NATIONAL RECOVERY

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1934, Page 9

NATIONAL RECOVERY

OPINIONS IN AMERICA EFFECT OF DARROW REPORT. RESULTS IN “STRAW POLLS.” While there have been some who have questioned the competence of the noted criminal lawyer Mr. Clarence Darrow to give expressions of opinion on matters of politics and industry, it remains that his report condemning the National Recovery Administration in the United States, published at the end of May, has provoked widespread discussion and interest in and outside America. The circumstances leading to his report were that some time ago he was appointed head of what was called the National Recovery Review Board, and after protracted hearings he reached conclusions against the administration. The principal points, in Mr. Darrow’s opinions were his declaration of the N.R.A. to be a complete failure, fostering monopoly and oppressing smaller enterprises for the benefit of large industrial combines, and a recommendation to the President, Mr. Roosevelt, to introduce socialisation and collective ownership and control of industry. It was to be noted that at the time the report was brought down there was resistance of Mr. Darrow’s views from opposing circles. COMMENT ON “NEW DEAL.” That was the position at the end of May in the United States; the Roosevelt administration, which has always been subject to critical examination while the people have displayed faith in their President, ,was subject to even more intensive review. More recent advices from America indicate that comment on the administration has in no way decreased. Representative opinion on the subject is contained in the June number of the Literary Digest, which is noted for the striking accuracy of its “straw polls” on matters of national interest. Tire Presidential elections and prohibition have been subjects on which the polls have served to throw light in advance. The June issue contains particulars of the fourth report of the publication’s nationwide poll to test national opinion on the “New Deal,” and assuming that Mr. Darrow’s views represent a body of opinion, the results are of especial interest as far as they have gone. More than half the Union is represented in the fourth tally, the 25 States which appear representing three-fourths of the country’s popular vote, while the District of Columbia also appears. The voting shown to date is as follows: For the New Deal, 370,491; against the New Deal, 255,429. While it might be said that the smallness of the vote cannot be an accurate guide, it is necessary to remember that similar straw polls have been proved to be substantially correct.

Compared with the popular vote when Mr. Roosevelt was elected in 1932, the tally reveals that support for the President in Pennsylvania, Ohio and other great industrial States considerably outweighs a rather marked decline from his 832 records in lowa, Nebraska and other rritories where there has been agricultural unrest.

Reverting to the worth of the Darrow Report, the survey by the Literary Digest in representative cities is held to show both a vigorous denial of and assent to the charge that the small business man is oppressed under the N.R.A. The most emphatic of the accusations in the report was that monopoly was fostered by the codes to the detriment of the small business man. It is considered that the small business man agrees in general with Mr. Darrow’s criticism, but distrusts his political philosophy. The evidence assembled indicated that many agreed with the report insofar as monopolistic tendencies were concerned, but it has been noted that the reaction varied with the locality. Not the least interesting portion of the opinion obtained z is the attitude, indicated hr voting at the Universities of Harvard and Yale. The results in the 1932 straw polls for the Presidential elections were: Harvard: For Hoover 1741, for Roosevelt 620. Yale: For Hoover 1416, for Roosevelt 370. If the latest straw polls .at these universities regarding Roosevelt’s policies are any indication, there has been a striking reversal of student opinion. The results were: Harvard: For Roosevelt’s policies 1083, against 639. . Yale: For 973, against 640.