Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-05-24
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National Topics Interpreted 70 fYTNYTE&
by William Bruckart kaxI31f
National Topics Interpreted
by William Bruckart

as the review boards report indicates,
there Is certain hardship developed
by such a system that is rather diff
cult to defend.
My inquiries, however, brought out
another fact that to my mind is highly
important and about which little has
been written. That is the expense
which these businesses must bear in
connection with the codes and at
tempts to find out what is expected of
the firms who have been given the blue
eagle of NRA membership.
There Is not day goes by that NRA
officials do not receive flocks of bust
ness men who come from far and near
for interviews, for conferences on pro-
posed codes, for Interpretation of
codes already written. for talks with
the authorities as to whether excep-
tons can be made to the universal
rules laid down in the codes, and for
the answers to a thousand-and-one
other questions. The expense of those
trips to Washington, the hotel bills.
the time away from their jobs, all of
these things have to be borne by the
individuals, businesses or corporations
interested.
But those expenses appear small
when arrayed alongside the code as
sessments that are levied on the in
dividual businesses which must pay
the cost of code authorities govern
ing their particular lines. When there
is more than one code applicable to a
firm, that firm pays assessments to
code authorities for every line that is
covered in their operation. And be-
heve me, it runs into money!
The resignation of Everett Sanders
of Indiana, as chairman, and the i'm
pending meeting in
Sanders Chicago of the Re
Reclamation publican national
mittee has
served to focus q spotlight on that
political agency which it has not
drawn since the days of the 1882 cam
paign. AS matter of fact, the San
discussion and has caused more Re
publicans to show their faces than
some folks thought were still alive. It
has demonstrated that there is life in
the G. o. P. yet. But the job ahead
Of it is one Of finding how the latest
strength can be utilized under a solid
leadership, and that means the first
task Is to find that leader for national
chairman.
Thus far, 1t can be said there is an
entire lack of unanimity among the
Republican national committee. They
appear not to have any idea as to the
identity Of the man who should be
elected to head the party organization.
Undoubtedly, the weakness of the
Republican position at this time is
lack of leadership. A real leader, as
far as hear discussion of the SUBJ
5ect, simply does not yet appear on
the horizon. If it were not for the
various crOsscurrents, it would be nat
ural to expect that the several fac
lions could get together and operate
tremendously. That. sad to relate, ap-
parently is impossible. The "old
guard" doesn't relish the idea Of sur
rendering power.
Much criticism has been heard of
the Republican leadership in congress
during this session. 1t has been said
the leadership has been spineless, and
Of the do-nothing kind. But the con-
sensus around Washington would seem
to be that Senator McNary of Oregon,
in the senate, and Representative
Smell Of New York, in the house, have
been impotent largely because the
Democratic majority was so huge that
they could never really voice the mi
nority position. =.
have heard some of the Democrats
assert that the Republican party can
never come back;
Prediction that it is through.
Foolish Nowhere does his
tory justify such a
prediction. 1t is necessary only to 90
back to the campaign when Warren G.
Harding was elected to the Presi.
dency. or to the overwhelming defeat
of Alfred e. Smith by Herbert Hoover
In each case. some of the Republican
leaders were so short sighted as to saw
that the Democrats were through.
Time has proved such representations
to be utterly foolish. II likely will
make the present unwise predictions
OF Democrats look the same vay in
the course Of few years. 1t seems
to me to be unwise at any time to con-
sign a political party to a grave un.
less there is no more blood left In the
carcass.
From what | can hear about the
Republican committees financial con-
dition, the plight of the Democrats a
few years ago can he regarded as only
slightly serious. Neither the national
committee nor the combined senatorial
and congressional committee can make
any plans for a fight because it takes
money to make the mare go.
Whatever the results are of the COM
ing election. however. it is apparent
now that Republican leadership first
must be established. The Democrats
have that leadership in Mr.. Roosevelt.
but they have to accept responsibility
also so that they can expect to be
attacked. Just as happened during