The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-01-12

AS an example or the way the trad
ing goes on, consider this one: A
western m m b e r
HoJD It's fought and ma e
WorLed speec h e. and de-
manded roll calls and
did all of the other things necessary
to attract attention to a bill pulling
some money out Of the federal treas
ury for use in his district. He wanted
the bill put through to insure his re-
election. But he received little or no
consideration. Presently, another bill
seeking some particular plums for
other sections Of the country appeared
on the scene. Supporters of that bill
fought and made speeches and did all
ton to their bill. They ran into a
stone wall, also. When that happened,
the two groups began to talk turkey
among themselves. They Joined hands
and they served notice on several 9TH
er groups, fostering particular legis-
lation, that they would block anything
and everything until they received
permission from the powers that be to
get their bills before the house. They
forced an agreement. 1t was the ac-
ton of ''bloc' and congress is just
filled with them.
The traders get what they want in
most instances, because enough
strength can be mustered among dis
gruntled groups to prevent affirmative
action. In the current session, how
ever. Mr.. Roosevelt's program is the
first consideration and if the Demo
cratic majority does not perform as
the President says, well, it may be too
bad next November.
1 am reminded, in this connection,
Of an incident involving Postmaster
General "Jim" Farley, the admins
tration's political guide A certain
senator wanted to see "Jim' about a
job for powerful constituent. "Jim"
did not want to see the senator, but
the senator insisted and "Jim" re-
ceived him. He requested and urged
and finally demanded appointment of
his man cor else will be licked In
the election"
"Well," replied the political boss,
Farley, II am not responsible for that.
see by the record here where, on
seven major votes in the senate, you
voted against the administration on
FIVE. That record may not warrant
your reelection anyway"
ole
serves to show how the President and
all Of his advisors engage in horse
trading, too.
The turn of the year, with the fresh
start that always accompanies new
year, has given rise
See Better to conviction among
T;r,ee hbeod many observers that
Hes A"e conditions, econom-
ically and financially, are improving.
Underlying factors surely give every
indication of better times. We, here,
who are meeting men of consequence
from every part of the country week
after week, get rather definite express
sions that conditions are going along
at rate of improvement that war
rants real optimism. It is the first
period in four years that the senti-
ment brought to Washington has been
uniformly of that kind.
I am constrained to believe, how
ever, that most people are going to
be discouraged because recovery will
be slow. The spring undoubtedly Is go
ing to see more industry at work
than since the depression began, and
the summer will carry on with some
expansion. But it takes so long for
the improvement to become apparent
to most Of us, insofar as 1t affects us
personally, that we get down in the
dumps with waiting.
One Of the things about which
have heard that sounds worthwhile
is the total of advance orders that are
going In from manufacturing estab-
lishments. Advance orders, for Febru-
airy, March and April delivery are re-
corded in some lines to be the largest
in four years. That statement does
not apply to all lines of commercial
endeavor. There are some exceed
ingly bad spots, even dangerous spots.
These will be slower than the others
in getting on their feet again. Yet the
picture of business, as a whole, can be
said to be far better now than 1t has
been since the beginning of 1880.
Although Secretary Morgenthau said
that his censorship rule against treas
ury officials was withdrawn and that
subordlnates could talk with newspa-
per correspondents who wanted only
factual data, many Of the lesser lights
around the treasury still are scared
stiff about talking with correspond
ent. Witness this: A few days ago
Clarence T. Ellis of st. Louis, NO..
was named assistant solicitor of the
treasury, a promotion from job as
an attorney In the department that
he had held for many years. A CORE
spondent called him by telephone to
oAho~ bfe, hnv,,a xryo IN