Evening star., 1936-02-13
THE POLITICAL
MILL
By G.. Could Lincoln.

Senator was addressing the National
Republican Club in New York City at
its Lincoln day banquet. His speech
was broadcast over the entire country.
Vandenberg has said many times that
he is not candidate for the Repub-
lican presidential nomination. He has
never said, however, that he would not
accept such nomination If it came
to him. In recent weeks there has
been more and more talk about him
as possible and probable nomination
of the Cleveland convention. His ad-
dress last night undoubtedly will add
greatly to this kind of talk He remains,
however, not an active candidate-not
candidate in any sense Of the word.
But he stands, it is said, in a peculiarly
favorable position.
***
Aside from whatever personal ambi-
tions they may have, there is no reason
to believe that either Senators Borah
of Idaho or Gov. Landon of Kansas,
among the leading aspirants for the
nomination, would be hostile to the
nomination of the Michigan Senator.
Vandehberg speaks admirably of them
both.
The Vandenberg address was filled
with phrases and sentences that sting
and ridicule the New Deal. On the
other hand, 1t proclaimed a liberal
attitude toward agriculture and labor,
and warned industry and business and
the general consumers that the coun-
try could not be prosperous if labor
and the farmer are denied their fair
share Of returns for their labor and
production.
THE Chief Executive" said Vanden-
berg. referring to President Roosevelt,
has frankly expressed his contemptuous
wish that no constitutional Scruple,
however persuasive, should interrupt
his infatuated program" Again, VAN
denberg said. With particularly re-
vealing significance upon one occasion
he (RoosevelD asked for three billion
dollars and candidly said. as might the
French Louis of old, I suggest that
you appropriate it to Me-"
IT believe" said the Michigan Sena-
tor, in an untrammeled Supreme
Court of the United States. Let those
with disappointed appetites assail it."
He made this remark only few hours
after his colleague from Nebraska, Sen
attack upon the court in the Senate and
argued that majority of the tribunal
should not be allowed to hold an act of
Congress- New Deal act in this case
unconstitutional Vandenberg pictured
the President as having turned his back
upon the 1882 Democratic platform-on
which Roosevelt had been elected. 1t
is las dead as the N. r. A" said Van
denberg, mot only dead but mangled
beyond all possibility of recognition
high promises which, when contrasted
with subsequent performance, are the
modern paraphrase of DR.. Jekyl and Mr..
Hyde-Park."
Considered of political Importance was
the clear statement of Senator Vanden-
berg that he hoped for the aid of the
"Jenersonian Democrats" opposed to the
Roosevelt New Deal in the coming elec-
ton and that after the election was over
these Democrats should have part in
Government councils. For myself" he
said, Il welcome Jeffersonian co-opera-
tion-not only in the battle line. but
subsequently in the council chamber
after next November's victory is won"
II these are Vandenberg's present Senti-
should be nominated and elected Presi-
dent, some of the Jeffersonian Demo-
Gratis would be invited to take places in
his cabinet. That might, indeed be a
good move for any Republican who hap
pened to be elected President. For such
a President would have to face a SEN
ate strongly Democratic, even if the
House majority was Republican There
is chance, it is said, that if Vanden-
berg be nominated for President he may
go so far as to pick several members of
his prospective cabinet during the cam
paign months and announce their names,
so that the country may know what to
expect in the event Of his election.
Vandenberg took new way of point
ing out that the Roosevelt Democrats
have travelled a long way from the
Jefersonian ideas Talk about this
years possibility Of third party" he
said. We already have third party
Nobody voted for it. Nobody asked for
it. Nobody knew it was on the way.
But it is herein power"
Vandenberg sees recovery on its way,
with the main thing needed a chance
for business, labor and industry. He
asked for balanced budget and sta
bilized dollar; for two-price system for
agricultural products "a price for prod
uctS consumed in the domestic market
and a price for products sold in the
world market. He does not see that
the New Deal has made any impression
upon real restoration of employment,
and insists that it cannot be accom-
plished by program of spending bill
lions on public works out of an empty
Treasury.
Senator Lonergan of Connecticut,
Democrat, believes that something
should be done to clear up ignorance and
doubt about unemployment. AS he cor
rectly says, there are no reliable facts
known about unemployment-on a ma
tional scale. The Connecticut Senator,
therefore, has written to the President
urging that national census of unem-
ployment be taken without further
delay, so that Congress may have the
necessary information for relief and re-
covery legislation. This would be
good idea. Whether it could be done
in the midst of a presidential cam
paign is another matter Republicans
may oppose the setting up of a great
mass of census takers at such a time.
In his letter to the President, Lonergan
said:
eft is clear that we have no accurate
statistics regarding employment or un-
amnlnvnent Estinatas arc or1y an