Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-24
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

The coming Winter will see knock
down. drag-out battle between the pro-
ponents of State and local cid to the
unemployed and destitute and those
who wish the Federal Government to
tackle the job. It is momentous is
sue. going far beyond the immediate
politics involved. If the supporters Of
the idea that the Federal Government
should enter upon this work win out.
another great step will have been made
toward tn, Capitalization OF all gov
ornamental power In washington. The
next demand might we'll be the policing
of the country by the Federal Govern
ment
President Hoover has definitely taken
his stand in opposition to having the
Federal Government assume the work
of caring for the unemployed through
Federal contributions and dole sys-
tsm. He has appointed Walter S. Gif-
fcrd, president of the American Tele-
phone & Telegraph Co, to head COM
mission to work out the plans for Ma
ton wide aid to be carried out In detail
through the cooperation of the States
and the local agencies set up for the
purpose.
Political opponents of the President
are ringing the changes with repeated
demands for a call of Congress into
special session to do something" to
relieve the unemployment situation.
Among. the latest demands along these
lines is one. from Gov. Clifford Pinchot
of Pennsylvania, who insists that the
Federal Government must come to the
aid OF the unemployed with substantial
appropriations. Gov. Pinchot has been
credited with presidential ambitions. Il
has been said that he wishes the backing
of the Pennsylvania delegation. the
second largest, in the next Republican
national convention for the presiden-
tial nomination. although in justice to
the Pennsylvania Governor it must be
said that he has not by any means de-
clared himself candidate.
Gov. James Rolph, jr.. Of California,
the Presidents own State, has ranged
himself fatty on the side of the Chief
Executive in this matter of relief fer
the unemployed. declaring in a mes
,age to President Hoover that Cali
fornia will look after its own unem-
ployed and that Ii stands ready to CO.
operate with the Federal Government
and the other States in a general pro-
gram to meet the situation. 1t is ex-
pected that the Governors of the States
generally will give early consideration
to plans for State aid In the unem-
ployment situation. which. 1t is de-
clared, is likely to be worse the COM
ing Winter than it was last.
IndeedS1 Governors of widely sep
arated States are giving this matter
their most earnest attention, one in
New York and the other in Wiscon-
sin. Gov. Roosevelt is to have the
State Legislature on his hands this
week and Gov. Philip La Toilette of
the Badger State is TO call special
session of the Legislature in the late
special session of the New York Legis-
lature by Gov. Roosevelt was precipi-
tated by the demand of the Legislative
Committee investigating the govern
ment OF New York City for power TO
grant immunity to witnesses appear
ing before it. But now that the Legis-
lature is to meet. Gov Roosevelt Is per-
fecting a program for unemployment
relief which he will submit to the legis-
lators for their approval and the neces-
sary legislation to put it through.
+FA
As Gov Roosevelt has come to be
generally regarded as the leading presi-
Dental possibility on the Democratic
what he askx of the special session of
the New YG& Legislature assumes far
more than local and State Importance
The Legislature Is controlled by the
Republicans II the Governor puts
forward a wise program of relief and
it is rebuffed by the Republicans, he
will have strengthened himself at the
expense of his political opposition. At
the same time, if his relief program is
q tn
win general approval throughout the
State. 1t has been declared that add
tional funds are needed by the State If
1t undertakes really adequate meas
ures of relief for the coming Winter
Additional funds can be obtained either
through new taxes or increased tax
rates or through bond issueS If new
taxes are to be levied, 1t has been sue-
gested that they be levied on cigarettes
and cosmetics and on automobiles
The Governor Is quite naturally op-
posed to an increase in State taxation,
even for the purpose of relief for the
unemployed, and If it comes to a bond
issue he will demand that the securi-
ties be short-time notes 1t is said.
Gov. Roosevelt's message to the Legis-
latuFe will be scanned with peculiar
interest in view of the demands made
upon him by Tammany leaders that
the proposed legislative program be
widene6 so as to permit a general in
vestigation of city government in New
York State, on theory that Republic
an controlled cities are corruptly man.
aged. These Tammany leaders have
conceived the idea that if the legisla-
ton is widensd in that fashion, the Re-
publicans will resist it, and there will
follow a deadlock and the Tammany
government of New York City will not
be subjected to the searching inves-
tigation that the Legislative Commit
tee and its counsel, Judge Samuel Sea-
bury, an Independent Democrat of the
old school, are not demanding. If
Gov. Roosevelt, in outlining the scope
Of the legislative session, falls in with
the. plans OF the Tammany leaders. it
is likely to be proclaimed, far and
wide, that he has yielded finally TO
Tammany pressure. On the other hand,
Gov. Roosevelt is a Democrat and there
is every reason, from party stand
point, why he should be willing to
give his party talking point against
the Republican opposition, if corrup-
ton can be shown up in Republican
strongholdS of the State. Since the
Governor agreed to call the Legisla-
ture in special session to put through
a law strengthening the hands of
the Legislative Committee investigating
New York City, his action has been in
terpreted as willingness to break
with Tammany. if need be. and his
prestige has grown accordingly up
state in New York and out through
the country, which does not look upon
the Tammany Tiger as the lamb it
likes to picture itself. But if he turns
the Tammany leaders down fatty, the
Governor finds himself in an awkward
position with his party in Greater New
York, a position he has up until the
present avoided. Tammany leaders.
from Curry down, have been chary