Evening star., 1934-07-05
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

amendment and the restoration of
the liberty OF those Americans who
wished to take q drink. This time
| the issue has to do with repeal Of
new deal legislation. The spokesman
| OF the new repeal issue Is Senator
| William E. Borah Of Idaho, inde-
pendent Republican. Senator Borah
wants President Roosevelt to call
Congress into special session. re-
peal session-so that it may repeal
that part of the national industrial
recovery act which suspends the op-
Grafton OF the antitrust laws; so
that 1t may repeal all parts Of the
agricultural adjustment act, the cot
| ton production control act and the
tobacco production control act, which
make it impossible for American
farmers to go ahead and produce
| just what they desire.
| Senator Borah, delivering his first
address in a planned campaign to
arrest and overthrow monopoly and
its governmental brother, bureaucracy,
told the people OF America over Ma
tional Radio Forum, arranged by The
| Washington Star and broadcast over
the network of the National Broad
casting Co., that the liberties Of the
American people are In greater dan
ger today than at any time since
the War Of the Revolution was fought
and won.
Senator Borahs address was the
fourth in a row of important political
speeches delivered within a week
from the National Capital. The first
was that of President Roosevelt, the
second that OF Chairman Henry P.
Fletcher Of the Republican National
Committee, and the third an address
by Senator Alben w. Barkley Of Ken
lucky, sounding of for the Demo-
cratic Senatorial Campaign Commit
| tee The Idaho Senator took particu-
lar cognizance Of the questions pro-
pounded by Senator Barkley, who
asked Republican opponents Of the
new deal to say just what acts Of
the new deal Democratic Congress
and the new deal Democratic Presi-
dent they desired to repeal He said
very frankly just what he wanted
repealed and that he wanted these
laws repealed without any further
delay.
The Idaho Senator criticized the
Republican national organization be-
cause it would not come out in di-
rect attack upon monopoly, which he
considers the biggest issue OF the day.
Frankly, Senator Borah believes that
| the Republican party is missing a
great opportunity. If it would throw
itself Fundamentally into the cam
paign against monopoly he believes it
could do q great work and earn the
gratitude of the people. He fears,
however, that the G. o. P. leaders are
relying too strongly on the friends OF
monopoly and big business for their
campaign chest contributions. And
unless the Republican party weans
itself away from monopoly, in the
opinion of Senator Borah, it is going
to die. 1t will pass out of existence
because of its fear to tackle an issue
souarely, just as the Wing party
passed out of existence because 1t
would not deal positively with the
slavery issue, and had 10 give way
to the then new Republican party.
~ &
How far Senator Borah can get
| with his lone wolf campaign re-
mains to be seen. His is powerful
voice, as we'll as a magnetic voice.
Those voters who have been resenttul
of the new deal will rally to his sup
port in large numbers. 1t may well
be that he will have a distinct infiu-
ence upon the campaign for the cleo
ton Of another new deal Congress in
November, whether the men elected
be Republicans or Democrats. The
next Congress will be called upon to
pass more new deal legislation. 1t will
be called upon to pass legislation con-
tinuing in effect the N. r. A. and
others Of the main new deal measures
which were put through a year ago
as emergency" measures and which
some of their proponents desire TO
make permanent.
Already President Roosevelt has,
apparently, reacted to the criticism OF
the new deal on the ground that 1t
breaks down competition in industry.
Just before he left here on his trip to
Hawaii the President signed an execu-
tive order which permitted the bidders
on Government contracts, Federal,
State and municipal, to file bids as
much as Is per cent below the prices
filed by them with the code authori-
ties of their industries. But, accord
ing to Senator Borah, this is just a
drop in the bucket, and leaves the
bidders perfectly free to submit identic
bids If they still desire to do so.
Repeating the acts of the new deal
Congress, as demanded by Senator
Borah, is not as difhcult a task as
repeating the eighteenth amendment
The repeal can be effected by action
Of the Congress, plus presidential ap-
proval. or without the latter if two
thirds majority could be persuaded to
vote to override a veto. The very
fact that some of the new deal laws
expire next year, however, and must
be re-enacted in part or in whole If
they are to remain on the statute
books, leaves a very definite control
of the situation in the hands of the
Congress itself. That is one reason
~ 10 IdAlS W VIC ACoA0Chl
and the new dealers that new Con-
greSs, sympathetic to the new deal
be chosen. No one believes that
President Roosevelt will call the pres
ent Congress to meet again before its
term expires next January 3.
To what extent the Republican
leaders go with Senator Borah in his
crusade remains to be seen. 1t is
clear from his address that Senator
Borah has not much hope of their
joining him. But whether they join
him or not. Mr.. Borah's campaign
against monopoly of business and
Government control Of business and
agriculture Is likely to be a thorn of
considerable dimensions in the side
of the new dealers.
|
II reports brought to Washington
be correct, there Is serious revolt
against the new deal, or parts of 1t,
growing in the West and Middle West.
The farmers have reached the con-
clusion that the effect has been to