DISASTER IN SUCCESS

When the country elects a new House of Representatives, a third of the Senate, and governors in approximately one half of the states next Tuesday, the policies of the Roosevelt Administration will receive their first national test, the almost indecent generosity of the government to its citizens, however, has practically assured the new deal that the sweet fruits of victory will be added to its laurels. This result, even from a Democratic point of view, can only be termed unfortunate.

The majority of voters will not decide whether the policies of the Administration offer a satisfactory road to a universally desired recovery. Prospects for the revival of business, upon which Roosevelt has staked his success, will not receive consideration. It is the dangerous financial policies which the government is pursuing that will win support.

While the huge deficit of 30 billion dollars in itself can be handled by the United States, the wage in which it has been constructed give serious cause for alarm. The devaluation of the dollar, the flotation of large bond issues, and the government's appropriation of the gold reserve all tend to undermine credit. With this money the government has often spent five dollars to give one dollar of relief. Evidently the four dollar discrepancy ensures a vote for the new deal. Such haphazard spending will not bring about a utopia where everyone is satisfied; it will land us on the rocks of chaos.

Thus the Administration should not take its victory on Tuesday as a criterion for its future policy. It must not play the part of a generous uncle who gives his nephew a toy every time he asks for one. There must be method in his policies which will offer industry and agriculture constructive aid. In short, confidence must be restored by making sure that the government's credit will be used only where it assists, not hinders.