . . . sturdy twists . . . rugged all tweec‘l PR of them wonderful long wearing woolens. Every new plaid. stripe. check and weave is color variety. and in short to 52 stout. here with plenty of size ranges from 32 Come in and see them---it's' hard to get over the idea of these fine clothes in a mere ad. Wonder Clo thes 1012F St. N.W. @ 611 7th St. N.W. Both Stores Open Late Saturday. wiil make the best of a situation in which it cannot advocate the election of either candidate. CHANGES POLITICS Mrs. Charles 8. Whitman Will Support Roosevelt. NEW YORK, September 11 () — Mrs. Charles 8. Whitmun, wife of the former Republican Governor of New York, prepared today to campaign in behalf of President Roosevelt. Mrs. Whitman, a lifelong Repub- ican, announced at Democratic Na- tional Headquarters yesterday, she would vote for the President in No- vember and would make several speeches for him during the cam- paign. She said her husband knew of her decision to change her party alle- glance. “He is very broadminded,” she said. U. S. BODY WARNS PAPER, ON “UNFAIR” METHODS' Oklahoma Company Told to Cease Present Practices in Competition. BY the Associated Press. The Federal Trade Commission is= sued an order today calling on the Blackwell Journal Publishing Co. of Blackwell, Okla., to stop what the commission termed “unfair competi- tive methods” against the Blackwell Tribune Publishing Co. The order would prohibit cireula- tion of “false, disparaging state- ments,” offering Tribune subscribers subscriptions to the Journal without cost and “quoting or charging adver- tising rates which are below the cost to the publisher of the advertisements as set up and published.” The commission gave the Journal Co. 30 days to comply with the order, Get Acquainted with the “Modern” Mode Richard Prince Suits For Fall Such fabrics as Sharkskin, Scotch Cheviot and Worsted Saxony. Such patterns as Glenplaids (darker) ; Chalk Stripes (neater) and new Herringbones are given custom treatment; in both regular and lounge models. Charge Accounts— Monthly Settlements— or 12-Pay Plan. Free Parking at N.W. Cor. E and 12th Sts. and N.E. Cor. 11th and N. Y. Ave. F at Eleventh Get Acquainted with the “Modern” Mode Finchley, Hats Are Featured Exclusively at The Mode The smartest of the smart hats—for the young men who must have class, and their elders who want to be correct in style. 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