Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-11-13
Ethics That Will Not Be Lost
Sight OF.

For the past two years the Republicans
have been blaming their governmental
failures on the Democrats. They have
accused the opposition party of hamstring-
ing the President with their criticisms, of
having intensified the economic depression
by fighting the Smoot-Hawley tariff. and
of being responsible for the failure Of the
Federal Farm Board because they were
convincing the farmer that his MORTGAGES
were realities while the Republicans have
been urging that the crash Of his products
below the cost of production was merely
an abstraction.
1t will be interesting to watch what they
are gong to say in the matter of the
Presidents international venture-the debt
moratorium and the negotiations. Or con-
versations to be more automatically accu-
rate. with Premier Laval of France. OF
course. If these measures turn out to be
successful they will be hailed as personal
accomplishments by the President. not
withstandine the circumstance that he had
assurance of Democratic support in the
case Of the moratorium and that there has
been no carping on the Democratic side Of his
more or less intangible understandings with
Prime Minister Laval. II the Presidents
ideas are confirmed by legislation. it can
only be with the help of Democratic votes.
While. Of course. there exists no agency in
the Democratic party to pledge in advance
the ballots of United States Senators and
Representatives. there is every indication
Of sympathetic action on the Democratic
side. 1t does not follow that they will accept
letter for letter the Presidents recommen-
dations. but in regard to the broad principles
the Democrats have indicated that they
will 60 along with every measure. particu-
larly of international concern. that is
demonstrably conducive to our welfare and
the welfare of the world generally.
The Democrats in the coming Congress
have potentially as great a veto power as
had the Republican majority in the Con-
gress during the last years Of the Wilson
administration. Woodrow Wilson also was
conducting portentions negotiations with
foreign nations. There was no thought on
the Republican side at that time of such
cooperation as the Democrats have volun-
teered during the present emergency. In
the foreign field and in the domestic field.
the Republicans Of that day declared an
embargo on any legislation emanating from
the Democratic President. They even with
held tax reduction after the war until
Harding was in the White House in order
that no shadow OF credit for this relief
might accrue to the Wilson administration.
They baited and badeered the President
on his sick bed over the Mexican situation,
IN which performance Senator Albert Fall.
now in retirement in Federal penitentiary,
was a conspicuous figure.
The Republicans have establish ade-
quate precedent for partisan hamperine
of the Chief Executive in sch political
situations as the present.
Unless all signs fail. Democrat will
occupy the White House in 1882. 1t would
be simple task for the Senators and Rep
resentatives Of that party to hold back. as
did the majority in the Sixty-sixth Con-
sress, on all administrative measures.
That they are willing to foreeo In the
interest of the general welfare the possible
political advantage OF demonstrating the
helplessness Of the President illustrates a
contrast in political ethics that will not be
lost sight Of.