, 1935-05-01
WASHINGTON
BY Ray Tucker


Competition - Political ~strategists
think they detect a deliberate turn
to the right by the administration In
recent weeks. They look for a fur
ther swing In that direction from
now on. In legislative terms this
probably means that features in the
NRA. banking and holding company
bills held Objectionable by prospec-
live victims will be skilfully removed
IN Capitol Hill.
Although President Roosevelt can
not hope 70 win. back all the con-
servatives he has lost his advisers
think a judicious course will give
him the balance Of ballots in a three
cornered presidential contest. All
democratic plans take into account
he certain entry Of a ticket repre-
Senting the viewnoint OF the every
man a king believers.
Testing - Jim Farley Is losing no
sleep over the spectacular suggestion
that al Smith may oppose the
President inside or outside the 1886
convention. But he knows that the
mere proposal is s~ymptomatic OF an
unhealthy state In the party.
Many conservative democrats
would like to get rid OF Mr.. Roosevelt
even at the expense Of republican
victory. Some OF these wishfuls
have served the party as cabinet
members and presidential nominees.
For sentimental reasons they may
not IN to line up openly against
the president. but they can do a lot
Of Smelling from the sidelines. They
are testing their artillery carefully
Is American Liberty League gun
nerS
Slipping The public utility
chiefs may succeed in modifying the
bill designed to abolish holding COM
panies. but they will have only
themselves TO blame II they fail.
The weekly propaganda bulletin
they send to washington from New
York Is doing them no good. It's bias
and bitterness make them no
friends at either end Of Penn
sylvania avenue. Cabinet members
and Roosevelt legislators receive
copies regularly. although II is sup
posed to circulate only among the
brethren" II makes the bills pro-
ponents mad and nor determined
to force II through congress.
If the diplomats OF the utility
cause r crowded back by their bull
necked associates the recent period
OF optimism will be replaced - and
properly - by gloom as thick as
your leg.
Tact - The bankers are exhibiting
more restraint - and more finesSe
= IN their fight on the measure TO
revise the Federal Reserve System.
They are speaking softly and col
Letting as few enemies as possible.
They concede that the measure has
some good features, and they offer
frank criticism for those which. in
their opinion. exposes the system TO
political control. They abandoned
high pressure methods after Carter
Glass once their enemy but not
their friend - charged them with
setting UP might schools" to in
struct witnesses on how they should
testify.
Final action on the two measures
may show which type Of tactics is
more effective. and the betting lis on
the bankers.
ButtonhoIers Senator Blacks
bill for registration Of lobbyists has
been hailed as a deathblow to the
third House Of Congress = provid-
ed 1t passes - but some Of the Cap
ital's better known wanglers are
laughing up their sleeves at IL. They
would like nothing better. III II
worked out as they scheme they say
that they would register. and then
cite their compliance as evidence OF
the purity Of their activities.
What they really fear = although
nobody In congress has advanced the
idea - is a law requiring them to
submit for periodical congressional
peruSal all correspondence dealing
with their attempts to influence leg
iSlative or governmental action.
The practice Of returning ali let
ters 1870 abolishing all files - might
then spread from certain Of the
holding companies to the gentlemen
who buttonhole legislators.
Assets - Senator Copeland's pro-
poSal to expand our merchant ma
rine at a time when world trade Is
steadily declining has been called 4
silly idea. But 1t Is far from that II
you know the real reason for II.
The ships he would build NAV not
carry cotton or wheat or machinery
for a long time. but there are some
who think they may soon be needed
TO carry troops somewhere. Other
nations. especially Japan. are build
ing up their merchant marines be-
cause Of their value MS naval auxili-
aries. Our commercial attaches In
the Orient emphasize the asset
which Japanis new fleet OF Diesel