Evening star., 1933-06-06
The Revolt.

revolt against the leadership Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt Democrats of the House
and Senate can well afford to weigh
the consequences If they go through
with their determination to abandon
that leadership. They have only to
look back few short years for an OBJ
1ect lesson to observe what happened to
the former administration after group
of Republican Senators and Representa-
tives had staged revolt. II the
Democrats split now, with Congress do
ing a right-about face, they can look
forward to the election Of Republican
Congress In 1894. That Is the political
angle. If the Democrats have any
consideration for the country outside OF
their own political fortunes, they will
hesitate still more to kick over the apple
cart. If ever there was occasion for
united action on the part Of the legis-
lative and executive branches Of the
Government, this seems to be the time.
The seeds of the present revolt against
President Roosevelt's leadership have
been sown by a group Of Congressman
who fear the effect, politically, Of the
drastic cuts in compensation and pen
sions which the administration has
decreed for the veterans. Having given
the President authority to 60 ahead
and save 100000, 900 Of the taxpayers
money, cutting 1t of the billion-dollar
annual bill for the veterans, the Senate
Democrats, and now the House Demo-
Gratis, are undertaking to rescind their
former action. They are hoping thereby,
as they think, to save their political
skins. 1t Is true that inequities In the
cuts have shown up In individual cases,
but they are matters that can be rene
died without a wholesale repeal Of the
salutary clauses Of the economy act
which would remove from the compen-
sation rolls thousands Of men who are
drawing money today although their
injuries have no service connection
whatever.
The President has brought the re-
voting Democrats up with . round
turn by declaring that II the expenses
ce the Government are to be increased
hy putting these men back on the Gov
eminent rolls the Congress must at the
same time pass legislation to increase
the taxes. The House Democrats and
the Senate Democrats are inclined to
shudder when they think Of imposing
still more taxes on the American peo-
pie. There are lot Of taxpayers who
like the veterans, vote In this country.
The President succeeded in quelling
IN part the revolt In the Senate when
hs persuaded the Finance Committee
TO restore late yesterday the licensing
feature Of his public works and indus
tries control bill. At the same time,
however, the Democrats in the House
rejected the Presidents recommended
tton for authority to permit him to ap-
point Governor of Hawaii who had not
necessarily been a resident Of the IS
lands.
strong backing of the country In his ef-
forts to put through his recovery pro-
gram. Some Of this program may not
work. But that is neither here nor
there. The administrations program
must be given a trial, or else there Is
danger of further chaos. The President
would be entirely justified in appealing
70 the Nation over the heads Of Con-
gress should it be necessary to do so.
II the Democrats in Congress them
selves are shrewd enough, such an ap-
peal will not be necessary. If they fail
the country at this juncture the Demo-
cratic party is likely to slide back
into the old estimate held by the coun-
try. an estimate which placed the
Democratic party as ineffective, inpo-
tent and constantly fighting within its
own ranks.