Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-29
The Political Mill

Gov Franklin ID. Roosevelt OF New
York Etiu seems 70 be riding high in
the command Of the Democratic forces
OF his own State. There have been
frequent predictions that he was to be
immersed, nrst By Tammany. then by
followers Of Owen D. Young, for the
presidential nomination next year, and
then BY . combination in which these
groups and former Gov. Al Smith would
be dominating factors when Gov
Smith the other day at q Tamnany
rally asSaile5 proposed amendment to
toe State constitution cealing with re-
forestation, an amendment which Gov.
Roosevelt is supporting, there were
many who said. in effect: The row is
on which marks the end OF the Roose-
Welt boom. so far as New York State is
concerned" But now Tanmany has
sent instructions to its various and
slndry leaders and voters that the re-
furestation amendment il to be sup
ported In the coming election. It looks
as though the Governor was on top Of
the heap.
As . matter Of fact, the reforestation
amendment to the New York state con-
stitution has generally received the sup
port OF Republicans and Democrats
alike. The Kings County Democratic
organization gave its Endorsement to
the amendment before Tammany acted.
Probably the Tsmmany leaders know
what they are about, although their
action in declaring for the reforesta-
ton amendment In the face Of the
some Of the Roosevelt Democrats
outside the precincts Of Manhattan.
&& NA
With the approach Of the session Of
Congress the question Is constantly
raised. What can the President do?
WIN be he able to get through any
legislation In q legislative body that
seems hostile ut the start and In which
the Democrats have almost equal
strength with the Republicans. and in
which there is an active group of Re-
publican Pr5greSsises seeking to ham,
string the administration at every turn.
In some Republican quarters 1t has
been suggested that the President might
seek to bring about a coalition govern
ment In the interests of the country.
particularly In face OF the grave eco
nomic situation. Admittedly, any at
tempt on the part of the Republicans to
form such a coalition would meet all
kinds Of difficulties. The Democrats
are out to beat the Republicans In the
general election next year. Why, say
publicans out Of hole they got them
selves into? This was the attitude taken
by Representative John Garner Of
Texas, the Democratic candidate for
Speaker Of the House. when he few
here from his home to attend a confer
ence of political leaders of both houses
Of Congress called by President Hoover.
II the Democrats will not play ball
and form a Coalition to put through
NEEDED legislation, the only aftermath; e
for the President is to place his RENE
dial legislation before the Congress, and
II 1t is not acted upon go to the country
and blame the Democrats for the fall
ure of the legislative program. Forming
coalition government In this country
is vastly different proposition than
forming such a coalition in Great Brit
ain. The presidency is the big prize in
America, and the Democrats are not
likely to forego the effort to take the
White House over next year However,
the President may we'll say to the Con-
greSS and the country that an emer-
gency exists not less serious than a war
emergency that all supporters Of the
Government. Republican and Demo-
cratic, should unite in putting through
legislation necessary to aid the whole
country. Then the Democrats will have
to answer to the country if they fan to
cooperate. But the chances of any
coalition" including Democrats and
regular Republicans t be known as q
coalition, in the c-mi g session of Con-
gress appear to be negligible.
Despite reports arising every few
weeks that Senator Tess of Ohio is
going out Of the chairmanship Of the
Republican National Committee, the
odes are still considerable that Mr..
Tess will hold on to the chairmanship
until the Republican national conven-
ton meets, next June. The Ohio Sena-
tor does not banker for the Job. In
fact, he has told the President that ne
would prefer to be relieved and to be
just Senator from Ohio again with
out the necessity of speaking not only
as Senator but as chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee every time
he opens his lips. There Is q great
aversion on the part Of the President
end other responsible leaders of the
G. O. p. to making any more changes
in the CT airmanship In the National
Committee until it becomes necessary
after the next national convention.
Senator Fess is the third man to hold
the job since Mr.. Hoover came into
Office
If the President could find Just the
right man for the craftsmanship and =
act as chairman Until the national con-
vention next June but continue on as
chairman throughout the campaign,
doubtless he would accede to the wish
Of Senator Fess and permit the Ohio
Senator to step aside But so far the
right man who is willing to take the
job end hold 1t through the next cam
paign has not been found. The Re-
publican. National Committee itself is
l. -
All the plans for the meeting, which
is to issue the call for the national con-
vention and to fix time and place for
it, are being perfected. Perhaps g
gathering OF the Republican clans in
Washington at that time will help to
clear up the situation with regard to
the organization of the National Com
mittee.
Frank o. Lowden of Illinois, Presi-
dent Hoover's chief antagonist for the
Republican presidential nomination in
1928 until the former Governor Of ILL.,
nois stepped aside because the conven-
ton had turned down his farm relief
plank, has taken up new issue. He
maintains that there are too many
governments in the States and that
many counties should be merged for
co. ernmental purposes with other coun-
ties In an interview given Arthur
Evans of the Chicago Tribune Gov.
Lowdei says In this connection
1T is evident. think. that the county
no longer functions as q successful
government.
when counties were first established
they met the needs of the times. Their
functions were simple and few. In the
early stages even education was pFi-
vate matter and there we're no public
schools. Road construction was simple
and largely a township affair. Trans
portation was slow and difhcult. Hence
the county must not be so large that
all the residents could not reach the