Washington, December 2, 1933.

The test of whether the Roosevelt administration can stand criticism and how it will held back has come earlier than expected. The general belief was that the Roosevelt administration would encounter its first public opposition when Congress reconvened in January. But the attack let loose by Alfred E. Smith, James B. Warburg, Professor Sprague and others who disagree with the administration's monetary policy is forcing the issue rather early.

For a long time the Roosevelt regime has had practically no opposition, and when the President himself indicated that he would welcome criticism there was none forthcoming, even under those circumstances. The truth is that with a popular support almost unprecedented in the peace times, the Roosevelt administration could welcome criticism, knowing full well that the people had undiminished faith in the President.

Only in the last few weeks, when the country has been bewildered by talk of adulation and has been puzzled by the gold policy, could it be said that critics were beginning to be taken seriously.

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All this merely means that the administration will some day have to answer criticism with facts or with cold logic in defense of its position. Otherwise the attack will grow more intense and will be reflected in Congressional opposition. Members of Congress in particular are looking for new leadership always. They move with the tides of public opinion, and public opinion in turn is affected by the debates on issues such as have been raised by opponents of monetary confusion.

The weakness in the administration's position is that it claims to be unable to tell the people its purposes because this would disclose the strategy to other nations. When Congress comes back there will be a demand for more information. The debate will then begin in earnest.