Milford chronicle., 1934-07-13
The Political Situation

The political battle lines are TAX
ing definite shape nOw-and what
promises to be the fight of the CEN
fury is in the offing. Beginning next
/ November and. continuing until the
Presidential election of 1886, the
campaigns will be the bitterest in
many years.
Within a recent ten days two
events of exceptional political i'm
portance and interest occurred
First was the meeting of the Re-
publican Central Committee. its
election of a national party chair
man, and its declaration of policy,
after a year in which it has done
little but mark time. Second was
Mr.. Roosevelt's June Sth message
to Congress-, in which he outlined
his plans for the future.
New Republican Chairman is Hen
ry p Fletcher, of Pennsylvania. Not
widely known to the general public,
he has long been a political power
in his region, is astute, capable and
representative of conservative SEN
timent in the industrial east. His
job is to attempt to swing public
sentiment into line behind a policy
which is the time-honored one of
the Republican party-with one or
two vital exceptions. The commit
tees statement calls for back to
the constitution" movement, asks
that the sovereignty of the states
be restored, holds that the present
! ~ I'D fNTfA HnI
and corporate liberties and even
menaces the right of free speech. II
makes a bow, however, to present
trends, by saying that the nation
has been backward in social legis-
lation, and that the Federal govern
ment must exercise a measure OF
control over industrial competition
In this particular regard, it appar-
emily differs only in degree from I
the stand of Mr. Roosevelt, through /
the NRA.
One difficulty the Republicans |
still face is dissention within the /
party Western Republicans believe
that they usually get the short-end
of the deal in party councils. Minor
ity leader McNary of Oregon, who
is generally regarded as his party's
smartest Congressman, was Oppos-
ed to the selection of Mr.. Fletcher,
with Senator Reed of Pennsylvania,
and recently told a radio audience
that the industrial east must make
to the Republicans of
the more liberal and less pOpulous
west and midwest" However, all
the Republicans, with three possible
exceptions, will doubtless be found
in line when election time comes
as will all Democrats who
count.
Mr.. Roosevelt's message laid
down several principles for his par-
~ to follow both in fighting for re-
,overy and in making election cam
paigns. He said that detailed plans
would be submitted to the next Con-
gress, and that he especially desir-
I'd the planned use of natural re-
provisions against unem-
1loyment and old age, and better
for the American people.
Most striking thing in that is his
Ldvocacy of social insurance-some-
hing no other President has ever
lone. He said also that he believed
he insurance should not be paid
or by increased taxation, but by :
In the meantime, the Administra-
ion program is undergoing some
changes. The MIRA is
bout to drop its attempts to fix
and small bust
ess men were aggressively oppos- Il
d to this code provision. That is /
etreat, and the Republicans will do
lot of talking about it, will use 1t
1 seeking to persuade the voters
nat the recovery program has fail d.
4.