Montgomery County sentinel., 1935-06-20

for 1886 There are so many
cross currents, SO
many local influences and factors at
work that the popular reaction some
times, usually in fact, Is slow in crys-
talizing. Thus, it appears safe to say
at this writing that the administra-
TONS future course on NRA and other
New Deal policies concerning which
there Is constitutional doubt necessari-
ly must provide basis for the 1896
campaign.
Yet, certainly It can surely be said
that the issue is now drawn and that
the battle next year will be between
radicals and conservatives; between
those who favor constitutional govern
ment and those who think our nation
has gone beyond the considerations
laid down by the founding fathers, and
between those who regard American
traditions and practices as worth de-
Tending and an opposition constituted
wholly Of those who desire to remake
our modes Of living.
In these days Of swiftly changing
conditions in Washington, one can OBJ
serve certain outcroppings in the nu-
merous controversies and the wild con-
fusion, and these point definitely IN one
direction. They indicate the break
up, the disintegration, of the old po-
litical parties. 1t is too early to pre-
dict whether our two-party system will
continue even under the names Of
Democratic and Republican. Certainly
If those two names continue they will
shield under their banners eventually
an entirely different party leadership
and party personnel.
Proof of this contention lies in the
numerous statements, suggestions and
trial balloons that have floated about
all serving as feelers In the direc-
ton of coalition among opposition to
the New Deal. 1t is to be noted that
among those who have put out feelers
about coalition have been some very
well known names, both among Demo
Gratis and Republicans. These moves
probably will not develop into impor-
tant activities but they constitute
straws showing which way the wind
blows.
All Of the above Is by way Of saying
that Mr.. Roosevelt as the head and
forefront of the New Deal is at the
parting of the ways. Soon, he must
choose whether he will align himself
definitely and completely with the rad
ical element as typif1ed by the Tug
wells, the Richbergs, the Wheelers and
La Follettes or whether he will turn to
the philosophers Of the old-line-Jeffer-
sonian Democrats, most Of whom come
from what used to be the Solid South
insofar as Democratic voters were con-
cerned. He must make this choice be-
cause 1t Is no longer possible for him
to ride two horses, successful as he
was in the early days Of his admins
tration in keeping the two wings of
his party together. When he has made
that choice, at that same time begins
the development Of a new political
party alignment in the United States.
These conclusions are the conclusions
of the most astute politicians and OBJ
servers In washington.
The question may be asked: What
has brought about these new condi-
tions SO suddenly?
Defections The answer may
Increase not be as apparent
as 1t seems. Off
hand, one would say that the sudden
halt of the New Deal program that
was accomplished through the NRA
decision by the Supreme court of the
United States had actually amounted
to a major operation. This is only par
TALLY true. The Supreme court de-
cision while blocking further expan-
sion of the New Deal in the direction
in which 1t was tending simply pro-
vided a focal point around which the
maelstrom centers. In other words,
through all the months since the New
Deal came into power defections have
been increasing. The opposition, grow
ing in strength, at last has been given
an anchor. The cumulative character
of the opposition and the dissension
duu ulSSdLloldCbAOA mas Au00C ~ POooA-
BILE for a single incident such as the
Supreme court decision to provide
what politicians call an. issue.
If the Supreme court ruling had not
been sufficient to accomplish this pur-
pose, Mr.. Roosevelt personally pro-
vided the necessary additional momen-
tum. When he spoke In his now famous
press conference about the court de-
clsion having the effect of pushing
American social life back to "horse
and buggy days" he set up at one and
the same time a circumstance that
nodded his own supporters in one
group and the opposition concretely
in another.
So avidly did the opposition seize
upon Mr.. Roosevelt's statement that
many newspapers of influence In the
country construed 1t as a challenge
to the Supreme court Obviously the
President, occupying a co-equal status
with the Supreme court In our form
of government, had no intention Of Is
suing q challenge to the Supreme court
90 hA