The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-30
NEA service Writer

Washington.-Bravery in politics
seems to become increasingly rare
and occasional instances of il
usually create a major sensation.
Few persons expect 1t any
more, of course, but this particu.
lar season, when it might be ar.
gued that a more than ordinary
degree of courage is called for In
Washington, seems to be accentu.
ating an unusual amount of eau.
ton or cowardice or whatever yor
want to call it.
You can find plenty of seeming
or alleged examples of brave
words and deeds, but close scru.
tiny usually proves them to be
phoney, in the sense that they are
dictated by the common passion
of all politicians for salvation OF
the epidermis.
Attack the Weak
This gallant battle for fedora
economy for instance, is a mere
panic. The congress has beer
so thoroughly scared by grim
national demand that it has
grabbed an axe and stared a ca
reer of slaughter-but slaughter
only of such weaklings in the field
of government expenditures as
can't possibly fight back.
The net result is uncertain, but
most members have thus far
seemed perfectly willing to fire
thousands of poorly paid govern.
ment employees, cut the salaries
of the rest-by what in some in.
stances runs as high as Is or sc
per cent through pyramid econo-
mics, while ignoring possibilities
of hundreds of millions to be
spent on various forms of refined
political graft, pork, veteran APP
preparations and huge military
and naval expenses.
Constructive. educational, hui
manitarian activities of the gov
eminent are those hardest hit.
Getting any intelligent, coura-
geous. careful, humane economy
programs through congress would
be out of the question.
Hoover and Roosevelt.
But the practice of picking fights
only with little fellows who can't
fight back is not confined to con-
gress. 1t is also confirmed
presidential practice. Whether this
is a personal weakness or an in
escapable fault bred by the poll
cal system need not be discussed,
but anyone will promptly get the
point by considering President
Hoover and Governor Franklin d.
Roosevelt. one of whom probably
will be the next president.
Few men have taken more Sc
we're, sarcastic paintings for vacil-
latien and lack of courage than
those two gents. The one consist
ent, constant criticism of Hoover
has been that he lacked what, for
the sake of dear Aunt Emma
who reads these dispatches daily.
may be called intestinal stamina.
Today that's the thing you hear
oftenest about Roosevelt.
The occasions those two heroes
select to get really fighting mad"
have become almost a standing
joke. One refers not to their no.
BILE, last ditch determination to
battle for prosperity, the flag and
the sanctity of the home, but to
their clashes with actual live is
sues. groups or other person.
alities.
The Presidents Battles
Prior to nomination and election.
Mr. Hoover's favorite fight was with
the Russian Bolsheviki. Standing
behind the banquet tables. he used
to wipe the floor with those fell
lows time and again.
As president. he has hurled the
lightning of his powerful ONCE at
such obscure persons as William
b. Shearer. William Howard
Gardner and Congressman Louis
T. McFndden. .Shearer was the
lobbyist for shipbuilding compa-
MES alleged to have broken up
the Geneva conference. Gardner,
head Of the Navy league. had
criticized the Hoover navy policy.
With mighty roars, the president
brought down his wrath upon
them and held them up TO national
scorn.
And McFadden. severe critic OF
Hoover and his moratorium poll