The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-03-08
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National Topics Interpreted "a G4MES
by William Bruckart TTTTHfTTFW
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dollar can be valued up or down as cir
cumstances warrant.
But the value which the President
and congress place upon the dollar
may differ materially from the value
which the public places upon the cur
rency. The public will view the dol
lar in terms of its purchasing power.
Public confidence in the currency,
therefore, becomes an absolute neces-
sity and once it is shaken, If history
means anything, it takes a long hard
pull to get it back. So, if congress shows
willingness to repudiate obligations
as it has shown already, the public
sooner or later begins to wonder what
the end will be.
Throughout history, wherever and
whenever such condition has arisen,
the public seeks to convert this doubt
full currency into material things, those
of unitarian value, which it may use.
Money, being inedible, is sought to be
exchanged for things to eat, to wear,
to sustain life and comfort This is
what is meant in expressions "the
flight from the dollars" or 1.-THE flight"
from any other currency about which
we have heard SO much since the
World war.
The situation in congress in the last
few weeks has provided a test for
President Roosevelt's
Up to the political acumen. 1t
President has been far more
test of his skill
than otherwise would have been the
case because for almost two years he
has had a congress so Obedient to his
command as to merit the description
of rubber stamp legislative body.
Now, however, the President is faced
with the necessity for political maneu-
vers of the highest order and upon the
results of his tactics much will de-
pend. He can cement the links of the
Democratic party or he can cause them
to disintegrate by the courses he fol-
lows.
Some curiosity has been aroused by
the fact that for the first time since he
became President, Mr.. Roosevelt omit
ted in several instances lately to send
administration drafts of bills for con-
gressional consideration. His practice
hitherto had been to have the bills
drafted in executive departments and
submitted with a recommendation that
they be enacted in that form. Until
some of the factions in congress began
to feel their oats this plan worked very
we'll A change has come over some of
them, however, and they are now in
sisting upon preparation of the legis-
lation themselves.
Another significant Development
and this links to circumstances of sew
eral months ago-was the presentation
by Senator Wagner of New York of a
bill to settle labor disputes. This bill
does not have administration approval.
Indeed, 1t is quite contrary in some of
it's phases to the policies which Mr..
Roosevelt has sponsored in his deal
~ings with organized labor. 1t seems
important, therefore, that Senator
Wagner, who for so long was regard
ed as Mr.. Roosevelt's alter ego in the
senate, should deliberately offer legis-
lation to which the administration had
not agreed. With further reference to
Senator Wagner. who comes from the
Presidents home state of New York,
it is Interesting, even If unimportant,
that Senator Wagner did not support
the President in the latter's efforts to
force the $5,0O0,0O0,000 work relief bill
through the senate. Since Senator
Wagner has been consistently a New
Dealer many observers are asking with
some logic whether the New Deal sup
porters have begun to crack up.
It will be recalled that in asking for
an extension of the national Industrial
recovery act for a
Extension period of two years,
of MIRA President Roosevelt
merely outlined in
his message the fundamentals of the
plan he was recommending. He carefully
avoided reference to any draft of such
a bill. It occasioned some surprise
that this was so but closer analysis of
the situation should have developed
reasons therefor Most of these rea-
sons are traceable directly to the cir
cumstances l mentioned above, name
ly. the necessity for tactical skill In