Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-30
CONGRESS UNITY
MAY Be LIMITED
Parties Cooperation AS
sured on Work Relief, but
Otherwise Doubtful.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

In the settling about whether Demo-
Gratis and Republicans are to cooperate
in the session Of Congress beginning
Monday, one definite If only partial
step, Is clear. It is reasonable to ex-
pect the cooperation will exist at least
long enough to complete the bills for
relief Of unemployment. Both parties
recognize that these are emergency
measures. Both realize that delay OF
these measures by partisan tactics
would be unfortunate in fact and I'M
popular as q matter Of politics. It Il
fairly safe to expect prompt and smooth
passage Of the essential measures deal
ing with unemployment and the appro-
priation for relief.
Beyond the unemployment measures
however, other considerations arise II
Is conceivable that cooperation for the
part OF the session dealing with unem-
ployment may facilitate further CO.
operation for the session as a whole
That Is conceivable, but decidedly can
not be called probable. As respects CO.
operation for the whole session and for
the purpose Of preventing q special ses-
sion, more Democrats in Congress de-
plore this policy than approve it.
The original call for cooperation was
candidates for the presidency, Smith
Davis and Cox; by the Democratic
leaders of the Senate and House, Robin
son OF Arkansas and Garner of Texas;
and by the national executive heads of
the party, John J. Raskob and Jouett
Shouse. These leaders stand firmly by
heir announcement. Senator Robinson
has re-stated the policy, and has taken
steps In furtherance Of 1t, at some peril
to his prestige and position as leader.
Rank and File ResentfuI.
It i clear, however, that the rank
ana ME OF the Democrats In Senate and
House do not approve the policy and
tend to resent the action of the leaders.
The principal purpose and inspiration
OF the leaders who laid out the policy
was to facilitate rest and quiet for q
nervous business world.
AS respects the session beginning next
week, the broad test of cooperation or
non-co-operation is whether this session
so conducts itself as not to ,precipitate
q special session of the new Congress.
On this point, some iof the most i'm
portant Democrats within Congress
stand with the signerS of the co-opera-
ton announcement. Democratic Sena-
tor Pat Harrison of Mississippi on
1AA00J AA0AC OCCldIdJlOH WHICH
amounted to saying that no matter
what the Republicans do, or what hap
pens in any respect, he for one will not
feel justified in participating in any
movement to block the passage a. this
Congress Of the general supply meas
ures." The complete good faith of these
Democrats is not doubted by any one.
Neither is there any faintest doubt of
the sincerity Of their motive, which is
to let the recuperating country be un-
disturbed by . special session Of
Fear . Party Division.
There Is perhaps an additional mo-
tive that may be political and soundly
so. The Democratic leaders fear q
division in their party over prohibition
or any other one Of several controversial
measures. Fearing this, it is to the
interest Of the Democrats that Con-
gress should be in session during only
the smallest possible number of months
preceding the presidential election in
1892. Especially is it to their interest
to minimize the length Of the sitrings
OF the new Congress in which the
Democrats may readily have . majority.
They wish to be able to 60 forward to