American Liberty League, The New Deal vs. Democracy (July 15, 1936). From American Liberty League Bulletin, July 15, 1936, 2-3.

[The American Liberty League, made up of FDR's former supporters in the business community, published anti-New Deal literature like this weekly bulletin.]

Jouett Shouse, President of the American Liberty League, in a radio address over a nation-wide hookup on the eve of the New Deal Convention in Philadelphia, discussed the basic conflict between the New Deal and the Democratic Party. Mr. Shouse spoke not only as President of the League, but also as former Chairman of the Democratic National Executive Committee. He summarized some of the New Deal performances as follows:

The New Deal has built up a huge bureaucracy which has shown no regard for the Constitutional rights and liberties of our citizens.

The New Deal has converted the Federal Civil Service into a barefaced spoils system.

The New Deal has used the money of taxpayers of all political parties to build up a propaganda machine to aid its efforts to continue in power.

The New Deal has prostituted the administration of the relief of the unfortunate to the ends of partisan politics.

The New Deal has spent huge sums upon public works, despite grave doubts as to the desirability or usefulness of the projects.

The New Deal has instituted a series of boondoggling enterprises which are as ridiculous as they are unwise.

The New Deal has all but destroyed the export market for American agricultural products.

The New Deal has opened American markets to import of foodstuffs which properly should be supplied by the American farmer.

The New Deal has harassed American business and has entered into competition in almost every possible way with private industry.

The New Deal has misused the Federal taxing power in an effort to promote visionary schemes for the redistribution of wealth.

The New Deal has imposed taxes heavier than were ever before placed upon the nation in time of peace and by reckless borrowing has saddled huge obligations upon generations yet unborn.

The New Deal has led the nation far along the road toward national bankruptcy and has increased the national debt to unprecedented size.

The New Deal has manifested its contempt for constitutional government.

The New Deal has sought to make the Legislative Branch of the government subservient to the will of the Executive.

The New Deal, through its official spokesman, has criticized decisions of the Supreme Court because in the interpretation of the basic law of the land that tribunal held pet New Deal acts unconstitutional.

The New Deal, in the words of Mr. Roosevelt himself, has set up "new instruments of public power," admittedly dangerous in the hands of men who might misuse that power.

In a word, the New Deal has sought to destroy the American system of government composed of three coordinate branches and to upset the dual sovereignty as between state and nation which the Constitution provides.

The New Deal represents the attempt in American to set up a totalitarian government, one which recognizes no sphere of individual or business life as immune from governmental authority and which submerges the welfare of the individual to that of the government.

Passing on to a discussion of what the future may bring forth, Mr. Shouse added:

Sooner or later, the present madness will pass. Sooner or later, a political promise will again be regarded as a sacred obligation. Sooner or later, we shall once more recognize that two and two make four. And when that time comes the Democrats who are Democrats from conviction and not from mere expediency will regain control of the Democratic Party and will make it once more the Party of Jefferson and Jackson and Cleveland and Wilson....The processes of recovery have begun despite the tinkering of the New Deal but they must be carried forward with care, with courage, with perseverance. Democrats, therefore, who are left without a Party in present circumstances must decide the course they will pursue. They owe no duty of loyalty to the New Deal.