Evening star., 1935-07-28
DEMOCRATS in CONGRESS
URGED TO CURB POLICIES
Nation Could Be Headed to Normalcy
by Firm Attitude of Leaders
Toward Roosevelt, Is View.
I suited his party leaders in Congress
/ hafora capdiV0 xnaar,,rnr 20 fhnra


before sending measures to them.
On one occasion, when the President
after deciding on something Congress
should do, sent for the leaders of the
two branches. 1t was apparent even
to outsiders that when the leaders
arrived they found the President pre-
pared with mimeographed state
ments ready for release to the press,
stating what Congress would do.
1t should be added, however, that
lately the Democratic chairmen Of
committees, and the members, have
begun to examine the bills that the
Presidents advisers write and send to
them. They, men of direct minds,
have come to be suspicious of the
oyersubtlety of some of the Presi-
dents advisers. They have come to
feel that many Of the measures have
hidden implications. Yet in deScrib-
ing the attitude of the Democrats in
Congress, it is difficult to make a cor
rect generalization. Only 10 days ago
the Democrats passed a most impor-
tant measure, one taking from all
ment on any Government bond-and
that measure had been written wholly
by some one in the administration,
not one word of it had been written
by anybody in Congress
Might Quietly Resist.
II this way of doing things Is un-
fortunate, if there is disquiet about
much of what has been done and is
being done under this system, then
what is the natural and simple i'm
mediate remedy? 1t is merely for the
Democratic leaders to say to the
President-they can say it without
rancor and without any publicity at
tending it-that they must be con-
suited before the President decides
upon legislation which he desires
them to put through Congress.
Practically all the Democratic lead
ers are, without being extreme con-
servatives. doubtful about the New
Deal. Much of the New Deal they
acutely deplore. To make this state
ment is, of course, purporting to
state the beliefs that certain individ-
uals hold in their own mind. The
statement Is made upon private con-
versations the Democratic leaders
have had with their friends and upon
their known convictions and habits
of mind.
The condition is proved by a recent
incident. Some time ago the admin
iStration, in this case Secretary Of
Agriculture Wallace and his aSsoci-
| ates. sent to Congress certain amend
ments to the A. A A statute which
| Mr.. Wallace desired-amendmen
strengthening and tightening A. A. A. )
The amendments, as usual, were
passed without material change by
| the House-the House, excepting on
one occasion, has been extraordinarily
supine in passing legislation desired
by the administration.
The A. A. A amendments, after
being passed by the House, went to
the Senate. In the Senate occurred
an episode which throws light on the
whole situation.
B0rah Leads Fight.
| Among the amendments when they
arrived on the Senate floor was one
which took away from every person
who has paid processing tax any
right whatever to sue for the return
of the tax in case the A. A. A. statute
should be found unconstitutional.
| Against this amendment fight was
made by Senator Borah of Idaho and
Democratic Senator George of Georgia.
Due to their earnestness and due to
the fact that many Democratic Sem
ators were shocked as soon as they
discovered the nature of the amend
ment, the conflict was prolonged.
The fight in behalf of the amend
ments was made by the official Demo-
| cratic leader of the Senate, Mr.. Robin
son of ArkansaS-Senator Robinson
was living up to the role in which
Mr.. Roosevelt had put the Democratic
leaders in Congress. Finally there
was a vote. On the roll call 80 Dem
ocrats voted against the amendment,
voted against what the Democratic
leader, Mr. Robinson, had asked them
to do. Only 81 Democrats voted with
Mr.. Robinson.
Here was plainly case in which
the Democratic leader, Mr.. Robinson.
was doing what the administration
wanted him to do. and not what a
majority of the Democrats in the Sem
ate wanted done.
America could be headed back
toward normal by simple action on
the part of the Democratic leaders of
Congress. They could go to the Presi-
dent and tell him he must consult with
them before he sends measures to
Congress. They could do this without
emotion, without offense to the Presi-
dent, without publicity, without any
commotion. 1t would be merely
return to the normal functioring of
the American mechanism Of govern
ment. 1t would produce legislation
which would reflect the Democratic
party-instead of legislation which re-
fleets the minds of the immature and
inexperienced experimenters around
the President.
Copyright 1895. New York Tribune. IncJ
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