Roosevelt: Promises vs. Acts

To the Editor of the CRIMSON:

Your comunicant happened to be reading the inaugural address of President Roosevelt. Some rather interesting excerpts from its follow:

"Happiness lies not in the possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement; in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits." (Has the "thrill of creative effort" been too much for the farmer? If not, why does A.A.A. encourage with financial reward--the gaining of which, according to the President, never brings "happiness"--the reduction of crops? Or isn't it an "achievement" to produce food?)

"Small wonder than confidence languishes for it thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection, on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live." (Why did the President sign the Frazier-Lemke Bill, and why did he issue an edict to prevent an individual holding a ten dollar gold certificate from receiving ten dollars in gold upon demand? Or isn't such a note a "sacred obligation?"

"The Federal, State and local governments (must) act forthwith on the demand that their cost be drastically reduced." (This explains the FERA, the PWA, the CWA, and other economies.)

'There must be "provision for an adequate but sound currency, making income balance outgo." (Hmm--must have in a fit of absentmindedness forgotten all about this little sentence. Unfortunately for Mr. Douglas, however, he didn't forget.)

Indeed inaugural addresses. Like Mr. Kaufman's musical comedies, are often instructive, and always amusing! V. H. Kramer '35.