Evening star., 1935-01-28
Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

Long becomes a candidate for Presi-
dent In 1886. He has said that he
will run If the Roosevelt administra-
tion does not adopt his policies and
program. The Louisiana Senator can
not have the Democratic nomination
for President. If he runs as an inde-
pendent, what happens? Will he draw
more from the party Of the New Deal
or from the Republican party? Will
the $4,000, 900 and more voters who
stuck by Republican candidates In the
congressional elections of 1884 con-
tinue to stick by the G. o. P? And If
they do, with division of the voters
who registered their approval OF the
New Deal, will the Republicans win
the national election?
u \
Senator Longs following is growing,
1t is claimed. Certainly he has DEM
onstrated his strength in his own
State. He rules it as absolutely as
Hitler rules Germany or Mussolini
Italy. His influence fiops over into
several nearby States, including Mis-
Sissippi, Arkansas and several others.
He is going on the air and talking to
the people of other more Northern and
Western States about his proposals
for a redistribution of wealth" Hard
times make possible the advance Of
Long. If there is reasonable amount
of recovery during the next year his
influence is not likely to increase
greatly. There remains, too, con-
siderable amount of Sectionallsm in
this country. How far the Louisiana
Kingfish can get in New England, in
Illinois and Indiana and Ohio, Tor
example, not to mention New York, is
conundrum that many would answer
today with a fat declaration he could
get nowhere. But if he takes enough
votes in these States from the Demo-
Gratis it might make big difference to
the Republican candidates.
| X 4 X r
Members of Congress, it appears, do
not particularly relish the way the jan
uary meetings of the National Legls-
lature are working out for them since
the Norris amendment to the Consti-
tuition has come into full effect. Their
complaint is that too much time is
! ~~S
assembled the first Monday in Decem-
Der, cleaned up all organization mat
tiers and got its committees to whip
ping legislation into shape for consid-
Grafton the first Of the year. Now,
they say, the wheels do not get under
way actually until the last of January
or the first of February. This is likely
to postpone adjournment OF Congress
until Summer, perhaps well into the
Summer.
Congress has the right by law to fix
the day for the opening of its sessions.
1t could now, if it is so desired, fix
the first Monday in December for
meeting This might apply only to
the second session of a Congress. since
its term Of Office begins now under the
Norris amendment on January 3, and
the Norris amendment was designed
to do away with lame duck" seS-
sions-sessions at which members who
had been defeated for reelection still
continued to serve. Some Of the men
in Congress who voted for the Norris
amendment would, they say, hesitate
to vote for it if it were submitted
again. Nothing, apparently, is ever
entirely satisfactory.
Senator Theodore G.. Bilbo of Mis-
sisSippi, who has been a political
stormy petrol in his State for long
time, has objected strenuously to the
appointment by President Roosevelt
of Judge Eugene O. Sykes to be a
! member Of the Federal C0nmunlca-
tionS Commission. In fact, he has
written a letter to Senator Wheeler,
chairman of the Interstate Commerce
Committee. which is scorching, to say
the least, protesting against Judge
Sykes confirmation by the Senate
His main charge against Judge Sykes
is that the Judge was appointed a
member of the Supreme Court of
Mississippi by Senator Bilbo in 1916,
when Bilbo was Governor of the
State, vacancy having occurred, and
in the 1884 campaign Judge Sykes
supported former Senator Stephens
for the Democratic senatorial nomina-
ton. Not only did he appoint Judge
Sykes to the bench. but he also gave
him his support when it came time
for the judge to stand for election to
the bench, Senator Bilbo says.
Senator Bilbo has plenty of ad-
vanced ideas. He has occupied in
Mississippi position before the elec-
torate not greatly disSimilar from that
of Huey Long in Louisiana. Whether
he will be content to go along with
the Roosevelt administration, as time
progresses. is a question Here in
the case Of Judge Sykes appointment
he has definitely broken with the
President. Senator Pat Harrison, the
senior Senator from Mississippi, is
supporting Sykes.
* X X
Discussion of what would happen
in this country if the Supreme Court
of the United States decides against
the Government in the pending golo
cases continues apace. D. w. Els
worth, editor of the Annalist, in its
annual review and forecast number
insists that a decision by the court
against the Government should be
regarded as IAN opportunity, rathe,
than a calamity" an opportunity tc
repair the damage done by the most
futile and the most harmful part OF
the entire New Deal program" Mr.
Ellsworth suggested that Congress
could meet the situation very prop
erly by passing a bill to return the
country to the gold standard, not
perhaps Immediately, but. say two
years hence. The shorter the interval
the better, in his opinion. But ar
interval would provide an orderly
return process.
X X X X
If such scheme for the return
to the gold standard could be ap-
proved by Congress, Mr. Ellsworth
continued, zone argument which was
heard so often in extenuation of de.
valuation would be equally valid ir
extenuation of a return to gold. i
was frequently stated that the de.
valuation Of the dollar would have
no harmful effects, because a dollar
: was a dollar to most people, and the
man in the street knew little anc
cared less about how manv grains nj