Evening star., 1930-12-07
BY WILLIAM HARD.


The party talk begins to be heard at
this week end.
"Prosressives of both parties begin 10
feel themselves squeezed by the new
coalition" Of regular" Republicans and
regular Democrats. Each side of that
coalition has knife for the other side
of 1t. but both sides agree in uniting to
chlofoform the Progressives.
The ProgreSsives in the last session
Of the Congress we're the stars of the
show. In this session, except for two
or three of their pet songs, like Muscle
Shoals, they are asked to step TO the
rear Of the chorus. They are outraged
Their big grooming hit the tariff, has
been snatched out Of their hands. They
we're permitted and encouraged by the
leadership of the Democratic party in
the last session Of the Congress to pro-
claim the tariff in its present form as
vital cause of bad times. Now the
leadership Of the Democratic party, in
stead Of joining with the Progressives
to repeal and remove that vital cause
Of bad times, announces that it prefers
TO have 1t removed in the course of years
or decades by the United States Tariff
Commission, appointed at present by a
Republican Chief Executive. The Pro-
gressives in the matter Of tariff are left
with their mouths open and nothing to
sing.
Theme Song Is Silent.
Their plight is the same in the matter
OF campaign expenditures. In previous
sessions any Republican purchase" of a
senatorial seat for anything more than
sl50,OO0 was regarded by the Democratic
leadership as q theme song that could
not possibly have too many renditions
throughout the performance. Some Of
the Progressives got so well trained to
sing this song that they looked forward
With the happiest anticipations to this
present session as gala opportunity for
the display Of their perfected talents at
1t. Then the new coalition" of Repub-
lican and Democratic roll-call regulars"
seated Mr.. James j. Davis, Republican,
OF Pennsylvania, with more than $780,
900 perched upon the banner of the
ticket which elected him, in about 20
minutes of senatorial elapsed time.
Again the Progressives were left
with their lips all set TO utter q song
hit and no chance to do it. The Demo-
cratic regulars" preferred to vote at
once for the seating of Republican
'debaucher of the electorate" That
was one of the popular phrases only a
rev short months ago in the mouths Of
the Democratic progressivistic ensemble
chorus. Now the Democratic regular"
chorusmen seem just simply not to want
even TO listen to 1t.
Export Debenture apple Sauce"
1t is the same way, again, with the
export depenture. Last Winter, If Sem
ator Borah rose and said "debenture"
the Democrats could respond with vo-
cal counter point about It for hours at
time. Democratic Leader Garner, in
the House Of Representatives, could
simultaneously provide O tumult of sup
porting applause. The Progressiyes
now begin to suspect that his applause
was apple sauce. They supposed last
Winter that an approach by the Demo-
crats 70 power would mean the ap-
proAch OF the dehenture to enactment
They now perceive the Democrats an
preaching to power, all right, but the
deDenture approaching oblivion. Presi-
dent Hoover denounced it as an eco
nomic heresy. He would veto It.
The Democratic leadership wants no
special session" It wants no nro-
tracted wrangles. It wants skirmishes
with the President and diurnal changes
OF snlping with him. but no great
pitched battles. It hands the l2-inch
shell called the debenture back To the
Progressives and asks them to hold IT,
Ihey are holding 1t with no gun to
shoot 1t from. They once more are
brought to Illustration by both parties
Iney once more are tempted to con-
cluoe that they certainly need a party
Of their own
Progressives on Side Line.
The Democratic leadership cares
nothing any longer for the good will of
the ProgresSives. The PropresSives
were useful to it In splitting the Repub-
lican party. Now the Democratic leader
snip proposes to go it alone to the White
house. It's plan for getting there is
poison Tor the Progressives.
Inc nrst part of 1t Is to avoid all
thinkably avoidable fundamental con-
troversies between now and March 4.
ana then adjourn till the ensuing De-
cember with q sick country left SOLELY
AL next Summer to the care of DR..
hoover. The country will still be full
OF lot OF maladies when in that De-
cember the Congress reassembles. The
patient will still be far from we'll. He
VIII still be groaning and complaining.
Then the Democratic leadership can
Ieel his pulse sympathetically and say:
Shun Conflict With "Dr. Hoover"
80 this Is where old DR.. Hoover has
got you. We're terribly sorry. You will
note that right along we have been abb
| SoLuVely etnlcal. We are doctors, TOO,
but we haven't tried to interfere with
DR.. Hoovers prescriptions. He has pre-
| Scrtbed lots Of water and no strong
stimulantS. We could have done much
better for you, but we were ethically
scrupulous not to try to break in upon
Dr. Hoover's practices. Indeed, we
have helped to carry you his medicines.
We have co-operated. Too bad, you are
still SO frightfully sick. Your pulse is
alarming. Your heart action Is failing.
There is just one thing you need You
need a Democratic President. You do
not know exactly what Democratic
President would do. Neither do we.
You can see for yourself, though, that
what you need II Q change.