Evening star., 1933-06-11
Merrily We Roll Along.

During the campaign it was said OF
Mr.. Roosevelt that he possessed the re-
markable capacity for seeing and talk
ing to the representatives OF any and
all minority groups, and no matter how
contradictory the aims espoused by
these groups, he left the representa-
tives of each and every one Of them
pleased pink. At the same time the
careful student of his campaign speeches
was impressed by certain lack Of spe-
cifc candor in disposing Of some OF the
important issues to which he addressed
himself so vigorously and with such ap-
parent directness,
This happy faculty for bathing every
body with the pleasing light OF his
smile, yet keeping out Of hot water
himself, was given its due credit IN
the list Of things accounting for his
sweeping victory. Mr.. Roosevelt never
hesitated to march boldly into enemy
territory, yet he never made an enemy
People during the campaign and since
have been inclined to smile with him,
and he is yet to frown.
But, the wise ones said, it is one
thing to cut the corners in q pre-elec-
ton campaign and cleyeriy to miss
coming squareIy in collision with certain
issues that sometimes become ire
movable obstacles Wait until he
meets up with. Congress, and all'the
warning and conflicting elements that
ind personifcation in the members Of
Congress!
Well, the country has waited for three
months. The outstanding feature Of
this outstanding session Of Congress
has been the Presidents ability to get
things done. He has had, Of course, q
tremendous, majority in both Hcuses
to work With him. IN the House,
especially, the precision Of the stes 4
roller machine there has brought gasps
Of anaazenent from those who in the
years past were, familiar with the So
called czaFs Of old But when steam
roller Is ,functioning ii isueh . body as
Congress, it Is usually accompanied by
the squeals Of anguish which I'LL the
air when. It rolls over somebody. m
this Congress. there. have been few
squeals. It isStrue that there have
heen dienified protests from men Of
both parties, but they were. more. or
less in the nature of statements that
men sometimes make to the execu-
toner just before the fan OF the AK
something to be said to keep the record
straight and to provide reading matter
at memorial services later on, but said
with little conviction of changing in
any way the order Of the proceedings.
They have net been the sqneals Of men
crushed beneath the steam roller. nor
the impassioned yells of rebels who
would lead revolt.
The political honeymoon does not ac-
count for the relative domestic peace
between the President and his Congress.
The President has asked, directly and
with no subterfuge, for things that in
ordinary times would have led to q
separation and suits and countersuits
alleging everything from delusions Of
grandeur to pure cussedness and cruelty.
Yet the. windup Of the extra session
finds the President smiling still, and
a potentially rambunctious Congress as
meek as d lamb.
The answer may be that the gracious
and courageous man In the White
House has asked Congress to do nothing
more than pass the buck to him, and
that, IN the opinion Of Congress, is an
admirable as we'll as reasonable re-
quest. If there are storms brewing, to
break with full force when the country
learns Of the real meaning Of some Of
the revolutionary steps so hurriedly
taken in Washington, they will at least
beat down on a President who asked
for and cheerfully accepted the respon-
sibility which accompanies his new
powers. This cheerful courage Of the
President will stand him, and the eoun-
try, in good stead. There are many
who are justly cynical Of the effective
ness of some Of the remedies prescribed.
We are, as Nation, to use the Presi-
dents own expression. to tread a new
and untrod path" not only in relation
to the farm bill but in relation TO
other parts of the industrial program.
Merrily we roll along-not knowing ex-
actly where we are rolling, but merrily,