Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-12-03

we're predicting the regular session woulo
be marked by war on many phases OF
the N. r. A. and A. A. A. and that this
would largely eclipse other matters. Now,
they see the likelihood that the imitation
and sound money forces will hold the
center of the stage, that they will lock
horns at the very outset and that the
whole session will be marked by an in
tense struggle over the currency issue IN
which sound money Democrats will re-
fuse to go along with the admlnlStra-
ton
1t is true that the President might
refuse to go far with the lnf1atlonlsts
and might try to pursue middle
ground as between them and the sound
money advocates. but there is scant eX-
pectation of that here Rather. it is felt
that Mr.. Roosevelt, having put his hand
to the pillow in the effort to lift the level
of commodity prices and bring down the
value of the dollar, is going as far with
the infiationists as is necessary to reach
his objective.
Currency Fight May Go On to 1886.
Should the administration monetary
policy succeed in short time in rails
ing the price level to the 1926 figures
the struggle before Congress and the
country would be relaxed. But there is
little sign of this. On the contrary, it
seems likely the war over money will
go on through Congress and into the
Congressional campaign of next year.
Nor is it by any means out of bounds
to conclude that it may reach into the
presidential campaign of 1886.
1t is worth while to remember that
the storm which swept the Nation in
frna lynr n oriS in
a day. 1t had been gathering head for
years. Through the second Cleveland
administration and before that the
of strong forces over the money queS-
ton and free silver was still large
factor in the 1900 campaign.
Judged by the light of history. it
seems improbable the present conflict
over initiation is soon to be terminated.
1t may last for years, especially if the
depression does not yield rapidly to the
recovery treatment Of the N. r. A. and
other Government agencies.
For years there has been much talk
among politicians about a realignment
OF parties with the West and til, the
neT against the conservatives whose
main strength is in the East, though
not confined there. This realignment
has never really been effected, though
1882 vas marked by many symptoms
of it.
Western Disaffection Needed.
Recently there have been indications
that the agricultural West, Northwest
and Southwest would break away from
the administration because of feeling
against the NJ R. A. and disappoint-
ment in the A. A. A. and other recovery
agencies and the continued disparity
between farm and industrial prices. So
able :. politician as the President has
not failed to sense this, and in turning
to gold buying he has had in mind the
temper of the agricultural regions on
initiation and devaluation.
1t will be seen when Congress as
sembles that the great body of the
Western Democrats. and the majority
from the South, will back the admin
istratlon in its monetary policy. pro-
vided the President does not retreat
from the lines toward which he is now
supposed to be moving. 1t will be dis
closed. too that the agricultural men,
bers will be disposed to swallow their
dislike Of the N. R. A. program, with
its lifting of industrial prices, pro-
on expansion of the currency supply.
Heretofore, in spite of talk of uniting
West and South under one political BAN
ner, the union has been impracticable
because the leaders of much of the
Southern Democratic machinery are by
training conservative and do not like
the ideas of the Progressives, such as
Senators George W. Norris of Nebraska,
William E. Borah of Idaho. and Robert
NJ. La Toilette, jr.. of Wisconsin.
President Can Hold South.
Many Southern Democrats have found
it difficult to break away from the old
traditions of their section. The race
question of the South has hindered
party realignment. But new order is
beginning to prevail. Mr. Roosevelt is
able to carry along with him the support
of many Southern Democrats on poll
cies that satisfy men like Senator Nor
ris and this applies especially to none
tary policy.
Since the agitation over the gold
buying order of the President, it is
worthy of notice that Senator Borah,
Progressive Republican of Idaho, has
declared strongly in favor of the ad-
ministration course. At the same time,
among others, Senator Joseph T. Rob-
inson, conservative Democrat of Arkan-
sas majority leader of the Senate, has
comm ended it 1t has won approval
from both Western and Southern DEM
ocrats of the Progressive variety, such
rs Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Mon
tana and Representative John E. Ran
kin of Mississippi.
Not only has it been disapproved by
former Gov. Smith and other strong
Democrats and leading Republicans.
but by powerful spokesman for business
and industrial and banking interests.
Continuation and intenSification OF
the controversy can hardly fail to affect
the party structures of the country pro-
foundry and shake them. perhaps as
they have not been shaken since the
ante-bellum years when slavery wiped
out one great party and built up an