Evening star., 1935-04-29
ThePolitical Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

II members Of Congress or Of the
public generally had hopes that Pres
ident Roosevelt would curtail mate
rally the legislative program which
he has demanded Of Congress, so As
to permit an early adjournment OF
the present session, they must have
been disappointed last night. Instead
of abandoning the measures over
which major battles are expected, the
President reiterated his insistence
that they be passed. Included in the
list II the extension Of the N. r. A.,
the bill for economic security. the
banking bill and the bill to eliminate
some Of the holding companies In
public utilities. In every one Of these
measures there Is matter OF contro-
versy. The House has passed the
economic security bill and sent 1t to
the Senate. 1t Is about to take up
the banking bill. Indeed, If the
House alone were needed to make
these measures laws, the program
might be completed in short order.
The rub comes in the Senate.
The Upper House Is prepared to
debate at length all Of these bills. Con-
sidering that it is now about four
months since Congress assembled in
washington and that only one Of the
major proposals of the administra-
ton has passed the Senate as well as
the House-the $4,000, ,000, 900 work
relief law-the outlook for speedy ad-
journment Is not bright. Neither the
President nor the country Is anxious
to have Congress remain long in ses-
sion. But how to get rid of 1t Is
another question. Having provided
vast relief funds, the country prob
ably could get along without further
legislation. But that Is net In the
mind Of the New Dealers. They are
intent upon experimenting their pro-
gram OF reform legislation, already
put through in part by the last Con-
gress. Next year Is the year OF the
national campaign. The New Dealers
probably will be more content to get
their legislative program as far as
possible out OF the way before the
campaign begins. A short session next
year will give the Democratic members
OF Congress more time to get into
the campaign for reelection, and for
the national ticket.
%*t*
The much-discusSed Nav regional
conference Of Midwest Republicans is
now to be held in Springfield. Ill,
early In June, according to press re-
ports from Excelsior Springs, Mo-,
where Harrison E. Spangler, national
committeeman for Iowa, and other
leaders have been in conference. Some
| OF the Republicans have been puzzled
over a program for this and other
regional conferences. 1t begins to look
as though they would be q lot better
| on II they kept away at this time
from the adoption Of resolutions that
would have the semblance Of party
platforms. General discussions of party
organization, coupled with speeches by
Republicans capable Of stirring the
| delegates and the rank and file of the
party, looks like the safer course. In
this connection the G. o. p. might
establish school of public speaking.
The party just now seems to need real
spellbfnders and orators. Outside of
Senator Borah Of Idaho, there are very
few party leaders who have such gifts
or who are able to stir the imagina-
ton of the people. The Democrats.
on the other hand, boast not only Of
the party's head, President Roosevelt.
who seems able to charm the birds of
the trees, but a score Of other brilliant
takers. not the least of whom is Alfred
E. Smith. When Mr.. Smith gets into
action on the platform things happen.
*x+
The first Of the regional conferences
to be held by the Republicans is to
take place in Boston on Tuesday. If
these conferences undertake the writ
ing OF resolutions setting forth the
aims Of the @. o. p. It may essilv be
found that the resolutions adopted in
Boston may differ considerably from
those adopted by q conference In
Springfield, III. That would not do at
all. After all. what the Republicans
will have to do in the next campaign
is to combat the Roosevelt administra-
tion. To undertake copying the Roose-
welt New Deal Is not likely to get them
anywhere in particular. This does not
mean that the party must be reac-
tionary. But it does look as though
they might find issues enough. and
one Of them is Federal socialism.
| =
Postmaster General James A. Farley.
Chairman Of the Democratic National
Committee, has begun his political
representations again. The fact that
ne was eminently successful in his
predictions in 1882 and 1894 give him
some standing as prognosticator. He
insisted In his speech at a jefferson
day dinner Saturday in New York that
the people have great confidence In
the President and that the Republican
critics Of the administration are bad
boys who are trying to shake the con-
ndence Of the people. Without con-
ndence, he argued, there can be no
recovery. Mr.. Farley turned his fire
on several Republican critics of the
administration, notably former Presi-
dent Hoover, Col. Theodore Roosevelt.
Ogden L. Mills, former Secretary of
the Treasury, and Senator Dickinson
OF Iowa. He complained because Mr..
Hoover had not started the New
DEAL In 1929. He attacked all Re-
publican critics because they have no
specific plan to take the place of the
New Deal.
II \ X
MIR. Farley insisted that President
Roosevelt Is more exercised over the
big unemployment rolls than Is the
reactionary element or big business.
The Democratic leaders rarely fail to
speak slightingly of big business. lust
what constitutes big business and
what little business is not easily said.
Business. big and little, is actuated
pretty much by the same motives.
The lack of confidence on the part of
business, big and little. has been one
! Of the great drawbacks to recovery.
Business has never been quite sure
what the administration has IN mind
to do from one day to another. 1t
has seen various maneuvers with the
dollar, the abrogation of the gold
contracts and the Government step
ping out in various directions in COM