Evening star., 1934-09-03

Outbreak of a gigantic strike In
the textile industry comes at about
the most awkward moment conceiv-
able, from the standpoint of the
Roosevelt administration and the
Democratic party, with the congress
sional elections Just around the cor
ner. The political effects, partlcu-
larly in New England, might be dis
astrous. That contingency will whet
the eagerness of the President to
stifie the conflict in its early stages
and end 1t with a minimum OF delay.
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
New Hampshire, main seats or the
Northern textile industry, are none
too enthusiastic over the New Deal
and any aggraVation Of economic con-
ditions there, as we'll as elsewhere at
this time would be to the serious
disadvantage of Democratic candl-
dates running on the Roosevelt re-
covery issue.
i*
Generally, as November 8 ap-
proacheS and the campaign swings
toward its final phase, party mana
gers everywhere will burnish up their
microscopes in order minutely to eX-
anime business conditions. 1t is taclt-
ly admitted on all hands that the state
of the Nations pocket nerve nine
weeks hence will to considerable eX-
tent determine the outcome. Moth
ing so far has occurred to alter the
probability that the Democrats will
retain control of Congress by an
overwhelming majority. They Will lose
In the House, but gain In the SEN
ate. Despite labor unrest. the signals
at this writing are set for result
that will enable the President to claim
that his administration has been
handsomely vindicated. This Is the
prospect TO which most impartial po-
litical authorities subscribe, notWlth-
standing plenty Of indications that
many phases of the New Deal are in
creasingly unpopular. Here, there and
everywhere men and women bitterly
disapprove of current measures and
methods, L..t there is an amazing re-
luctance to include F.. d. R. person
ally in the mounting criticism ana
opposition.
Lew" Douglas henceforward will
rate higher than ever as one of the
New Deal Democrats with a big ma
tional political future. He has long
ranked as an up and coming
yUmgster, and the circumstances
under which he retires from the
directorship Of the budget will en-
hance his fame. The conservative
wing of the Democratic party, in its
coming quest for a white hope, is
bound to keep an eye peeled on the
| Arizonan. Douglas has about every
thing Franklin Roosevelt had when
the President started out on the road
that led TO the White HouSe-youth,
wealth. breeding, courage, ability,
ambition and political sense.
X X X
Senator James Hamilton Lewis Of
Illinois will presently report to the
President at Hyde Park in the
capacity of chairman of the Demo-
cratic Senatorial Campaign Commit
tee, following a cross-country political
survey. One of the early results
expected to ensue from their con-
| ference is some formal decision on
party policy in Wisconsin, Minnesota
and New Mexico, especially as to
whether or not Democratic candidates
are to be vigorously supported In
those States, respectively. against
Senators La Toilette, Shipstead and
Cutting.
X
Now that reciprocal tariff treaty
with Cuba has been negotiated, pact
with Canada becomes one of the prin-
cipal detectives of Secretary Hull and
the State Department. While the
Dominion is in informally receptive
mood to talk tariff, it reveals no wild
enthusiasm for the project Not long