Evening star., 1934-05-20
BY JOHN SNURE.

~ EPUBLICAN leaders, getting
- reports on soundings of senti-
ment in various parts of the
L y country, insist a political
storm is gathering against the
new deal with much more force and
rapidity than is generally realized.
Getting away to some extent from
their discouraged and defeatist atti-
tude, assumed early in the year when
Congress met, they profess to see
signs that the Democrats will suffer
reverses in many districts next Fall
and that Republicans will make ma
terial gains in State elections and re-
capture much more lost ground than
might have been anticipated several
months ago.
True, the signs of a third party
movement in Wisconsin and else
where are disquieting to the Repub-
Hcan leaders. Because of this, they
are not certain that if the supposed
revolt against the new deal gathers
force, the Republican party will get
the full benefit of it. Nevertheless.
they take satisfaction in the belief
that the Democratic strength in re-
cent months has been materially un-
dermined.
From many quarters come stories
OF increasing dissatisfaction with
some OF the agencies and policies of
the new deal. The N. r. A. for
months has been under severe fire.
tending to get hotter. The A. A. A.
Is also under bombardment in various
quarters. The Farm Credit Admin
lstratlon has never been able to estab-
nsh Itself firmly in the affections of
tne farmers and continues to be the
subject OF much protest. The Public
works Administration, whatever NAV
De said to commend it, has never
moved as rapidly as most members of
congress expected. Delays have dis
appointed many cities and localities
"nere hopes were high for a share of
public building expenditures long be-
fore now.
New Agencies Opposed.
These and some of the other newIv
created agencies are mourning an
tagonlsmS for reasons which the Re-
publican chiefs are convinced will re-
act against the party in power
when the votes are counted in No
vember, Besides, the administration
tariff bill is not liked in many indus
trial quarters and is looked on with
suspicion by strong elements of labor
lest it bring reductions of rates which
here and there would increase un-
employment.
President Roosevelt personally is
not involved in this gathering revolt,
according to all the Republican testi-
mony. The Republican leaders say
he is not being criticized and that
the disposition of the general public
continues to be to give him credit for
trying to do the best he can to lift
the country out of the depression.
1t is the new deal agencies. the brain
trust and other factors in the admin
istration that are represented as COM
ing under growing share of public
displeasure
The situation was described here a
few days ago by former Senator
James E. Watson of Indiana. veteran
Republican politician, former leader
of the Republicans in the Senate and
now mentioned for the Republican
national Craftsmanship to succeed
Everett Sanders, who is retiring.
The former Senator said the oppo-
sition to the workings of the N. R. A.
and A. A. A. and various Government
agencies was growing.
The public is not criticizing Presi-
dent Roosevelt he said. People are
saying he is trying to do something
and give him credit for that. even if
he makes mistakes. The criticism is
directed not at the President, but at
the agencies established under the
new deal. or part of them, and to
some of the men about the Presi-
dent who are supposed to be his chief
advisers.
Important G. o. P. Gains.
"The Republicans will carry Indiana
this Fall and I expect to see impor-
tant Republican gains in various
parts of the country.
There is a powerful undercurrent
of dissatisfaction among small busi-
ness men, among farmers, among
labor and the army of unemployed is
still vast"
Despite the representations that he
Is seeking the national Craftsmanship,
the former Senator said he was not
seeking it and did not want to as
sumo its responsibilities, but that
there would be an opportunity for
the new chairman, if selected at the
June meeting in Chicago, to under
take effective organization work.
Senator Simeon D. Fess, Republi-
can, of Ohio former chairman of the
Republican National Committee, who
has just returned from his State,
where he met Republican leaders from
all parts of the Buckeye Common
wealth, has come back much en-
couraged over the outlook for the Re-
publican party next Fall. He has
been advised that a powerful under
current of sentiment makes it prob
able the Republicans will carry Ohio.
Senator Fess says frankly that he is
not deceiving himself over his own
prospects and those of the Republican
party in November: does not minimize
the chances against the Republicans
and that he feels the enormous ex-
penditures of Government funds are
in the nature of a campaign fund
which cannot fail to help the party in
power.
On the other hand, he says his ad-
vices from competent judges of the