The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-11-22

ages. In other words, it appears to
be within the realm of possibility
that me will have to swerve some
what to the right to insure victory
for the policies in which he be-
lieves. Legislation always is by
compromise. If the President does
not desire to go so far to the radi-
cal side he may be forced to sup
port certain more conservative
propositions in order that when
the radical group makes demands,
he can make concessions to them
and accomplish the ends sought.
This conjecture, of course, is pre-
dictated upon the frequently heard
condition that the radical bloc will
be larger in congress than here
tofore and that they will assert
themselves. The Presidents abil-
ity to meet this condition obvious
ly will be tested, but there are
many observers who say that. the
President is the best tight-rope
walker the country ever has seen.
Looking into the future, it seems
perfectly safe to say that the re-
alignment of parties has taken
greater strides than most observ-
ers thought possible when Mr..
Roosevelt was proposing the New
Deal in the 1882 campaign. 1t was
perfectly patent then and became
more apparent as he took office, as
I reported to you at that time, that
Mr.. Roosevelt was building a par
| ty of his own.
Sees Breakup of Solid South
I heard a Washington political
writer, a man of forty years ex-
perience, say the other day that
it was not impossible for break
up of the "solid South" to occur
within the next six years. He en-
visioned withdrawal of the conserv-
alive South from any party that
tied closely into the liberal or rad
zeal groups that dominate the Mid
die West and the Rocky Mountain
areas. It presented picture rath-
eur new in the political scene in that
it seemed to suggest the POSSIBLE
ity of an alignment of the East
against the Middle West, and the
] far western sections Of the coun-
try.
The thought was expressed with
/ two factors in mind. 1t was point
ed out that the bulk of the terri
/ tory east of the Mississippi river
i is based in manufacturing indus
tries. In that territory are many
large and medium sized cities.
Their interests are different than
those west of the Mississippi. The
condition resolves the question into
one of economics.
The second factor to be consid-
cred is the fact that the so-called
solid South is inherently conserva-
tive. That links with the great
manufacturing sections of the
/, country. If Mr.. Roosevelt has sue
ceeded or does succeed in creating
his own party, under whatever
name it may eventually be known,
this Washington observer told me
he foresaw gradual detection Of
southern Democrats and their
! alignment with manufacturing IN
terests in a conservative party.
History shows that such develop
ments as are pictured in the above
prediction are very slow. Notwith-
standing the rapid changes that
have come since Mr.. Roosevelt be-
came President it is unreasonable
to suppose that accomplishment OF
an entire political party revolution
can be accomplished in time to af-
,, feet the result of the 1886 Presi-
dental election. Some students
of politics maintain, however, that
the development will have been
sufficient by 1886 to WELD some
influence.
|. From all of the discussion hear
at this time the result in 1886 will
be dependent upon whether there
has been complete recovery q n d
whether federal money holds out
that long. There are few with
whom 1 have talked who disagree
with the premise that withdrawal
of federal aid for relief OF 9th
erwise can be accomplished with
| out important political reactions.
This is the story Of man whose
name many of you have seen en-
graved in stone on many post of
fees throughout the United States.
1t is the story Of a man who grew
up in government service and who
is now retiring to the rest and re-
creation which 40 years Of govern
ment service certainly entities him.
| At the end of this month, James
| A. Wetmore will close his desk at
the treasury, where he has served
since 1915 as acting supervising
architect and from which office
he has directed the greatest pub
lie building programs ever under
taken by any government. Mr..
Wetmore is seventy-one years old
and he says that he is going to en-
joy the rest of his life as play but
he always hastens to explain that
he has enjoyed nearly every day