Evening star., 1934-11-09
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

What is to become Of the Repub-
lican party after the New Deal land
slide is the paramount political issue
left by the late election. Franklin
D. Roosevelt has now done to the
Republicans about what Thomas JEFF
ferson did to the Federalists-smashed
them into smithereens. Whether the
G. o. P. can rehabilitate itself suffi-
ciently to put up any sort of a fight
against Roosevelt in 1896 is the ques-
ton. The devastated foe takes heart
OF grace from one circumstance in
contemporary history. The Demo-
Gratis were crushed in 1928, revived in
the congressional campaign of 1890,
and triumphed overwhelmingly in the
presidential election of 1892. The Re-
publicans are confident that the po-
litical pendulum Is capable of Just as
sensational q swing in their direction.
1t Is admittedly q slender hope, but
to 1t, in this glum and gloomy hour,
the elephants leaders-such as still
are entitled to claim that distinction
are clinging.
Sweeping Republican reorganization
seems inevitable-with rejuvenated
policies and leaders that will typify
an unmistakable break with the past.
In all likelihood, it will be the Nc
Narys and the Vandenbergs of the
party upon whom faith henceforward
Will be chiefly pinned. Had the La
FolietteS chosen to run as liberal
Republicans and won as such, they
would automatically have become
dominant figures in q revivified party.
but as "Progressives," they have prob
ably forfeited the right to q hand in
rebuilding Republicanism. Senator
Gerald P. Nye Of North Dakota and
Gov. Alfred M. Landon of Kansas
qualify as possible factors In q Re-
publican reorganization. At this
stage personal equations are prob
lematical and unpredictable. One
thing seems fairly certain, viz, that
the party Of Coolidge and Hoover in
future Is likely to be as different from
the party of yesterday as day from
night.
OF more immediate importance Is
the direction New Deal policy is now
to take. Will President Roosevelt turn
right or left? The choice is exclusively
his to make. Despite the presence
within the huge new Democratic con.
gressional majorities of both conserva-
tive and radical elements, Roosevelt
policies are destined as q rule to com.
mand unquestioning support. Virtually
every Democrat elected on November 6
won as New Dealer. The President
as q result will be monarch of all he
surveys in Congress to an extent hardly
any OF his predecessors ever was.
Whether he goes right or left, he
will undoubtedly command followers
enough on any major occasion to i'm
pose his will. It will be virtually i'm
possible to override his veto.
Until there Is some indication to the
contrary, it will continue the consensus
that Mr.. Roosevelt Is going to set his
face like flint against extremist de-
mands from any quarter of the new
Congress. Imitation, bonus, excessive
proposals for public works and relief
expenditure and the like are all
headed for presidential opposition.
There will be no let-up In the admins
tration's general spending program, as
long as emergency conditions require.
but 1t Is to be held in check with an
eye to budget balancing as soon as
feasible. The White House doesn't
expect to have any picnic in resisting
radical demands for expenditure, but
the present outlook Is that the Presi-
dent will stand firm against obviously
wild schemes. The mandate he's just
had to go on with the New Deal is
not likely to be interpreted - indicat-