The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-01-18
(Qt1IIj'l92'9F65jijqgek][I(,
National Topics Interpreted "a fFYETEERf&
by William Bruckart Alar5MF
by William Bruckart


offering much money for congress to
| spend.
Among the Presidents friends, I
have heard private expressions that
Mr.. Roosevelt had been misled by some
| of the group who held his ear at the
start of the administration. These
men referred to number of the So
called Progressive Republicans like the
LaFollettes, Norris, Hiram Johnson Of
| California, and Bronson Cutting of
New Mexico. Several of these were
so well liked by the President that
they were invited to enter his cabinet.
Consequently, there are those who be-
lIeve that Mr.. Roosevelt followed the
advice of the Progressive Republican
group much more closely than leaders
among the old-time Democrats. Most
of the Progressive Republicans are
spenders at heart, according to the
general view here. And they are also
men who regard balanced budget as
not very important. SO, while no one
can say definitely what influences al
tered the Presidents stand, 1t certain
ly is regarded among observers here
| as being a situation in which the wind
makes the straws point toward the So
called progressives as having Joined
hands with the President in Initiating
what has come to be the greatest out
pouring of taxpayers money, except In
war time, since our government was
| established.
Organization of the new congress
has resulted in new cry, in reality a
very old cry, but 1t Is
"South in new, since we have
the Saddle" not heard 1t in fifteen
years. The cry we
are hearing now from Republicans and
from northern Democrats Is the wall
that "the South is in the saddle"
While there certainly can be nothing
criminal about the South being in the
saddle, it provides grand political is
sue both within the Democratic ranks
and between the Democratic party and
what is left of the Republicans in
congress. 1t also touches question
that has been discussed many times,
namely, the wisdom of the seniority
rule In congress. The seniority rule pro-
vides that the Oldest members in the
point of service shall inherit commit
tee chairmanships and shall have 9th
er positions Of honor In the house and
senate.
Out of the 60 Democratic senator's
only "a come from what is known as
the solid South. OF the 317 Democrat
ic members of the house, only about
100 are thoroughly acquainted with the
yell of the Confederacy. Yet in the face
of this tremendous growth of Demo-
cratic membership coming out of the
North and the West, the South is
in the saddle more solidly than ever.
The speakership Of the house went
to Representative Byrns of Tennes-
see, who succeeded to the place made
vacant by the late Henry T. Rainey of
Illinois. Mr.. Byrns had been Demo-
cratic leader and his promotion left
vacancy to which Representative Will
Bankhead of Alabama was elected,
thus moving leadership further to the
South. The only plum, If it be a
plum, that went north of the Mason
and Dixon line was the selection of
Representative O'Connor of New York,
as chairman of the rules committee.
In the senate we see Vice President
Garner, the presiding officer. Texan.
The majority leader is Senator Rob-
inson of Arkansas. The powerful COM
mittee on finance is presided over by
Harrison of Mississippi; the senate
committee on banking and currency Is
controlled by Fletcher of Florida; and
the committee on agriculture Is head
ed by Smith of South Carolina. One
could 20 on and name many others al
| though I believe the consensus Is that
| the seniority rule has not worked to
produce as many buds for senate COM
mittee chairmanships as has occurred
| In the house.
Democratic leaders in the house have
made certain that they will not be en-
barrassed this year
Checking as they were in the
Radicals first New Deal con-
gress In that ses-
sion they were constantly harassed by
the radicals who sought to force votes
on legislation which the President and
| his advisers did not want and which
| for the same reason the Democratic
leaders did not want. The radicals ac-
complished their purposes by use of
| what is called the rule of discharge of
| .oox.s4toac pu< that ruIn has hQpn