Reprinted from the OAH Magazine of History
16 (Winter 2002). ISSN 0882-228X
Copyright (c) 2002, Organization of American Historians

APRIL 20, 1934

The citizens of Lexington who signed the petition memoralizing [sic] Congress to stop federal interference in business must present a rather shamefaced appearance today when the only support they can get comes from two hidebound Republicans, Wadsworth of New York, who wants the next Republican presidential nomination, and Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers, who is nothing more than a political opportunist.

Six months ago the various business agencies of the country were memorializing Congress to "do something." They had had enough of the do-nothing policy of the G. O. P. regime. They wanted the government to come to the aid of private business which was suffering. For that purpose the CWA was created. Immediately business showed an uptrend. The NRA was started even before that and the various employes [sic] got something of a new deal except where the provisions were evaded and only lip service given.

Business started on its way back. More people, earning some money, started buying. The jobs were not permanent. It was temporary relief in the belief that if the money was fed to the purchaser the seller would be benefited.

Today the persons who sold the goods have possession of the buying power so generated and are howling about something which is not quite clear. Lexington is representative of this group. Lexington is not exactly a manufacturing town. It contributes little except to the residential aspects of Boston and is not quite as progressive as its neighboring town of Woburn. Its revolutionary heritage is a great one, but it lacks the splendor of Concord.

In brief, Lexington is not quite the town it would have the world think it is. The past is something long gone by. The glories of the past may be glories but they have little to do with the bread and butter propositions of today. The federal government went to extremes to guarantee the safety of the people of Lexington against chaotic conditions and for the people of the town to shout "Enough" now is to brand them as ingrates and foolish nobodies.

After they have been helped and the rest of the state has been helped it can be termed little short of ungrateful to say that they want no more. . . .