, 1935-07-18
WASHINGTON

welt steps on the two publicity
cnairmen-MeSSrs. O1COnnog
and Black the double barrelled
power lobby investigation viii turn
out 10 be a dud.
In this inquiry the utilities are
making a last-ditch fight for all
suffering interests. Their success
full mobilization OF protestant
stockholders has taught a uesful
lesson to all corporations beset by
R~ooSeveltlan policies. Prospective
victims OF tax and railroad legisla-
Ion are mimeOgraphing lists OF
shareholders so as TO play the same
game. IL the utilities get away with
their vast expenditure Of money -
possibly $1,000. 0Oc-in this sort OF
scare campaign. business has a
new form Of dominance over gov
eminent.
Both sides realize that they are
playing for high stakes. That's
why the utilities rejoice &C the
division among their enemies. Per-
-onal and political rivalries among
the politicians benefit them. You
can gauge the sincerity Of the
congressional inves tig a tors by
watching what happens to the pro-
posal that house and senate Sleuths
pool their forces and finances.
Truth House Rules Chairman
C'ConnOr will do a better job than
Senator Black II he dares to carry
on. Although suspected Of greater
luminosity toward White House re-
representatives. than toward utility
lobbyists. he may turn up some real
sensations.
Mr.. Black has started out along
old-fashiOned lines. He wants TO
know-the utilities admit it-that
they spent plenty. He Will dig ND
nothing new by proceeding up that
alley.
What the public wants 10 know
is the result Of the impact Of the
power expenditures upon members
OF congress. What congressman
consorted with lobbyists end what
was the result OF their c%onniving?
How many members succumbed 10
kilograms and letters attacking
the death sentence?" How many
checked up TO discover whether
these protests we're stimulated or
real? Mr.. O'Connor has asked
House members to supply this in
formation. III they tell the truth
they-and not the utilities-may
have some explaining TO do.
Perhaps-President Roosevelt Is
catching more congressman with
m0lasses than with vinegar. His
recent conference with members Of
house and senate have been love
feasts instead Of occasions for
trading and pickering.
Mr.. Roosevelt has listened to
senators who never before had a
chance to whisper IN his ear They
complained Of patronage neglect.
They explained that his Dictator
ial demands sometimes made them
appear as dummies. "lessening
their prestige with The public and
especially their cOnstits. They told
him they were tired and anxious
to get hCme. They expressed their
resentment at the tactics OF some
or his Over-enthusiastic liaison men.
Mr.. Roosevelt listened to all this
congressional cackling. He made no
specific prOmises-that is not his
way-but the boys felt better when
they got their groans of their
chests. They left the president
with the impression that he will
give more weight TO their advice
hereafter. and not spend all his
time listening to the Brain Trust :"
Monument-Rep. George Tlnk-
ham. a blubearded, blueblooded big
game hunter from Boston. has a
lovel scheme for keeping the
United States out OF future wars.
Mr.. Tinkham Is a Mayflower
descendant and an intense nation
alist. He delivers two speeches a
year-bOth designed TO delight the
Irish and Yankees IN his district. He
demands no 'Involvment" in for
eign affairs and full payment OF
the war debts. Before prohibition
he used to castigate Bishop Cannon
once a year and thereby insure a
100 per cent vote I'm his Irish
wards.
But now George is all for for
getting the war debts. He'll an
nuunce that Europe's failure 10 pay
these obligations is the finest insur-
ance against American participa-
ton in another world a And
cheap at the price Of Sill 5000 0.000l
So he may sponsor a resolution
waving payment and dedicating
tie unpaid debts rs a monument
10 the folly OF war"
Team-Republican scouts list only
two men a. actively seeking the
gepu- can presidential nomination
-O' 1895. Ileyt are Frank Knox,
Chicago publisher. and Represent
alive Hamilton Fish Jr.. Mr.. Roose-
velt's New York NeighbOr.
Other men. especially Senators
PO.ah and Vandenbcrg. may crave
the honor as much as MesSrs. Knox
End Fish. but they r lying low.
Mr. Kncx'S friends are quietly cam
paigning for him In the Middle
West and III the Northeast. They
seem TO be spending real money,
tho Not 50 long ago Mr.. Knox re-
Called to the Chicago office a vet
cran Washington correspondent who
~ the confidant Of almost every
COP leader In the country.
Mr.. Fish is travelling, speaking
and flirting. IN more than 30 states
In six months. BY 1886 convention
time he will have spoken In every
stste in the union. He Il fishing for
American Legion backing as a
nucleus for his candidacy. His
friends warn him that the early
fish often gets the hook.
Open-State Department diplo-
mats are piuued at reports that
outsmagted Cordeil Hull In
Ut FOtiating the recent RuSsO-Amer-
lean trade agreement They think
the Tennessee horse-trader put one
On the gffrk S1vint dirkprrrS