, 1934-11-15
WASHINGTON
BY George Durno

Safety - Democratic prupagan-
dists are just now srressing the
dangers Of radicaliSm In the coming
Congress. The idea Is to convince
business men and conservatives that
only President Roosevelt stands be-
tween them and the wolves.
There Is no doubt that a healthy
group Of wild-eyes will take over
some OF those $1,000 seats In the
House and raise Just as much Cain
as the leadership will permit. They
are quite apt to even vote out some
measures calculated to raise goose
flesh on solid necks. But the
Democratic story-planters are whis-
pering about possibilities in the next
Senate as well.
Look at Schwellenbach OF WASH
ington. who embraced part Of Upton
Sinclair's EPIC plan. How about
Lony and Bilbo? Thomas OF Okla
bona will demand initiation clear TO
the skies. Even an old wheelhorSe
like Pittman promises TO introduce
a honus bill. This boy Holt from
West Virginia has wild ideas. Bone
OF Washington Is a well-known
radical. LaFollette is trying to start
a new party that viii 90 further
than the New Deal"
So the warning hit you but let's
take a look at the record.
In the days OF Republican admin
istration. Senate Republican Pro-
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and opposing Herbert Hoover In
particular and Calvin Coolidge TO
a lesser degree. This was because
they were able TO say truthfully
they had been elected on their own
two feet and owed nothing to the
administration.
Democrates who may feel an in
surgent urge can not say the same.
With the exception OF Huey Long,
elected in 1880, all others now being
mentioned as potential trouble
makers either rode in on the RooSe-
welt landslide OF 1892 or proclaimed
last week they were In whole
hearted sympathy with the New
Deal. Even Bone Long voted large
IN as the New Deal pointed. Their
most serious defections came on
veterans legislation.
IL Is a safe prediction that none
Of the Democratic Senators labeled
as potential radicals will stray too
far off the reservation. How easy
II would be for FDR 10 blast any one
Of them. or all OF them. out Of the
water in one Of his well-timed fire
side" radio talksl
Measured opinion. now that the
votes have been counted. is that the
House is apt TO boil on occasion but
the Senate will always be on hand
TO cool If off exactly as the Fathers
ordered.
Saturation-It may not reach its
destination but the sales tax Is
headed for a ride next January.
IN the past Congressional mem
bers from the South and West
killed every proposal OF this form
OF revenue = raising. Proponents
from the Feast and North always
sneeringly inferred IL was because
too many members OF Congress from
opposite directions represented peo-
pie who had never pain a tax be-
fore in their lives and might be-
touched for the first time by a
general sales tax.
The answer that always shut this
argument off cold was that a mil
lionaire could eat only one plate Of
ham and eggs at a time. Why should
the poor man be forced 10 pay
identical tribute with the big-money
boys on necessities. and even lux
urieS, OF life?
Next January there will be a
much more determined drive for the
sales tax than ever before. Support
ing forces already are Numbering
their big guns and this time they
figure to get support from impor-
tant quarters.
Members OF such organizations as
the American Liberty Leauge by
their very nature might be expected
TO line up behind a general excise
tax. Secretary Morgenthau and
the Treasury experts may come TO
II as a partial solution OF their
revenue needs : provided food and
clothing are exempted. Finally,
there Is a restleSsneSs among the
so-called white-collar workers who
fear that, as usual. the bulk OF any
direct tax increase will be blanketed
over their stationary salaries.
Treasury surveys conducted since
early last summer indicate many
existing forms Of taxation have
either reached the s%aturation point
so far as the public's ability to pay
is concerned. or have been dried
I'D by reverses OF the depression.
AIIies-Word has been passed that
the legislative committee Of the
American Federation Of Labor rs