The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-11-03
National Topics Interpreted

here in the National
What Will Capital, and each
Congress- Dc? day the inevitable
question, "what will
congress do?" is heard more and more.
And when one considers the troubles
of the day, it is difficult to avoid the
conviction; there seems to be ample
reason for wondering what congress
will dol
In the minds of Washington observ-
ers, as far as / have been able to
learn their views, little doubt remains
that President Roosevelt will have
highly nervous and bull-headed con-
gress on his hands. It appears GER
tain the senators and representatives
are not going to be so tractable as
they were from March to June In the
extraordinary session. 1t is equally
certain that the members will come
back from the hastings filed with
lot of new ideas, champing at the bit.
eager to do things. demanding that
things be done this way or that. In
deed, think it can be said that Mr..
Roosevelt is going to have both hands
full, and If he pulls the feins in sue
cessfully controlling congress, he will
have demonstrated that he is not only
master politician but super=polf-
tician. It is test. beyond the shadow
| of doubt, and supreme test in ev-
cry sense of the word.
Tr,ct ctoy, on1 fh;rlz of tho citr1 tinys
there is as much uncertainty in bust
ness as there was this time last year;
there are fresh threats from labor;
continuing threats from numerous ag-
ricultural sections; saber rafting from
abroad, cries about the burden of tax
alton yet dire need for more money
for the federal government, pressing
social and political problems follow
ing repeal of prohibition, demands for
relief for the farmer, for the debtor,
for the unemployed, and generally
speaking, some new crop of troubles
every day.
1t is to be remembered, too, that ev-
cry time congress convenes for a new
session, it's members have come back
to Washington filed to the brim with
problems, pet or general, from par
ticular section or state. It is thus
quite natural that in this circumstance,
there will be partisans supporting ev-
eryone of the various questions have
set down. And don't forget, those
senators and Representatives will make
themselves heard! They have never
failed at that job, heretofore, and
there are no signs indicating they
will fail this time.
do more than guess. There are GER
tain phases of the
Faith in advance showing Of
Roosepeh the picture, however,
cussed, and I am going to relate some
of them in the hope that better I'M
derstanding Of Forthcoming conditions
may be had.
In the first instance, the records
fail to show many Presidents who have
had popular faith behind them to the
extent of that accorded Mr.. Roosevelt.
He has caught the public imagination
and, although he has some bitter crit
les and will have more, there seems to
be no doubt that he has rather solid
base from which to begin his fight.
Next, the country as a whole will
listen to that which the President says.
Individuals may disagree with him and
may oppose him in his programs and
policies, but they will read what he
has to say or listen to him on the
radio. That is an advantage Of great
Importance, since he has the audience.
In the case of senators or represent
atives, except among few of the real
leaders, limited group Of followers
will read what he says or listen to his
mouthings, but generally there Is the
tendency to read headline and say
it's just Congressman Ump-ta-ump"
and read the next column.
In the next place, there is an cleo
ton facing all of the members of the
house of representatives and one-third
of the senators, and every day that
any one of them balks on Presiden-
tial plans. he is just one day nearer
the polls. If need be, you know, the
President can let it be known that the
individual congressman or senator is
not wanted, and the cantankerous gen.
tleman or lady member has something
to worry about. In few instances can
they win individually; they must have
party support. So, the President can
hold that club, ready to swing. I am
| told he has let it drop gently in sew
eral places already, but that is out
side Of this discussion and constitutes
purely local party differences.
Besides these, few senators or rep
resentatives have the courage to defy
the President openly on the floor of
their chamber If the President be Of
their own party. That is the record.
Since the President usually is Of the
party in control of congress, the bills
of local Importance do not travel far
along the legislative pathway when
they are sponsored by one who has
/ i,,papad ovor fhQ Marty TRACES The