Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-12-13

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Insurance program to give s%ecurit,
in the future.
His tentative program is based up
on experimental projects now under
way and seems to be something
along the line of Upton Sinclair
EPIC plan in California. Mr.. Hop
kins. as Is well known, is aware o
the danger OF the dole and the socia
peril of extended cash relief, and Is
anxious to put into practical effect q
system to enable the present recipi
ents of relief to make their own way
Already the program is in progress
In scattered localities and on a some
what larger scale than the public
generally assumes, but 1t remains to
be een to what extent the Admin
istration will push the proposal when
Congress convenes.
Apparently a fight Is inevitable be-
tween those now In control of the
Republican National Committee and
others led by Senator Borah, who In
sists upon reorganization along liber-
al principles. Chairman Fletcher
has made no move to meet the re-
cent demand of the Idaho senator
who blamed 'reactionary leadership
for the partys defeat In November.
That considerable difference OF opin-
ion exists within the party along the
line of cleavage between the "Old
Guard" and the Progresses is plain
and little indication of a satisfactory
solution of the problem has come to
light.
Last June when the party reorgan-
lied Its national committee set-up
the Republicans had a chance to 20
liberal but the powerful influences
which have dominated 1t for a long
time continued to control. These
conservatives succeeded In securing
Mr.. Fletcher as chairman. While
never closely identified with the Old
Guard, he was considered safe"
While the chairman has declared
that the party must be liberalized. he
feels that he presented the attitude
Of the majority of his party In the
recent campaign and that his critics
weakened the fight by compromising
with the Democrats.
He has no idea OF r~esigning or
calling a meeting for immediate re-
organization in line with the liberal
demand. In this he has the backing
of Charles D. Hilles, who wants the
party to remain conservative. Cen
eral dominance OF the National Com
mittee Is In the hands of the Hoover
Mills-Hilles group, which hopes to
keep the party on an even keel until
the Roosevelt policies break down
and they can make the Issue out of
the return along less radical lines.
This seems to be the position of
Bertram H. Smell, Republican leader
In the House, who recently declared
that he would not change his polit-
les or religion al a result OF the cleo
ton, and expressed amusement at
the demands for reorganization I'M
der new leadership to expound new
policies
With a strong faction Of the party
insistent upon reorganization, 1t APP
pears that Senator Borah, through
Ills recent speech, has taken the
lead. This group is composed OF
virtually the same group that vas
progressive In 1912 and remained
aloof from the Republican campaign
that year. Senator Borah points out
that the Republican party has reach
ed Its lowest ebb In power and In
fluence In its history, and blamed
this condition largely upon the unWil-
lingness OF the party leaders to meet
present problems upon a broad and
humanitarian basis.
He feels that there are millions OF
faithful Republicans throughout the
country who will not 60 back to its
support Ii the reactionary forces con-
tinue to control the party. Pointedly,
he declares that the effort OF these
leaders Is to protect the interests
"of the few as against those of the
many" The Idaho senator would
use the Young Republican clubs all
yer the country as the nucleus Of a
movement to reform the national or
ganization.
No compromise appears probable,
but 1t Is likely that Senator Borah
and others, like Senator McNary,
iCouzens, Vandenburg, Cutting, Nor
beck, Nye and Frazier will be able
to use the Senate forum as a sound
ing board to state the issues. This
apparently indicates that the Repub-
iican party will present a dlscord-
ant minority In the coming session Of
Congress unless the minority group
Is successful in forcing the reorgan-
ization which 1t demands.
Definite details are not yet avail
able, but 1t seems probable that the
Administration will propose whole
sale building operations by the Gov
eminent to provide work for unem-
ployed and that, in an effort to pre-
vent any conflict with the efforts OF
private capital, the project will be
for the benefit of persons In a class
not ordinarily touched by the activit-
les instigated by the Federal Hous-
ing Administration.