Evening star., 1934-03-29
VETO UPSET LAID
TO DETECTION YEAR
President Realizes Congress
Must Make a Record
for Itself.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


signifies is that this is an election
year; that for political purposes the
members of both houses wish to as
sure a certain group of their con-
stituents that the Congress wants to
give them the financial benefits they
once had, but that only the PreSi-
dent is opposed to such course.
Mr.. Roosevelt is away. He would
never have gone if he had felt that
serious issue was involved. He
knows full well that the record mas
to be made by the members of Con-
gress and that he. too, must make his
own record. 1t was apparent when
the House voted to override the veto
by an overwhelming vote that the
real thought in the background of
the members was the Autumn elec-
tions.
Swing of Negative Votes.
1t might be asked why members of
Congress will vote to override Presi-
dent who. to such a large extent, has
commanded the confidence of the
country. The answer is that under
our system the negative votes, which
are actively concentrated by groups,
are apt to swing the balance of power,
and that in a year when the PreSl-
dent himself is not running it is diff
cult to translate presidential support
as readily as in year when he is
on the ticket and all are swept along
with him to victory.
But Is year ago on this same issue
the President had the overwhelming
support of Congress. What has hap
pened to change the situation? Hasn't
Mr. Roosevelt himself used the same
arguments that he did then? The
President is largely responsible for
the dilemma in which he finds him.
self. He started a spending program
for relief purposes which outdid any
previous spending that Congress had
even IN its most eXtravagant moments
ever suggested.
Now MI Roosevelt saws that his
program was for relief and that
spending which increases the regular
budget unduly is fundamentally
wrong Unfortunately members OF
Congress, however, are convinced that
it is difficult to explain such differ
and that a deficit is a deficit no mat
ter which budget is exceeded.
Circumstances Deeply Rooted.
There is nothing more dishearten-
ing than to see Congress give such
substantial support to a proposal that
contravenes the economy policy of the
Government. But the circumstances
that have led up TO the present
episode are deeply rooted in political
experience and the wonder is that
the President. with his splendid grasp
of political problems, has not seen
clearly the embarrassmcnts that were
plllng up fOr him IN the way he has
handled the revision OF veterans
benefits. His last-minute promises to
Go by regulation much CT that which
now is sought by legislation do not
help get votes at the polls especially
IN the primaries. when opponents take
advantage of record vote on the
veterans bill and there is not much
opportunity to explain a vote against
the veterans. The latter say, You
are either for us or against US"
The way the Republicans stood to-
SNIA4IA anu IIldIC d pdl W lSSut Vi
the whole question is most discourage
ing, but it shows the minority party
plays politics. too. Had the Repub-
Ican leadership allowed its members
to vote on their convictions. the
President would have had Republican
support sufficient to remove all doubt
about the outcome.
Would Avoid Dissention.
The strength of organized minorities
Is revealed in the present situation,
especially as the Fall elections draw
near. Mr.. Roosevelt would be stronger
than any of these groups if he could
argue the question with the people.
but he is not disposed to carry his
fight that far, for it would mean
serious dissention in his own ranks.
The incident teaches that th-
President Will have to build up a
considerable public sentiment against
spending and extravaganza before he
Will be able to keep the Congres