Evening star., 1934-04-30
The Political Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

How many OF the voters in this
country will cast their eyes back to
March 4, 1888, when they go to the
polls next November to elect a new
House of Representatives and one
third-and a few more-of the Senate
membership? A lot is going to de-
pend upon whether the American
people are forgetful or whether they
remember the conditions that then
confronted the country. When Presi-
dent Roosevelt and his administration
took over the running of the Govern
ment the situation was undeniably
more dangerous that 1t had ever been
before in peace times in this country
There were millions of workers out of
jobs-estimated as high as $4,000 900.
The banks, because the people had
lost faith in them, were closed. Busi-
ness was at its lowest ebb. The farm
ers were clamoring for aid and for
some steps that would make it pos
sible for them to realize more than
the cost of production of their crops
The miracle lies in the fact that there
was no outbreak of the people under
these conditions, that they were able
to restrain themselves and give the
new administration a chance. 1t was
truely great demonstration of faith
| in the American form of Government
! and in the faith Of the people in
| themselves.
1t was more than that. 1t was
| demonstration Of faith in the new
| President and what he had promised
to do for the people. Slowly but
| surely there has been an emergence
from fear, from unemployment, from
| business stagnation, under the leader
| ship of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since
that March there has been a re-
employment of millions of workers;
confidence in the banks has been re-
stored; business is coming back, wages
have been restored in very many in
stances. One of the most hopeful
signs happened only last week when
the railroad managers and the rail-
road workers were able finally to
reach an agreement on wages, an
agreement which gives back to the
workers 212 per cent of the 10 per
cent cut they have experienced for
more than year on July !, another
212 per cent by January /, and the
remaining 5 per cent by April next
year. Here, clearly, is 10 recession. but
a declaration of a real gain, affecting
nearly million workers and the
other millions in their families.
The administration has not always
been right. nor lave all of its meas
ureS been unqualifiedly successful.
Some of them have been failures.
Some Of the things it has done have
irritated lot of people, one way or
another. But take it by and large,
1t will be a strange thing if the Amer
ican people generally undertake to
hamstrlng by their votes at the polls
the administration which has seen
them through the terribly difficult
period of 1888. For that reason it
does not seem at all likely that the
democrats Will lose control of the
House in the next Congress. or that
the Republicans will be able to regain
many Of the seats in the Senate which
they lost to the Democrats in recent
elections. That there will be a swing
back OF the political pendulum seems
reasonably certain, with the Repub-
hcans gaining perhaps so seats in the
House
The Democrats will go into the
campaign with the Roosevelt admin
iStration as their main issue. They
VIII, OF course, seek to remind the
voters OF the difficulties which came
upon them during the last Republican
Observation-Disclosures that un-
ooubteoly would have come upon the
country no matter which party had
been m power. But their main source
OF strength will be President Roose-
welt, and their plea will be to elect
Congress which will uphold him in
the last half of his present term.
Thls plea will not, unless present signs
fail and conditions are vitally differ
ent and worse than they are today.
fall on deaf ears. While it is true
that there are disgruntled people
people whose toes have been trod upon
py the N. r. A. and other laws and
agencies OF the Government, there
are still great many who look with
gratitude to the President, irrespective
OF former party allegiance. OF course
the Republicans are regaininp
strength in many States where they
seemed to be entirely f1attened out a
year ago. But when word comes from
Kansas, for example, which has been
sa1ely Republican so often in the past
that II presidential election were to
be held tomorrow, Roosevelt would
again carrying the Sunflower State,
though by reduced majority, it does
not appear that the country is ripe
this year for political turnover. es-
peclally when it is understood that
such word comes from Republican
sources.
While the country has passed from
a state of fear to state of reasonable
assurance and hope, there is still a
lot to be done. The Government can
not do it all. The hopeful sign lies
IN the fact that the people are getting
up on their hind legs again and doing
things for themselves. There is still
clamor for currency imitation from
some parts of the country. But it Is
less VoclferouS than 1t was six months
ago. The President has had intrusted
to him very great powers over the
money situation. He has, however.
had the courage to stand on the lid
and keep imitation from running riot.
There has been a great deal said
about the fact that there is not
enough gold in the country, or in the
world, to be used now successfully as
a reserve against all currency. The
silverites have demanded remonetiza-
tion of silver. They may be entirely
right. The President has again and
again expressed his sympathy with
the demand for greater use of silver,
But he does not, it appears, desire to
make an experiment with silver at
this point in recovery which might
prove disastrous. And, despite the
present demands of the silver bloc in
Congress and out, it looks as though
the President could not be forced at
this time out of the position he has
taken. He has not permitted himself
to be driven to extreme measures