Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-04-26
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National Topics Interpreted "a fTMYTTFpa
by William Bruckart ASIs5f7fT
National Topics Interpreted
by William Bruckart

phasize equally the Importance Of the
Writ testimony In baking an onrush-
ing wave Of so-called reforms that SO
many persons consider to be actually
destructive Of the basic and proved
practices Of our commerce and indus
try.
And. after all, that is the point
at issue in this country today. Doctor
Writ quoted Mr.. Todd as having said
that Roosevelt is in midstream and
the current is too strong for him to
turn back" / still have faith in our
system Of government and have more
faith In majority opinion of the peo-
pie of the United States. Since Doc
tor Writ testified, they are on their
guard. 1t may be that the sun Of the
brain trust theorist is setting.
One more observation about the Writ
affair: in a long service in Washing
ton, have seen few
Badly hearings as badly
Muddled muddled by a COM
mittee of congress.
Each of the members Of the committee
knew, of course, that the atmosphere
was surcharged with politics. Some
of the Democrats obviously were
afraid that Doctor Writ was GO
ing to explode a bombshell of poll
tics that would do their party no good
at all, and some Of the Republicans
were afraid that Doctor Writ would
not explode that bombshell. Conse-
Quently. there was haggling without
end. l believe the consensus among
the hundred-odd correspondents who
were reporting the hearing was that
Representative Bulwinkle of North
Carolina, a Democrat and the chair
man, reflected no particular credit
upon himself or the committee as in
quisitors. Criticism of Representa-
tive McGugin, Republican from Kan
sas, also was heard, for Mr.. McGugin
went just as far in supporting the wit
ness as Mr.. Bulwinkle did in har-
RAISING him.
In the background of the committee,
haggling. stood the tall, gray-haired
figure of Jim" Reed. Senator Reed,
when he was in the senate, was prob
ably the most feared of all debaters.
His vitriolic retorts and cutting state
ments seldom failed to make spines
culver. His presence as Doctor
Wirt's counsel failed at first to check
Mr.. Bulwjnkle, but the fact that he
was there provided Mr.. McGugin with
assurance of help in any battle of
words.
Certain evidence of peoples views
always is reflected in congress rather
quickly after changes in sentiment
take place, and it is no different now.
There was a time during the first
months of President Roosevelt's ad-
ministration when anything he sent to
congress was put through, and no
questions were asked. Currently, how
ever. there is a disposition among
members Of both political parties in
congress to inquire into the character
Of legislation they are putting through.
For example, the bill that the Presi.
dent wanted for controlling the Sc
curity exchanges, like the New York
Stock Exchange, was advertised by
Democratic leaders at first as being
ready to 60 through without question.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he wanted "teeth"
in it, and teeth were put in it, plenty
lation would have left little of the
stock exchange to operate. Rigid con-
troll was a mild expression compared
with that original stock market bill.
Stock exchange members, brokerage
houses and plain investors suddenly
awakened to the fact