The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-09-14
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
BY FRANK P. LITSCHERT

In these hot September days when
everyone is struggling with code
and trying to help put over the N. R.
A. program regardless of his personal
or political convictions, it is difficult
to realize that another political CAM
paign Just around the corner. Yet
this is exactly the case. In a few short
months the nominations for Congress,
for state offices and for county posi-
lions will be in full blast all over the
country. Conventions and primaries
will be held on every hand, depending
on the laws of the state in which the
selections are being made. And then
the biennial campaign will be on once
more-the one which always comes at
the half way point in every national
administration. 1t seems only yester-
day that President Roosevelt took Of
flee and and issued his famous edict
temporarily closing the banks. Yet
here we are almost on the verge of an
other political campaign.
Up to this time the Republicans at
Washington have been quiescent. Mid
summer when people who have the
money to spend are away on vaca-
tons, is never regarded as very good
time for politics. But this year has
been less political than ever. Follow
ing the big landslide last fall the Re-
publicans very properly decided to
give the new administration chance
to see what it could do. There has
been plenty of action. Just now it is
all going to turn out remains
to be seen. The N. R. A. is the final
number in the program, and the sue
cess or failure of the full program
depends in large measure on the sue
cess or failure of this drive. The Re-
publicans have "done their bit" just
as they did in war time, and if the pro-
gram does not meet the full measure
| VI SuCCeoS LIldI ito oPoAooAo SAPCSC,
certainly the blame cannot be placed
on the lack of political cooperation.
Both those who believe in it and
those who are dubious say that with
in the next few weeks the N. R. A.
program will either prove or disprove
| e .4,o1f Te &c ond
perity comes back to US the Democrats
will be in good shape for the cam
paign of 1884, and the Republicans
will be handicapped. But if the pro-
gram does not come up to eXpecta-
lions, and if Europe is ahead of us
in pulling out of the depression, then
it is natural to believe that the Re-
publicans will have great deal to say
in the next campaign and that they
will make serious inroads on the
strength of the party in power. Only
time can tell the story.
Of course it is only natural to ex-
pect that the Democratic majority in
Congress will be trimmed some in the
elections next year. Mr.. Roosevelt
rode into the Presidency on land
slide, and a victory of such proper
lions as he achieved usually brings
into power congressman Of the vic
torious party who could not expect to
win under normal conditions. The
next congressional election then
brings a reaction and many of these
"freak" congressman go down be-
fore the assaults of the party which
usually controls their district.
That the Democrats themselves do
not expect to hold the gains they made
in 1882 is indicated by many of the
dispatches being sent out of Wash
ington by the political correspondents
dispatches going to Democratic as
we'll as Republican newspapers. For
example, Kirke Simpson, Washington
correspondent of the politically neu-
trail Associated Press, recently wrote
that the Democratic congressman who
went back home have learned that the
going is not going to be any too good
next year at best, and that it is going
to be more difficult to get reelected
in 1884 than would have been thought
possible afew months ago. Mr.. Simp-
son whimsically adds: "The Demo.
cratic National Committee is getting
lot of inquiries as to what help it is
going to give them next year. The
answers received are described as dip.
lomatic, not to say vague"
The quietude of the Republicans is
not to be regarded entirely as SON.
Violence. They are busy now with
codes and other business affairs, but
they are keeping an eye to windward
They can be depended on to put up a
real battle when the times comes
Whether it will be successful depends
a great deal on how successful bird
is the Blue Eagle within the next few
months.