Evening star., 1935-06-09


posed to some Of Mr.. Roosevelt's
actions as Mr.. Douglas was.
Democrats in Congress are under
no imperative obligation Of taste or
loyalty to support Mr.. Roosevelt in
policies in which they do not believe.
Those Of them who come up for re-
nomination and reelection next year
must take account of personal pru-
dence. At least most of them do
some do not. Senator Carter Glass Of
Virginia will be up for reelection
next year, and he is fortnight In his
dissent from Mr.. Roosevelt.
Congress Feelings Varied.
As to how Democrats in Congress
as a whole feel about the admins
trations policies. it is not possible to
generalize Some of the rank and
file Of Democrats in the House may
not have strong convictions one way
or the other. Others are disturbed
about what Mr.. Roosevelt Is doing,
but place the expediency Of party
solidarity above personal conviction.
As to Democrats in both Senate and
House who understand political princi-
pies and can see where Mr.. Roose-
velt is taking the country-as to
these 1 should say that three out of
five. in their consciences, strongly
dissent. 1t Is commonplace of
Washington gossip to hear that
Democrats who have key places In
Congress, who support the admins
tration's measures, are as gravely dis
turbed as any one else about the
course on which the President has
taken the country
The late Speaker Rainey of the
House said privately that he felt the
course would take America first to
a phase of Fascism, which would be
brief, and then to Communism. The
private views Of some other Demo-
Gratis eminent in leadership, while
not going so far in alarm, are seri-
ously troubled. This Is familiar to
persons in contact with the intimacies
of the coat room. Recently a SEN
ator. not himself Democrat, but
familiar with the views of Democrats,
offered to bet that the Democrats
next year would not renominate Mr..
Roosevelt. This is almost fantastic,
for the power of President in Office
to renominate himself Is almost in
vincible The command of such an
army of officeholders as Mr.. Roose-
welt and Mr. Farley have is prac-
tically enough to insure denomination
But there is some significance in the
willingness Of an experienced poll
tician, familiar with the atmosphere
of the congressional cloak room, to
think it possibility that the Demo-
Gratis may not renominate Mr.. Roose-
welt.
Other Leaders Disturbed.
As to Democratic leaders not in Mr..
Roosevelt's administration and not in
Congress. Democratic leaders now in
private life, I should say that fully
nine out of ten are seriously disturbed
about what Mr.. Roosevelt is doing in
the name Of the Democratic party.
cratic candidates for President With
out having talked with any of them
for many months. my confident guess
is that two of the three. perhaps even
all three, deplore much that is being
done. Some Democratic Governors
are almost ready to express open dis
sent. Democrats who in the past have
held high office, are typified by MT
Newton D. Baker. I have not talked
with Mr.. Baker since Mr.. Roosevelt
became President, and have no
l. ~ hi I,,t -ko
guess that he must be deeply dis
turbed.
The sum Of all the dissent on the
part of Democratic leaders would
seem to create the material for some
kind of union of conservative Demo-
Gratis with the Republicans. To say
the materials exist is not necessarily
to predict the thing will happen. The
materials alone are not enough; some
one. some individual or individuals,
must provide initiative Here as every
where is illustration of the law Of in
dividualism. AS Emerson put it, Every
institution is the shadow of some
man" Every organization. from a
government or political party down
to a bridge club, illustrates the law
of individualism: all consist OF some
one at the center with exceptional
traits of personality or exceptional
talent for the job in hand, with others
around him and accessory to him. So
it is If we are to have movement to-
ward common action by Republicans
and conservative Democrats. As it
was once put by a talented American
political organizer. Things don't hap
pen, they are brought about"
Split on States Rights.
President Roosevelt's proposal that
the Federal Government shall have
greatly increased power, the States
less, must add greatly to the tendency
of large groups of Democrats to op-
pose him. Ever since the Democratic
party existed it has been a first prin-
ciple of that party in the South that
the States should be carefully guarded
in the self-government which they re-
tained when the Constitution was
written. and without which they would
never have assented to the Union.
States rights" with all 1t implies,
means more to the South than any
other political or economic principle.
After Mr.. Roosevelt's recent action, it
is difficult to see how Southern editors
and other leaders of Southern thought,
can in good conscience be silenced.
Mr.. Roosevelt must have had danger
from the South in mind when he prac-
ticed the caution he did in his early
appeal to the country from the deci-
sion of the Supreme Court. He was so
strongly moved that he could not re-
strain himself from making the appeal.
But, in his early statements, he re-
Trained from going so far rs to suggest
concretely an amendment to the Con-
stitution which should take away from
the States much of their power of self
government. which should give 20 the
Federal Government the right of in
trusion into the most intimate con-
Germs Of community and individual
life within the States.
That the South should fail to take
account Of what Mr.. Roosevelt has
done seems just incredible. And II by
any possibility the South should be
willing. in any organized way, to op-
pose the reelection of Mr.. Roosevelt,
his re-e1nction colIld ha rd1v ta he rla "a