The Daily News WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1935. COURT OR PEOPLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1935, Page 4

The Daily News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1935. COURT OR PEOPLE.

OFFICES: NEW PLYMOUTH. Corrie StreoS, STRATFORD, Broadway. HAWERA, Hish Street.

Nearly a week elapsed after the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States tore down the legislative framework of his “new deal” before President Roosevelt made any public comment upon the verdict. Not that there was any delay in the effect of the judgment upon industry and production. Labour found the social legislation for which it had waited so long had no further authority, the “market” for labour still over-supplied, and the good employer once more forced to accept the pace set by his more unscrupulous competitor in regard to wages and conditions of employment. Within tyvo days of the publication of the verdict there were angry protests from trade uilioiis together with threats of strikes and lock-outs. Nothing is more likely to retard industrial recovery than trade disputes, and it was for this purpose that prices as well as wages were, under the terms of the “new deal,” to come under control and thus prevent . the evils of vicious, competition to both- employers and wageearners. The Court’s decision has also held up the proposals for the regulation of agricultural production, and the farming industry is threatened with an overstocked market without any relief by legislation from debt commitments. This certainly means bankruptcy for many settlers. The President had plenty of evidence of the effect of the judgment when he placed before the people of the United ,■ States on Saturday the fundamental issues raised by it. Mr. Roosevelt explained that in framing the legislation held by the Court to be unconstitutional he had relied upon the progressive tendency shown by the Court in other matters sent to it for interpretation, matters that took account of industrial and social development, and under which “the whole country had become interdependent.” Instead, the Court had gone back to the interpretation of the Constitution which applied in the “horse and buggy” days immediately succeeding the Revolution, an interpretation that took little account of the economic and administrative changes brought about by the expansion of transport agencies and the enormous extension Of communications made possible by the use of telegraph, telephone and radio services. The decision was, the President stated, the most important since the one given in 1857 which precipitated the Civil War. Known as the "bred Scott case, the Supreme Court’s finding was that the Constitution recognised slaves as property and that Congress must protect slavery as property rights. The decision was ignored by the Abolitionists, with a sequel that all the world knows. The question that now requires an answer is whether President Roosevelt intends to appeal from the Court to the people for an amendment of the Constitution or for such support for the “unconstitutional” legislation as will give it the necessary authority. So far he has given no indication of the action he proposes to take, for even though he has a majority in both Houses of Congress pledged to support his programme there has been unmistakable evidence during the past few months of disagreement in regard to certain portions of the “new deal” among the party of which the President is the head. In such circumstances and remembering the tremendous authority of the Supreme Court, it is no wonder that President Roosevelt is “making haste slowly.” As a political leader he has showm hitherto remarkable wisdom in the choice of the right moment for effective

speech and action. With strikes threatened in three important industries and agriculture once more in a, state of uncertainty, the President is in a position to demand the full loyalty from his political followers by which alone an emergency can be overcome. In view of his record it is not likely that Mr. Roosevelt will accept without a struggle the defeat of his plans for national recovery, and his next move will be watched with interest by other English-speaking peoples.