The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-09-06

Bottle Lines pertinent at this
time to examine
what has happened in the late session
of congress. In a nation where two
party political structure obtains, poll
ties cannot be segregated from the adj
ministration In the larger sense. 1t Is
not with a critical attitude, therefore,
that the magnifying glass Is held over
the doings of President Roosevelt, his
cabinet and brain trust advisers and
the congress that has lately adjourned.
I believe 1t will be agreed that poll
| tics has predominated in the manage
ment of our national affairs during the
last eight months especially. The fervor
and appeal that was held for recovery
by all of us during the earlier days
of the Roosevelt administration seems
to have been largely dissipated. That
| is not to say that no one wants to see
recovery accomplished. 1t Is to say,
however, that this fervor and this APP
peal has been somewhat subordinated.
| Thus, 1t can be summarized In brief
sentence: The administration, looking
to the elections of 1896, has been en-
gagged in building campaign battle lines
and forging campaign ammunition.
The 1884 congressional elections
presented to the country an issue based
on the performances and the future
program of President Roosevelt. 1t
was accorded proposition where citl-
Zens were voting either to give the New
Deal a future mandate and the Presi-
| dent authority to proceed as he
thought best or to vote mandate that
would call halt on those same per-
| formances and policies. The country
supported Mr.. Roosevelt, some of his
advisers since have told me, in man.
ner even more substantial than he had
! anticipated. He emerged from that
| campaign with a larger Democratic
majority in the house than he had
before. In addition he was accorded
much more than necessary two-thirds
of the senate. The picture looked
roseate.
Though the congress that has just
ended its session gave the President
many anxious hours, think that on
| the whole 1t can be regarded as having
provided him with record Of rather
arduous and faithful response to his
wishes. He did not obtain quite all
that he wanted nor did he obtain that
portion of his program exactly In the
form he desired. But, again, politics
In congress is almost matter of gen
1 GO no
President can be said to have come
out very well. He can proceed now
to any plans for that session of con-
gress which convenes next January
and which, in accordance with nearly
all presidents, will adjourn ahead of
the national political conventions next
June.
Politics being the game that 1t is,
one must look into the future to dis
cover the ultimate
Looking to goal. So, looking into
+he E,,f,,ro the future, one dis
Germs several objects
or detectives of decided, as well as i'm
portant, interest to the individual
voters.
In the first place, the consensus sure
ly is that Mr.. Roosevelt has built. a
legislative and administrative struc-
ture in our government that presents
/ a concrete and unqualified issue to the
American people, namely, to proceed
along New Deal lines and make the
necessary changes in the Constitution
to permit execution of those policies
or to throw the whole thing over
board. There can be no equivocation.
AS the structure stands at this time
and as 1t will stand until the next ses-
sion of congress is under way, many
New Deal propositions are of doubtful
constitutionality. If they are so held by
/ the Supreme court of the United States
then Mr.. Roosevelt is believed certain
to turn to the country and request
Constitutional revision.
His latest and perhaps his most def
mite move in this direction was In con-
nection with the so-called Guffey coal
ing that piece of legislation on the
"must" list of measures to be acted on
before congress adjourned, Mr.. Roose-
welt advised house leaders that he
wanted it passed and he did not care
particularly whether some members of
congress had reasonable doubts"
about its constitutionality. In effect,
therefore, the President commanded
passage of legislation that must place
before the Supreme court a vital ques-
tion for determination. 1t will be test
ed. OF that there is no doubt. If the
law is held unconstitutional, it merely
means that its provisions form another
part of the campaign battle-ground OBJ
served to be shaping.
Mr.. Roosevelt also succeeded in fore
ing through congress the legislation de-
stroying the public utility holding COM
panies. It was tough fight but the
President was victorious. Now, hear
from many sources that court exam
nation of the legislation likewise will
come because some folks are convinced
it is confiscatory. If 1t is, 1t is uncon-
..AsA