The Ely miner., 1933-02-17

4
hands that ever was faced by Presi-
dent. Especially was this true during
the last two years of his administra-
tion. During that time, he had con-
gress made up of Democratic house
and a senate in which there never
was majority on either side on any
| question; / mean, majority that
could be counted in advance, and he
was forced, therefore, to do lot
| of trading. That Mr.. Hoover was
able to get his reconstruction program
| as far under way as he did was due
] absolutely to the condition Of the
country and not through any control
| which he was able to exert.
| AS a matter of fact, the congress
for the last ten years has been an
| "unbroken colt" The senate during
all of that time has been so close
as regards the party division that a
group of so-called progressives have
constantly welded the balance Of pow
er. Being Independent, those 10 or
| II men on the Republican side and
few less on the Democratic side
skated back and forth as their ideas
dictated. The result was terrific
| casualty of well-laid plans.
While the senate was in this con-
| dition, the house was having its trou-
bles and would have had more ex-
cept for the extraordinary personal
ity of the late Nicholas LOngworth.
AS speaker during the Republican
control, mick" Longworth commanded
an unusual amount of respect, not 80
| much, it appears, because of Outstand-
ing ability as because of the deep
esteem which about 80 out of each 100
members held for him personally. But
even when the house was preponder-
antly Republican, the progressives
| managed to tie tin can to the dogs
tail ever so often and there had to be
concessions of varying kinds and
quantities.
So it becomes rather obvious that
whatever Mr.. Hoover may have lacked
in political ability or acumen; what
ever were his shortcomings in state
craft, or however many mistakes he
made by refusing concessions, the fact
still remains that he held the Job
as President in a period when few men
would have succeeded. For, coupled
with all of these factors, there was
and is no measure within the power
of the federal government to satisfy
all of the diverse elements of these
times. The depression has made. ex-
perience of bygone years as useless
as the proverbial fifth wheel of the
farm wagon.
In view of these facts, therefore, it
! ought to be cheering prospect for
Mr.. Roosevelt to
NICE PROSPECT see not Just a
FOR ROOSEVELT working major
ity but a big
majority of his own party in the con-
gressional membership when they get
together.
The American government always
has been a party government. 1t thus
has had to have satisfactory ma
jority of each house of congress Of
the same party as the President in
order to work well. Mr.. Roosevelt's
first two years In the White House
are assured of such a working con-
troll If all who are labelled as Demo-
Gratis turn out to be Democrats.
On the face of things, 1t appears
that Mr.. Roosevelt ought to be able
to get whatever he wants from the
extra session and the succeeding ses-
sions 1t is situation ideal for ac-
tion. There will be so few Republicans
that observers here fail to see how
they can start any trouble, even with
the aid of progressives.
Under these conditions Mr.. Roose-
velt's first message to congress ought
to be state paper embracing within
it's pages complete and comprehen-
sive program for economic rehabilita-
tion. 1t is said he has had a good
many advisers working out details of
the various proposals which he will
offer to congress. Whatever they turn
out to be, they must be regarded as
important, for they most surely will
be enacted into law. Few Presidents
have ever had the opportunity, there
fore, to be as dominant as Mr.. Roose-
velt Is in a position to be.
There have been suggestions floating
around to the effect that quite num-
ber of trial
SENDS UP TRIAL balloons" have
BALLOONS been sent up
in the congress
sional atmosphere by Mr.. Roosevelt.
While there is no method of confir-
nation available. there has been one
condition existing during the last three
months that seems to confirm the opin-
ion that the incoming President was
testing out sentiment. The condition
is this: Mr.. Roosevelt has kept
hands off insofar as telling leaders of
his party In congress what he wanted
to have done in the short session.
He could have made his own path
way easier to travel after becoming
President had he confided some of his
views to the Democratic leaders of the
house and senate. 1t appears quite
improbable that there would have
been any such lack of results in the
short session had he let it be known
what legislation he wanted.
With reference to the suggestions
of trial balloons" however, it is pos
sible Mr.. Roosevelt did tell a few of
his friends some of his ideas. It has
been observed here. for example, that
possibly his suggestions were respon-
sible for the consistently busy commit
tees. BY introducing various and sun