The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-26
POLITICS STILL
CONTROL VARIOUS
ISSUES ARISING
ROOSEVELT WHIP HAND
SEEN IN CLEVER GAME;
SIXTEEN TO ONE PLAN
TAKEN AS AN INSTANCE
By BYRON PRICE
(chief of Bureau, The Associated
Press, Washington)


have about given up their original
idea that President Roosevelt was
so completely dominate d by
theorists and idealists as to be
incapable of practical political
accomplishment.
Insfact so many White House
measures have slipped smoothly
through congress that political
old-timers are beginning to ask
when any other president ever
was quite so adept at out-jockey-
ing opposition and getting what
he wanted in the way of legisla-
ton.
To the general public it may
appear that the triumph of the
Roosevelt policies on capitol hill
was to have been expected as a
matter of course.
The truth is that under the
surface there has been a great
deal of hesitation or downright
hostility to almost every one of
the presidents notions about
legislation.
Very adroit political planning
and very quick footwork have
been required time after time
either to save an administration
measure or to head off an anti
administration measure.
II was at the break-tip of a
White House dinner party some
weeks ago that Mr.. Roosevelt was
told a majority Of the senate was
preparing to adopt, on the fol-
lowing day, mandatory 16-tO-1
initiation plan.
Next day many people were
surprised when elk or eight sena-
tors who had favored the pro
posa1 voted against ii, and it was
defeated.
What the public did not know
was that d great deal of off-the-
record discussion had taken place
in the course Of the night. Sew
eFal senators were told quite
plainly what might be expected to-
happen il they supported the bill.
The White House telephone
was working until long after mid
night. It saved the day.
And Again
There came time when just
two items were left on the presi-
dents list of domestic legislation
for the special session. Both had
been postponed for cause.
One was the plan for business
control, strongly favored by indus
try because 1t would remove much
Of the restraint imposed by the
Sherman law, but looked upon with
much disfavor AMONG labor lead
ers.
The other was the gigantic pub
nc works program, strongly back
ed by labor because it would
create many jobs, but frowned
upon by industry.
Casual observers have had some
difficulty IN figuring out why the
industFy-control and public works
kroRrain, which appear to have
little natural connection, were
siamped together in one bill.
The reason was that industry
Monld not dare oppose a bin en-
bDdying the control features, or
hEor bin embodying public
works. So they both fell into
he.
Up To Congress
While All Of these bills were be-
ng written by the Roosevelt
brain trust" more and more SEN
ktars and representatives were
#axing indignant because the
PREPARATION Of legislation had been
AIKEN out of their hands.
Plenty Of word of this reached
Ne president. SO when he found
Hsw taxes were needed. he said
ID eongresss sYou figure il out
hats your job. "
Nothing could have been moro
EMBARRASSING. for every congress
Nan knows that every time he
feposes tax raises he loses votes.
Complaint about presidential bill
aFfing died very suddenly.
All oF which is part of a deep.
ep game called politics. which
Roosevelt appears TO under
nd very well indeed.