Evening star., 1935-01-21
ThePOliticalM Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

L ! 1lC 1GCRubl4Oak10y 0CoRAOC b&AC 4oSs
that they are divided into liberal and
conservative camps, are nevertheless
preparing quietly to take advantage OF
any breaks" that may happen. 1t is
a long lane that has no turning, and
q. o. p. leaders are confident that
sooner or later-and some Of them be-
lieve 1t will be sooner-there will be
| q sharp turn in public opinion regard
ing some of the New Deal. Only re-
Gently 1t was announced that the Re-
publican National Committee has paid
its debts-wiped out the deficit COM
ing over from the 1882 campaign
Now, 1t is learned, plans have been
made for systematic conduct of the
financial affairs of the G. o. P. ma
tional and State organizations. These
plan3 contemplate a collection OF
funds in the various States for the
Republican war chest The subscrip-
| tions, made to the national committee
will be divided $3.50 between the ma
tional organization and the State and
local committees. BY such a system
members Of the party will be called
upon for single subscription, in
stead of being pestered by solicitors
for all kinds of campaign funds. And
also the money raised will be equi-
tably divided between State and ma
ttonal campaign needs. After all, the
money obtained by the national COM
mittee goes back into the State cam
paignS verify largely during the actual
political contests.
| X X X
With the smallest Republican
membership in the Senate and in
the House since the G. o. P. took
command in Civil War days, the task
of the party leaders in House and
Senate is a big one. They must
provide an effective and fighting
minority and at the same time they
must not put the party in the po-
sition of merely playing politics and
blocking administration plans for re-
covery. The fact that the Demo-
cratic cohorts are so large is one ad-
vantage to the Republicans. No one
would believe that a mere handful
OF Republicans In each house could
obStruct administration legislation for
any length of time. So if there be
obstruction during the present ses-
sion, it must rest on the shoulders
Of recalcitrant Democrats.
| The session is young. However,
the Democratic leadership in the
House is giving every indication that
it intends to plow ahead rapidly with
the consideration and passage of ad-
| mtnistration measures The S4 40OO,-
100000 lump-sum appropriation for
work relief which the President has
requested is to be put through in
record time. And there are to be no
amendments except those offered by
the committee. Two days will see the
bill passed and sent on its way to the
Senate. In the Upper House there is
no gag rule, no chance to head off
amendments that may be offered
within the rules Of the Senate. But
even in the Upper House the dispo-
sition is to deal with this measure as
quickly as possible. BY coupling with
the $4,000, 100000 lump-sum appro-
priation for work relief authority for
the transfer of some $3.50 900 900.
from previous appropriations not yet
expended, to be used for direct relief
until the change from the dole to
the work relief rolls, can be effected.
The fact that this money is needed
soon and will be used in all the
States may help to speed the s4,-
OO,0O0,O00 appropriation also.
| r r X
Washington gossip included, in a
more or less desultory manner, dis
cussion OF Vice President John N.
Garner's political future. Since it is
so evident that President Roosevelt
will be the Democratic nominee for
President in 1886, there seemed moth
ing to do but figure on a vice presi-
dental candidate. The fact that Mr..
Garner has kept his mouth shut for
two years and has taken his duties as
Vice President more quietly than some
OF his predecessors was, in part, re-
sponsible for report that Mr.. Garner
was tired of official life and wanted
to go back home to Texas; that he
would be glad to be excused when
next year comes. Another angle of
the discussion sought to place Secre-
tary Ickes Of the Interior Department
in the field as President Roosevelt IS
next running mate. This was to be
accomplished either to keep Mr.. Ickes
from being candidate for President
on the Republican ticket or to take
him out of the job of handling the
public works program Of the Govern
ment and thereby make 1t easier for
some people to get pet projects ap-
proved.
| III
But now it appears that the gossip
has gone far enough. Mr.. Garner
is entirely satisfactory to President
Roosevelt, 1t is reported in informed
quarters. The word has gone forth
that he will, if he desires, be NOM
mated for Vice President in 1886. Mr.
Garner does not give the appearance
OF an unhappy man. He seems tC
enjoy his life in the National Capital
In view of the fact that Mr.. Garner
at crucial time in the Democratic
convention Of 1892 stepped aside as q
presidential candidate and helped tc
put across the nomination of Presi-
dent Roosevelt might give him at least
some claim on another nomination fol
Vice President. He has been entirely
loyal in his support of the administra-
ton. It would be a strange thing il
the President should turn thumbs
down on the Texan.
|
The American Liberty League is
going into action at last. For months
it has been preparing for the present
session of Congress. 1t has turned
loose its criticism of the N. R. A. and
strongly opposes writing the existing
statute-which expires next June
into permanent law. If the league
really goes on the warpath the fur
may fly. Its professed desire to aid
the President did not get it anywhere
The public believed that the league
was organized to fight the New Deal
or much Of it, and so did the New
Dealers.
The leagues discussion of the N. R
A. shows it in. opposition to giving
unusual executive authority for more
than a limited period-in other words
that such authority should be only
for period Of emergency. It is oppos-