Evening star., 1935-05-05
President Still Holds Most of the Cards
In the Political Came Now in PROGRESS
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

now should read: Radicals fall out
with one another. Conservatives fail
to get together. President Roosevelt
continues skillfully to keep his op-
position divided and his own posi-
ton secure"
Father Coughlin, Detroit radio
priest, has given the cold shoulder
TO Huey Long. He didn't invite him
to his recent coming-out party for
the National Union for Social JUS
tice. Or, If he did, the Senator failed
to accept.
Then Huey, in turn, got back at
Father Coughlin by seeking to capture
the limelight as the hero Of the
Radical National Farmers Union.
His appearance with that group
frightened away rivals. To add zest
to the scene the Progressive party
La Follettes of Wisconsin, Senator
Robert and Gov. Phil, avoided both
affairs. They were Joined on the
side lines by DR.. Francis E. Town
send, the S200-a-month old-age pen
sion advocate, and Gov. Floyd Olson,
ambitious Farmer-Laborite Of Min
nesota.
Why the uppiShneSs? For the SIM
pie reason-so the insiders say-that
all these noted personages are playing
for power. They can't all be cap
tain Of the new left-wing team. Yet
each one aspires to that title and
doesn't want to play unless he can
have it.
Senator Long says he wants to be
friends with every one of them. He
even lists a wide variety Of Senators
who, he says, can have his support for
the presidency in 1886. But appar-
emily the other seekers after power
feel that Huey, given half chance,
might maneuver them into the back
ground. He is past master at politi-
cal manipulation.
The result is, for the time being at
least, q lessening Of danger to Mr..
Roosevelt from the left.
How about the conservatives over on
the right? Are they more united?
Meetings Of Republican leaders,
seeking a common ground for an at
tack ON the New Deal, have failed to
reveal it. One wing Of the party wants
TO return to the policy Of the Coolidge
Hoover days Another favors much
of the program offered by President
Roosevelt. A third would 60 farther
toward reform than the New Deal.
Then, as among the radicals, there
are jealousies and ambitions among
the conservatives that are preventing
cooperation.
The industrial and financial groups
Of the country have sought to rally
for q concentrated attack on two Of
President Roosevelt's policies, as an
entering wedge to use in prying the
New Deal loose from power.
One attack is directed at the ad-
ministration plan to establish Fed
eral control over bank credit through
q change In the Federal Reserve Sys-
tenn. But what has happened2 Sud-
denly the discovery is made that
West Coast bankers and siZable pro-
portion Of Middle Western bankers
are supporting the change sought by
the President. They look at it as q
means Of breaking the domination
Of large Eastern banks. The big
Eastern bankers now are hampered
from attacking strongly through fear
Of accentuating the sectional issue.
** ~
The second attack is directed at
the processing tax on cotton. This
Is a vulnerable spot in the New Deal
arrnor that readily could be the start
ing point for breakdown Of the
whole farm relief program. Sup
posedly industry was united for this
drive. But was It? President Roose-
welt sent his secretary, Marvin Nc
Intyre, to a meeting Of Southern cot
ton textile manufacturers. The meet
ing Endorsed the farm program, failed
to attack the processing taxes. A
North-South division was revealed
that did much to take the wind out
Of this attack.
Pretty much the sam. clash Of in
terests Is preventing a united oppo-
sition front in other directions. As
vet no common denominator to ANAL
gamate the conservative interests
has appeared. Mr.. Roosevelt Is doing
his best to see that none does appear.
Does this mean a negative policy
on the Presidents part, intended
merely to keep alive and widen the
divisions now apparent in the ranks
Of those who oppose him?
Not on the basis of his announced
plans and those of his aides.
Il + y y
Huey Long appeals to the people
on a "share-our-wealth" program.
But President Roosevelt has plan
Of his own along that line. Senator
Long proposes Socialism camouflaged
with o new dress. The President
would tackle the problem Of wealth
concentration within the framework
Of the present system.
HowP On the one hand by taking
credit control away from private
bankers and lodging 1t in the Gov