Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-13
The Political Mil
By C. Could Lincoln.

Unless the Democrats OF the State
Legislature change their present atti-
tude toward the proposal that q special
session be called to put through a law
strengthening the hands Of the Legis-
lative Committee in their investigation
OF the government OF New York City,
Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt OF New
York may have come to the parting Of
the ways with those gentlemen. For IL
reports be correct Gov. Roosevelt will
call q special session of the Legislat ure
to pass the proposed law when the In
vestigating Committee calls upon him
to do so. 1t is urged that If he should
adopt any other course he would SUBJ
ject himself, along with the Democratic
legislators, to q charge that he was
conniving to prevent thorough inves-
tigation. after 1t has become evident
not only to the people of New York
City. but to the whole country, that
there is q great deal Of rottenness in
the city government. AS the leading
candidate for the Democratic nominal
ton for President next year, it is not
likely that Gov. Roosevelt win permit
himself to be placed in any such posi-
ton.
New York Democrats have been on
posed to this inquiry into New York
City government by a Legislative Com
mittee ever since 1t originated. They
voted against 1t in the Legislature. The
Governor, when he was urged to in
itiate such an inquiry by the CITY At
fairs Committee, finally decided that il
was a legislative matter and said he
would put nothing In the way of A
thorough investigation by a Legislative
Committee. Now the Legislative Com
m fr af4 e. a.
real aid. The state Court of Appeals
has ruled that the Legislative Commit
tee does not have the power to grant
immunity to witnesses under the Joint
resolution creating the committee. but
has added that a law passed by the
Legislature ana signed by the Governor
can give that power, which the commit
tee urgently needs IL 1t is to be able
to go ahead with Its investigation in
thorough style. The Democrats have
insisted that the inquiry was born in
politics and Is designed only to aid the
Republican party. That kind of argu-
ment, however, will not get them very
far IN the light of the corruption that
has already been upturned in New York
City.
The Republican national administra
ton was In danger of being discredited
by the investigation made BY the SEN
ate several years ago of the naval oil
reserve leases to Doheny and Sinclair.
But the Republicans were unable to say
that the investigation should not con-
tinue merely because 1t was being con-
Quoted by an indefatigable Democrat,
Senator Thomas j. Walsh of Montana.
They knew that the Democrats would
make the issue Of the corruption against
the @. o. p. on the national campaign
which was to follow. But the Repub-
lcans had sense enough to know also
that If they undertook to block the in
curry OF Teapot Dome by Walsh they
would merely put themselves in a worse
light. Perhaps the New York Demo-
Gratis will wake up to the fact that
they are likely to have their opposition
q thoroughgoing inquiry interpreted
in an exceedingly bad light.
x
Gov Roosevelt can strengthen him
self greatly with the run-of-the-min
voters in New York and throughout the
country II he calls q special session of
the Legislature to put the law required
10 meet the needs of the investigating
committee. It may hurt him with the
New York organization. He, 1t appears.
must decide for himself whether he is
TO hang onto Tammany or go ahead
without regard to what may happen TO
some Tammany leaders Of New York If
the investigation Is carried on yigor-
ously.
1t is an awkward position for the
governor, from a political point of
view, but he could scarcely benefit him
sell oy permitting himself to be tagged
with the Tammany label in a presi-
0Antt0I
many" for which Al Smith and his
friends worked few years ago has not
materialtxed. Roosevelt can have the
support OF the New York delegation at
the next Democratic National Conven-
ton, In all probability, even if he Of
tends some Of the Tammany leaders
other prominent New York Democrats
IN the past have broken with Tammany
ana nave been nominated by the DEM
ocratic party for President. notably
Grover Cleveland, who was elected pres.
ldent. and Samuel j. Tildan, who nearly
accomplished that feat.
-
Senator Fess, chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee. has an
nounced that President Hoover viii
nave concrete plan for the relief
OF the unemployed when Congress
meets IN December. This is in line
with what Mr.. Hoover has said him
SER. But the Democrats indicate they
90 not take any stock in these protes-
tatlons py the President and the chair
man OF the Republican National Com
mittee. The Democratic National Com
mietee' through its publicity bureau,
when Is most active, continues attack
ing the administration and its attitude
toward the unemployment situation.
one OF the latest of these broadsides
was issued under the name of Repre-
sentative Clarence Cannon of Missouri.
Mr.. Cannon charges the administration
with tagging from the start In its
recognition OF the situation in this
country and attacks statements issued
~ tne PRESIDENT and Secretary Doak of
the department OF Labor regarding en-
ployment of labor. 1t is clear that the
Democrats are going to make the most
OF the hard times in the coming cam
paign and to seek to pin on the Repub-
lican administration the blame for these
hard times II they can do so. That is
politics. The Republicans would be doing
the same thing If Alfred E. Smith were
President today. It Is exactly what the
Republicans have done in the past
when the Democrats were in power.
=
Whatever the plan of the admins
sratlon, 1t now appears that 1t does not
contemplate a Government dole or
Federal unemployment insurance. SEN
ator Felix Hebert of Rhode Island is
chairman Of the Senate committee
which Is now looking into the matter
Of unemployment insurance and the
possibility OF Federal law along those
lines. He was appointed to head the
committee after the Senate had put
through q resolution offered by Senator
RF~e F&4
viding for the inquiry. Democrats at
lacked the Repuhlicans because Wagner