, 1935-01-08
WASHINGTON
BY George DurnO


BY George Durno
G.. O. P.-Now that Congress Is.
Sprinting around the first lap you
will hear a lot Of talk about liber-
alizing the republican party.
Veteran checkers predict that long
after the boys settle down TO the
slow grind you win still find the G..
o. p. running on the same old legs.
Senator Borah and others are de-
manding a republican new deal but
there Is a lot Of sober thought be-
hind the decision Of those who are
intent on keeping party manage
ment in present hands.
In the first place. Herbert Hoover
Is still titular head Of the party. He
has told friends he does not care
who takes over the reins-so long
as they aren't enemies OF the Hoov-
er principles. This counts for some
thing because after all Mr.. Hoover
polled i5.O00.0 900 votes in the course
Of being repudiated.
Ogden Mills-whose influence
should not be underestimated-has
what many regard as an excellent
reason for avoiding an immediate
shake-up. Prospects aren't too rosy
for the G. o. p. in 1885. If there
Is a reorganization this year and
the republicans take another beating
next year. the recognizing will have
to be done all over again.
Senator Charles McNary Of Ore
gon-minority floor leader Of the
upper house-has similar views.
He adopted a notwithstanding atti-
tude during the last session and
through the recent congressional
campaign. He was criticized byl
many OF his party associates before
last November's votes were counted
but he's still republican floor
leader.
IF present c~ounsellors have their
way, republican senators and con-
gresSmen will vote for necessary
emergency measures and be satisfied
with putting themselves on record as
opposed TO everything with a left
wingish flavor.
Meanwhile there will be guerilla
warfare in the hastings. Ex-senator
| Henry Allen OF Kansas. for instance.
Is Just back from England. He plans
TO take the stump and tell the COM
mon people how poorly recovery Is
being promoted here as compared
with Britain. His public utterances
are expected to dwell heavily on
waste Of federal funds.
Other speakers will be doing the
same. There are plenty OF ks
available for the job since the last
two elections.
Personal---very. p. Fletcher Is SER
enely in the saddle at Republican
National Headquarters. He intends
to stay there despite the throaty
demands OF Borah ct al that he alb
dicate.
Fletcher Is a MISUNDERSTANDING
man with a pleasing personality but
he q get his back up as far as
the next one It's up around the
roof OF the Empire State Building
right now. He might have given
heed had criticism come from 9TH
er quarters. But Borah Is another
name for poison to him.
Regulators-The fissure between
NRA and the Federal Trade Com
mission Is assuming the proportions
Of the Grand Canyon
FTC-If you will pardon alpha
betical allusionS-waS set up 70 pre-
scribe fair trade practices for in
dustry generally. NRA has coppered
this function to a marked degree
in the last year and a half.
A week or so before Congress con-
vened President Roosevelt had the
full membership Of the trade COM
mission in for an unpublished White
House conference. What went on In
the presidential study remains a
secret among those present but the
commissioners have been happy
ever since.
Industry would give three rous-
ing cheers If the FTC reclaimed its
jurisdiction over fair trade prac-
tees. When the Commission de-
cides a firm Is taking undue advan-
tage Of a competitor IL cites the
firm for a hearing. If found guilty
the company Is ordered to cease and
desist. No financial damage is done
unless the desist order is ignored.
With NRA Is has been different.
The crack-downs have been few but
the threats have been many. That
sort Of regulation gives business men
the jumps.
Igncred-NRA and FTC came "a
grips last in connection with the
Commissions report on what's
wrong with the chain store business.
ETC spent between three and four
years and nearly a million dollars
investigating. II put the findings
into 80 volumes.
During the course OF that investi-
CATION NRA came into existence.