Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-23
The Political Mill
By C. Could LincOIn.

of the Progressive for return of the
National Legislature is heard already.
frank discussion Of the matter,
whether by Progressive or conservative,
Republican or Democrat, brings out the
fact that all of them admit that the
next Congress win be almost 1mpotent
because of the even division between
the Republicans and Democrats in both
houses, with insurgent Republicans
holding the balance Of power. Under
such circumstances. and with the in
sur2ent Republicans and the Chief
Executive strongly antagonistic, there
would be practically no chance ct all of
constructive legislation. A return Of the
Congress, therefore, would be merely an
ineffective gesture at this time. So far
there has been no suggestion from any
quarter except the Progressive-and the
Socialist-that Congress be called back
TO washington. The regular Demo-
cratic leadership, like that Of the q. o. p,
Is backing away from q special session
Of the new Congress.
+ +
The plea Of those who ere asking for
special session of Congress now Is
that the Federal Government must pro-
vide relief for the unemployed and feed
the hungry. The Federal Government,
it Is quite clear, cannot provide jobs for
all the unemployed, although it has
undertaken a big building program, in
GLIDING public buildings, waterways and
harbors and road construction. Indus
try and agriculture, after all, must
solve the problem of unemployment.
The relief for the unemployed carried
on by local and State charity during the
Winter has been enormous and Is de-
serving Of praise. The unemployed
numbered more than 5000, 900 in jan
uary, at the peak Of unemployment, it
is now reported by the Census Bureau
through Secretary Lamont Of the De-
partmert Of Commerce. Hundreds of
millions of dollars, take the country
over, have been contributed to the sup
port OF the unemployed. They have
been cared for without Federal dole"
The American Red Cross, which han
died the relief problem in Arkansas and
other States of the drought-stricken
area, finally went over the top" in its
drive for a 100000 900 fund for that
relief work, despite the setback It met
when the coalition Senate was demand
ing that the Federal Government ap-
propriate $25, 100000 to feed and clothe
those in distress In all parts Of the
country.
The report Of the Secretary Of Com
nerce indicates that employment is
distinctly on the increase in many lines
OF industry. Midwinter, in most pros
porous times, always brings a consider
able measure of unemployment because
many activities must cease. Whether
the turn has actually been made in
the road and the country Is on the way
out Of the period of depression extend
Ing over the last Is months is not clear
yet. But whether 1t has or not, 1t seems
clear enough that another session of
Congress could do little but make head
lines for the disgruntled for those who
are out OF political Office and want to
get in. The President has indicated in
letter addressed TO Senator Robinson,
the Democratic leader at the time the
Federal dole proposal was dropped in
the Senate, that II at any time It be-
comes evident that the people in dis
tress cannot be kept from starvation
and distress through the channels which
have always been employed in this
country in the past, he would call upon
all the resources Of the Government to
come to the aid Of the people. The
promise OF the President to act is not
sufhcient in the eyes of his opponents.
The country, however, may take q DIFF
ferent view.
Even the Prograssives are bowling
now, the loudest, over the situation In
which the Federal Farm Board finds
itself, with some hundreds Of millions
OF bushels Of wheat on It's hands as
q result Of its effort last year to "peg"
the price Of wheat so that the Arneri.
can farmer might benefit thereby. This
Federal Farm Board, with its power to
go into the grain market and buy up
the surplus to hold for future use, was
established by the farm relief act spon.
sored by the administration. 1t was
held to be the least dangerous Of the
proposals advanced for dealing with the
surplus crops OF the American farmers.
Yet the Progressives, who sponsored
first the equalization fee" and then
the so-called "debenture" plan for farm
relief, are now laughing up their sleeves
at the plight of the administrations
Farm Board The present situation
seems to be q pretty good indication
of the fact that Congress by legisIaE
ton can do little or nothing to change
the economic laws Of supply and de-
mand and that in the end those laws
will work ineXorably. Yet If Congress
came back now, the first demand would
be to put into force the "debenture" plan, |
which could only cause great over
production OF wheat and other arri-
cultural commodities In the end. It
seems as though the Farm Board might
really accomplish something If it would |
adopt the plan advocated by Senator |
Smith Of South Carolina, which calls |
for the sale of wheat and cotton by
the board to the farmers at existing |
prices, with the understanding that
they would fail to grow Just that
amount Of wheat or cotton this year. |
This might get rid CT the surplus, pre- |
vent q new surplus and at the same
time make 1t possible for the farmers |
when the next crop is due to get a |
much higher price for their wheat and |
cotton.
The State Legislatures, some Of them. |
are now tackling the question Of redis- |
tricting their States so as to meet the |
requirements Of the new apportionment |
in the House of Representatives. Cali |
fornia is one of the States which have
gained several seats in the House under |
the new apportionment. The row there |
is between the north and south. The |
population of the southern half of the |
State has grown more rapidly than that |
Of the northern half It would appear |
that the southern half Is entitled to IL |
out OF the 20 congressional districts al /
lowed under reapportionment But the |
northern half Is anxious TO make q /
ffty-f1fty proposition. How the row will
end is not clear. Because Congress was I
derelict in its duty and let reapportion-
ment wait for an extra decade, the work |
Of the State Legislatures has been made
all the more troublesome.
y \
"Big Bill" Thompson, seeking re-
election as mayor Of Chicago on the |
Republican ticket, is not getting the
support of thousands of the Republicans
in the Windy City. Furthermore, there
are great mass of voters who are out
to get rid Of "Thompsonism" at what
ever cost, even though it means the
election of TONY" Cern1ak, the Demo-
cratic nominee for mayor. And Cermak
Is practical politician" AS matter
Of fact Thompson's plea for the Repub-