Roosevelt Opens Campaign Against Depression Threat

Northern Advocate, 16 April 1938, Page 6

Roosevelt Opens Campaign Against Depression Threat

("Received 10 a.m.)

WASHINGTON. April 13. IN A DRAMATIC RADIO APPEAL TO THE NATION, PRESIDENT * ROOSEVELT PLACED THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMIC CRISIS BEFORE THE PEOPLE AND OUTLINED A VAST RECOVERY PROGRAMME. HE GAVE A PLEDGE TO MUSTER ALL THE GOVERNMENT’S RESOURCES IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT DEPRESSION.

Mr Roosevelt apologised for speaking in Holy Week, but said the emergency confronting the nation demanded immediate action. He emphasised the imperative need for all to act together, and said; “This, is the only way to save the present system of government.”

Democracy had disappeared in several other great nations, he added, not because the people disliked Democracy, but because they had grown tired of unemployment and insecurity, and of seeing their children hungry, while they sat helpless in the face of Government confusion, weakness and lack of leadership.

Finally, in desperation they chose to sacrifice their liberty in the hope cf getting something to eat.

Must Act Together. “We in America,” said Mr Roosevelt, “know that our democratic institutions can he preserved and made to work, but in order to preserve them, we must act together and prove in practical operation that a democratic Government is equal to the task. “Your Government must prove that it is stronger than the forces of business depression. We are a 1 rich nation, and can afford to pay for security and prosperity, without having to sacrifice our liberties into the bargain. “It is going to cost something to get out of this recession this way, but the profit in getting out will pay the cost several times.” Will Not Forget His Trust. As though answering charges of dictatorship on his part, and personal criticism, President Roosevelt continued: “I shall never forget that I live in a house owned by the American people, and that I have been given their trust —by friend and enemv. “I constantly :eek to look beyond the doors of White House, beyoni of /icialdom, on to the hopes and fears of men and women and into their homes. “I want to be sure that neither

the battles nor burdens of office

blind me to an intimate knowledge of the way in which the American people want to live, and to the

simple purposes for which they

put me here.

“I believe I am right in the course of my charter. To abandon the purpose of budding a greater, more stable and more tolerant America, would be to miss the tide and perhaps to miss the port.”