, 1934-11-14
WASHINGTON
BY George Durno


BY George Durno
vanished-Some OF the Repub-
leans, particularly in the North At
lantic states, are still q bit bewil-
dered over the magnitude OF the
latest Democratic victory. They
shouldn't be II they would stop to
analyze and compare the issues up
on which they used to run with
those Of 1884.
Pennsylvania, for example. went
Republicans as a result Of the Battle
Of Gettsburg and remained q down
through the years on the battle cry
Of high protective tariffs. 1t was
easy to persuade the industrialists
and their employees that only a
straight COP ticket would protect
their investments and their jobs
from foreign competition.
But Congress no longer regulates
the tariff. That all-important func-
ton was handed over 10 the Pres
ident and the Secretary of State.
A vote for a Senator or Congress
man could have n odirect bearing
on tariff.
Up in New England a Congress
sional candidate in days gone by
had only to point out the dangers
Of giving the Democratic South cGl-
troll. IN the South there was child
labor. against which northern mills
had difficulty competing at best.
Now child labor Is out. NRA has
established definite wage minimums
and d~ifferentials.
Sound money was another good
vote-getter. But since 1888 the New
Deal has been able to tamper with
what was considered sound money
and the general public failed TO feel
any difference.
Promises OF Rivers and Harbors
improvements used to be a sure fire
bait for local candidates.
Now Public Works Administrator
Ickes handles all Of that. A letter
TO Jim Farley carries far more
weight than q vote for any given
Congressman.
Thus the Republicans were forced
TO fall back on a straight attact on
the New Deal. This was a pretty
tough assignment considering the
billions in federal funds that had
been poured out. One very astute
Republican estimates that fully 10
per cent Of the unfailing @. o. p.
arguments have vanished In the
last 10 months. This may help 10
explain TO some Of the Republican
candidates why they had so much
trouble writing their speeches dur
ing the recent campaign.
Baloney-Since this column dis
closed that New Deal master-minds
were cogitating over a new public
works program that might call for
70 billion dollars over a 5-year
period, many inquiries have been
received as 70 why there should be
so much feeling against paying two
and a haly billions on the bonus.
From an administration viewpoint
there are a number Of reasons.
First. an immediate cash bonus
payment would absorb half OF the
first years allotment for public
works. etc, and cripple many broad
long-range plans now on the fire.
Second, New Deal economists
figure that money paid to bonus-ites
would go more toward paying old
debts than buying new merchandise.
thereby putting the money into
banks rather than circulation. Bill
lions paid in wages Is the goal of
FDR and his lads.
And finally, OF course. Is the argu-
ment against special class treatment
which Mr.. Roosevelt voiced. Many
veterans no doubt are in dire need
but a far greater proportion can
continue 70 eat and make-Some-
what merry without the cash bonus.
In this connection a new and
insistent school OF thought Is seek
ing the Presidents ear on the bonus
issue. He is being urged TO sit back
and let the bonus-seekers play
their cash-payment game for all II
Is worth and then sock the situation
With a veto calculated TO hang Old
Man Bonus by the heels once and
for all.
Calvin Coolridge strengthened his
political position by vetoing a bonus
bill back in the high days Of pros
perity when Uncle Sam was re-
ducing his national debt and taxes
simultaneously. 1t should be natur-
al for FDR to follow suit In a period
when the federal treasury Is being
strained To the busting Doint "a
feed about one-sixts of the total
population.
Politicians and others urging the
veto course are mindful of the post
war voting generation. Young men
and women balloted for the first
time last week who were four years
old when We went into the World
War. To them the American Legion
represents a bunch OF greybearos