Evening star., 1935-08-22
THE POLITICAL
MILL
By C.. Could Lincoln.

was reelected President nineteen years
ago on the slogan "he kept US out OF
war" In 1916 the neutrality OF the
United States In the conflict which had
engulfed Europe and most OF the rest
Of the world was q major issue. The
Senate, without record vote and after
less than half an hours discussion, yes
terday passed a joint resolution designed
to help maintain American neutrality In
future wars between foreign nations.
Not only did the Senate pass the joint
resolution. but there were evidences that
II the resolution be brought before the
House 1t will pass by sweeping vote
though perhaps in amended form. Con-
ditions which finally drew this country
into the World War in 1917 would In
the main be cured by the pending joint
resolution, It's supporters urge.
The speed with which the Senate
acted upon the neutrality resolution was
due particularly to the war threats that
hang over Europe and Africa today.
There seems no slightest doubt Of that,
although the urge to wind up the pres
ent session and leave Washington may
have much to do with holding the de-
bate on this measure OF tremendous i'm
portance to IS minutes. The resolution
as it passed the Senate Is mandatory.
1t makes 1t illegal to ship arms from
America to any belligerent after war has
begun There Is provision also that
Americans who travel on the ships OF
belligerent nations must assume all re-
sponsibility and not look to this country
for protection or for any action what
ever In the event Of their injury or
death.
President Roosevelt has been repre-.
sented as opposed to such mandatory
legislation. His wish has been for per
missive" law, leaving it In the hands OF
the President to determine what shall
be done in regard to the shipment Of
arms from America to belligerentS, etc.
Plainly the temper Of the Senate. how
ever, was for mandatory legislation.
Whether the President can prevail upon
the House to back him up in the de-
mand for amendments to the neutrality
resolution which would permit him to
use his discretion in laying a ban on the
shipment of arms and munitions remains
to be seen. There is a strong sentiment
In the House, as there has been in the
Senate. that something be done to make
1t as certain as possible that this coun-
try be not involved in foreign war.
whether that war be between Italy and
Ethiopia or between other nations.
It is rather a tickliSh situation for the
administration. The President and his
supporters could scarcely afford to turn
their faces so definitely against neu-
trality legislation as to prevent the
passage of any measure. To do SO
would be to rouse feeling against them
In many quarters and among many
persons. With Congress about to
adjourn, the administration may be
faced with situation in which it must
take what the Senate offers or leave
it, even If it persuades the House to back
the Presidents demand for permissive
legislation. The neutrality resolution
was not on the Presidents must pro-
gram. 1t was forced on the Democratic
leadership of the Senate by de-
termined group of Senators, headed by
Senator Nye of North Dakota, chairman
of the Munitions Committee of the
Senate, which has been conducting for
many months searching inquiry. The
purpose of the committee has been to
take the profits out of war" The
danger which American profits on NUM-
tionS and other supplies might bring
this country in the event of a new for
eign war gave the committee its chance.
The threat of a filibuster on the floor
of the Senate, drove the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee to wind up long
consideration Of neutrality legislation
and to bring in a favorable report.
The American people are intent upon
keeping this country out Of future
foreign war This same sentiment,
which was reflected in the Wilson vic
tory in 1916, is strongly in evidence
today. Perhaps more strongly, in the
light Of the memory of American par
ticipation in the World War.
~ y
The Guffey coal bill is expected to
be passed and become law in these clos
ing hours OF the present session Of
Congress. Again President Roosevelt
will have had his way with the Con-
gress. In part, he has been aided in his
fight for this measure by the backing
Of the United Mine Workers and allied
labor. There is, however, the belief on
the part of some members of Congress
that the Supreme Court will declare the
proposed law unconstitutional. They are
willing to go along with the President
even though they doubt the conSti-
tutionality of the law-believing that the
Supreme Court will throw it out. If
the proposed law is declared unconSti-
tutional, and rendered null and void,
the issue is likely to be taken into the
next campaign. Court action, it is
assumed, will be instituted against the
law as soon as it shall have been
signed by the President.
While some other Republican presi-
Dental possibilities" are peeling of
their shirts and getting into the fray
for delegates to the G. 0. p. National
Convention of 1886, Senator Arthur H.
Vandenberg of Michigan is continuing
to hold aloof. He has done nothing and
said nothing to enter himself in the race
for the presidential nomination. Never
theless, Mr.. Vandenberg is by no means
to be counted out 1t is noticeable that,
despite the fact he has repeatedly and
consistently declared himself not can
didate for the presidential nomination,
he stands fifth on the preference pol
of Republican county chairmen and
other leaders in the party which is being
taken by Robert H. Lucas, former exec
utive director Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. Furthermore, although
he is fifth in line, the vote cast for
Vandenberg is large. Had he been out
working for delegates and moving ac-
lively in this pre-primary and pre-
convention campaign and had then