Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-08
The Political Mill


Suspension Of intergovernmental debts,
II some of the Democratic leaders have
their way, will be interpreted as debt
cancellation in the coming national
campaign. And debt cancellation, these
Democrats believe, is thoroughly unpop-
ular with the American voters. They
are obviously hoping to be able to oic-
ture President Hoover to the electorate
next. year. as q champion of debt can
collation.. Representative John Garner
of Texas, Democratic leader of the
House and the Darty's leading aSpirant
for the Speakership in the coming Con-
gress. has already taken that tack. And
the frequent assertions
by President Hoover that debt suSpen-
sion during the depression and cancel
lation are very different things, this line
of attack upon the administration is
getting under way. The President has
declared cancellation of the debts owed
this country is not In his mind.
Republican leaders are afraid Of this
cancellation talk. Like the Democrats
who are hoping to make capital Of this
issue they believe that debt cancellation
would be extremely unpopular In this
country. Therefore these Republicans
are seeking to make it extremely clear
that neither Mr.. Hoover nor the Repub-
lican party is committed to eancella-
ton in the slightest degree because Of
the one years moratorium arranged
with the foreign nations last Summer
under the leadership Of the President.
The move for the moratorium was gen.
orally praised throughout the country
when President Hoover put forward his
plan for intergovernme entail debt suspen-
sion last June 20. A few discordant
notes we're heard but not many. Mr..
Garner, who Is now raising the debt
cancellation issue. was one OF the few
leading Democrats who, at that time,
declined to give his approval to the
moratorium plan. Pretty widely. al
though the President sought TO make
the plan entirely non-partisan polit-
ically. it was declared that his lsader-
ship In the moratorium movement would
strengthen him in the country and in
the election next year.
When the President put up to the
Democratic and Republican members
OF the Senate and House whom he had
summoned to the White House Tues
day night the fact that he planned to
talk over with Premier Laval Of France
the possible need of an extension of the
moratorium. there was an immediate
hostile reaction. SO much so that the
President was compelled to give over all
idea of obtaining the support Of this
group Of legislators for his plan for
moratorium discussions with the French
prime minister. Even the statement
which had been prepared in advance
for release to the press after the White
House conference. it is now reported,
had 10 be changed in this respect. Re-
publican Senator's and Representatives,
as we'll as Democratic, insisted that this
vas no time for discussion OF. an ex-
tenc.on Of the moratorium. So fin lily
the President announced that he in
tended to discuss with NJ. Laval on his
arrival in Washington this month steps
that might BE- imperative II the depTcs-
sion continues, but that he would not
ask the approval Of the legislators in
advance.
Some Of the Democrats, even while
they approve pri-at-,y of the steps
which tn PRECEDENT took last Spring
to bring about suspension of inter-
governmental debts in the interest of
stabilizing tie economic situation
throughout t. world, are saying that
he made a mistake In not putting
through mo- forum covering a two
year period when he opened up negotia-
lions with the foreign nations. In
their opinion the President will be
faced early next year with the need of
doing something more, whereas, If the
moratorium period had been made to
extend for two years, it would have
run past the national campaign But
it is extremely doubtful that the Pres
ident could have obtained the consent
OF Democratic lee erS for such a mora
torium plan, and 1t might have been
impossible to get France to agree to
a two+year SUSPENSION of intergovern-
mental debts. But one thing quite GER
tain. II there IS no recession of the
Worldwide depression next year and
II the Democrats should win the next
national election, this problem is one
that the Democrats will have to worry
with themselves.
The vacancy in the Senate caused by
the death of the late Senator Dwight
w. Morrow OF New Jersey is expected
to be filled quickly by Gov. Larson,
who has the power to make the ap-
pointment. A Republican. and presum-
ably wet Republican, is expected to
take the Morrow seat Already a num-
bsr Of possible appointees have been
mentioned. including Ambassador WAL
ter Edge, who Is returning from France
IN company with Premier Laval, on his
way to discuss international problems
with President Hoover. Whether Mr..
Edge would accept appointment is the
- a tNA 9N1N
Senate seat to be appointed Ambassa-
dor to France. It has been rllmored
he would like to return to senatorial
life. Whoever the appointee may be,
ne viii probably serve until the regu-
lar elections are held in November,
1892, 1t Is said. Indeed. 1t is reported
that A. Harry Moore, the Democratic
candidate for Governor of New Jersey,
even II he Is elected next month, would
be disinclined to call a special election
to NIL the vacancy largely because it
would mean spending something like
$1,000 900 to hold the election, with no
absolute assurance that q Democrat
could defeat the Republican. Further
more, one additional seat in the Senate
would not give the Democrats an out
and-out majority, but only 20 seats,
with ~ Republicans and one Farmer
Labor Senator to be reckoned with.
X
Edward B. Dufield. president of the
Prudential Insurance Co., O Republican
and an ardent wet, is being talked of
In connection with the appointment to
MI the Morrow vacancy in the Senate.
DR.. Dufheld, 1t is said not only would
make an able Senator, but strong can
didate in the election which must be
held next year. The suggestion has
been advanced that the appointment
60 to Representative Isaac Bacharacn,
a veteran member of the House. Some
of MIR. Bacharach'S friends say, how
ever, that while he might like to have
the refusal of the Senate seat, he would
scarcely be inclined to accept the APP
pointment and thereby remove HIM
self from the House, where he holds an