Evening star., 1934-09-17
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

With Republicans like Senator VAN
denberg of Michigan and State Chair
man Macy of New York advocating q
soft-pedal policy on the New Deal,
while the national party management
favors two-fisted opposit ion, the DEM
ocrats see the G. o. P SO divided as
to tactics that defeat IL November if
for no other reason, stares the ele-
phant in the face. These conditions
are precisely those which the Demo-
cratic high command has long fore
shadowed. Satisfactory as this is
from the administrations standpoint,
word has been passed down the line
to party workers throughout the coun-
try that nothing Is to be taken for
granted, and that the contest must be
waged to the last with old-time vigor
The Democrats are out for something
more than mere control of Congress.
They yearn for rnajorities that will
leave no trace Of doubt of the New
Deals invincibility. They have 1896
as well as 1884 in mind.
X X
Republican Representative Jim
Beck's voluntary retirement from Con-
gress because he doesn't want to be
even "a 400th part of rubber stamp"
removes from the House its acknowl-
edged most eloquent member-about
the only exponent of old-fashloned
silver -tongued oratory left on that
side Of the Capitol. After entering
Congress seven years ago, the schol-
arly Philadelphian was regularly des-
| ignated to deliver official House ad-
dresses on national anniversaries.
There was a suggestion during the
late session that his various speeches
on those occasions should be compiled
in book and issued as public doc
ument. One of Beck'S addresses in
London during the World War was
considered so brilliant a tribute to
Britain's part in the allied cause that
it was phonographically recorded and
widely circulated throughout the en-
pire. Not the least Of Mr.. Beck'S con-
gressional achievements was his rest
less leadership in the cause of prohi-
bition repeal.
Politicians are convinced that DR..
Rex. G.. Tugwell's departure tor
Europe last week-to attend the In
ternational Agricultural Institute in
Rome-was timed to have him far
from the congressional campaign
scene. Republican anti-New Dealers
are sailing violently into the Under
secretary of Agriculture as the plan
ner in chief of the Roosevelt cult
and Democratic strategistS apparently
came to the conclusion that with Tug
well out Of the country at this psyche
logical moment there might be lit
tie less incentive to use him as a New
Deal target. Every now and then the
report crops up that Tugwell's days in
the administration are numbered and
that it will not be long before he be-
comes head of great university. a
field of activity said to represent his
fondest aspirations. Democratic con-
servativeS hope he will realize them
without much delay.
+ y
No matter what the future has In
store for Senator Gerald p Nye, Re-
publican progressive, of North Dakota
now in the international Imelight
at the head of the munition investi-
cation, he has the satisfaction of hav-
ing had chance to become chairman
Of the Republican National Commit
tee. As the story goes, the suggestion
came to him out of clear sky
Those who made 1t were told that the
young North Dakotan would consider
the proposition only on condition that
Republican policy could be modelled
along certain lines which he favprs