The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-11-23
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National Topics Interpreted "a fSMTTTYSN
by William Bruckart kS-7f1T
by William Bruckart

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dicated upon the frequently heard con-
dition that the radical bloc will be-
larger In congress than heretofore and
that they will assert themselves. The
Presidents ability to meet this condi-
ton obviously will be tested, but there
are many observers who say that the
President is the best tight-rope walker
the country ever has seen.
Looking into the future, it seems per-
fectly safe to say that the realignment
OF parties has taken greater strides
than most observers thought possible
when Mr.. Roosevelt was proposing the
New Deal in the 1892 campaign. It
was perfectly patent then and became
more apparent as he took Office, as
reported to you at that time, that Mr..
Roosevelt was building party of his
own.
I heard a Washington political writer
a man Of forty years experience, say
the other day that
Sees Break-Up it was not impos-
of Solid South sible for break
up of the solid
South" to occur within the next six
years. He envisioned withdrawal OF
the conservative South from any party
that tied closely into the liberal or rad
zeal groups that dominate the Middle
West and the Rocky Mountain areas. It
presented picture rather new in the
political scene in that It seemed to
suggest the possibility Of an alignment
of the East against the Middle West
and the far western sections of the
country.
The thought was expressed with two
factors in mind. 1t was pointed out
that the bulk of the territory east of
the Mississippi river is based in manu-
featuring industries In that territory
are many large and medium sized
cities. Their interests are different
than those west Of the Mississippi. The
condition resolves the question into
one Of economics.
The second factor to be considered
Is the fact that the so-called solid South
is inherently conservative. That links
with the great manufacturing sections
of the country. If Mr.. Roosevelt has
succeeded or does succeed in creating
his own party, under whatever name it
may eventually be known, this Wash
ington observer told me he foresaw
gradual detection of southern Demo-
Gratis and their alignment with manu-
featuring interests in a conservative
party.
History shows that such develop
ments as are pictured in the above pre-
diction are very slow. Notwithstand-
ing the rapid changes that have come
since Mr.. Roosevelt became President
1t Is unreasonable to suppose that &C.
complishment Of an entire political party
revolution can be accomplished in time
to affect the result Of the 1886 Presi-
Dental election. Some students Of
politics maintain, however, that the
development will have been sufficient
by 1896 to WELD some influence.
From all Of the discussion / hear at
this time the result in 1886 will be de-
pendent upon whether there has been
complete recovery and whether federal
money holds out that long. There are
few with whom I have talked who dis
agree with the premise that with
drawal Of federal aid, for re-
lief or otherwise, can be accom-
plished without important political re-
actions.
This Is the story of a man whose
name many of you have seen engraved
in stone on many post Offices through
out tine United States. 1t is the story
Of man who grew up In government
service and who is now retiring to the
rest and recreation which 40 years Of
government service certainly entities
him.
At the end Of this month, James A.
Wetmore will close his desk at the
treasury where he has served since
1915 as acting supervising architect and
greatest public building program ever
undertaken by any government. Mr..
Wetmore Is seventy-one years old and
he says that he is going to enjoy the
rest Of his life at play but he always
hastens to explain that he has enjoyed
nearly every day of the work he has
been doing.
1t was almost half century ago that
NJ. Wetmore accepted a job as a.
stenographer In the treasury. From
the day in 1885 when he began work
there, his rise has been steady and his
ability constantly recognized. Thus it
came about that when Oscar Wende-
roth resigned in 1915 Mr.. Wetmore was
asked ito fill In for awhile" That
awhile" stretched over a period OF 10
years during which Mr.. Wetmore per-
sisted In his refusal of the office of
supervising architect. You will note
wherever his name appears craven on
the corner stone Of post Office that
there Is the word acting before the
rest Of the title. The reason is simple.
Mr.. Wetmore is not an architect and
never has been. He declined the ap-
pointment originally from the then Sec
rotary McAdoo because he feared that
appointment of non-architect to the
post would reflect upon the treasury
and upon the service. He also enter
tanned some doubt as to whether he
would be allowed to retain the position
during political changes. So, as acting
supervising architect, Mr.. Wetmore has
served his country and there Is no one
to say that he has not given his best.
Proof of this Is found In the remark
ably few occasions where his Judgment
or his decisions were oyerruled, even