Evening star., 1936-01-13

There's nothing new under the po-
litical sun. Everything points to the
probability that it won't be long now be-
fore Congress and Washington generally
will echo with the shibboleths and slo-
gans of McNary -Haugen days, as Capt.
tol Hills old friend, farm relief once
again prances into the legislative lime
light Already the air is thick with ia
miliar talk OF equalization fee, export
debentures, domestic allotment and other
jargon of the era when politicians and
farm leaders were cropping for panacea
for distressed agriculture Ten days ago
the rural West looked almost 100 per
cent sure for Roosevelt. Now an en-
tirely different situation has been Gre
ated. with every likelihood that the
agrarian vote will veer to the side that
promises most. If accompanied by con-
vincing guarantees that its program
can run the Supreme Court gantlet.
Before producing their own plan to
WOO and win the West, Republicans are
waiting to see what kind of q rabbit
the distracted New Dealers pull out Of
their sleeve to take the place of the
defunct Triple-A bunny. More than ever
events conspire to make the corn, cattle
and wheat belts the 1886 battle-ground.
Great glory and enhanced prestige as
a political figure accrue to Senator Jo-
seph F. Guffey, Democrat. of Pennsyl-
vania, as a result of Philadelphia
capture of his party's national conven-
ton. The bachelor Pittsburgher receives
chief credit for the eleventh-hour
strategy that snatched victory for the
Quaker City from the jaws of imminent
defeat by Chicago at last weeks National
Committee meeting. Penn States swell
ing Democratic dimensions, as revealed
in the successive 1894 and 1885 elections,
are mainly attributed to Guffey's or
ganizing genius, plus the managerial
skill of his chief lieutenant, Gov Earle.
In Washington last week the Senator
and the Governor were profuse and per-
suasive in promising party colleagues
that Pennsylvania big batch of SO elec-
toral votes is in the bag for Roosevelt
and Garner this year. Their sales talk
was to the effect that holding the nomi-
mating convention in Philadelphia would
simply make assurance doubly sure. The
committee swallowed the bait, along with
the extra $4,000 with which 1t was
sweetened.
With the constitutional issue forced to
the front by humiliation of A. A. A.,
Senator Borahs friends believe his
chances for the Republican presidential
nomination are materially enhanced.
Should Mr.. Roosevelt make constitu-
tional reform his paramount 1896 issue
before the Cleveland convention assem-
bles, Borahites profess to believe the
Westerner will become so obviously F.
D. RS logical opponent that the Sem
ators nomination would ensue almost by
acclamation. Defense Of constitutions
alism, particularly the sanctity Of the
Supreme Court, has no more valiant, elo-
quent or effective exponent than Idaho's
favorite son. Even Democrats admit that
Borah would be tough customer on
that proposition.
With the slightly more than six-to-
one majority by which the bonus bill
passed the House there was rolled up
the largest margin in favor OF adjusted
compensation that the veterans have
ever marshalled since the measure be-
came q perennial issue in Congress. AS
usual, the opposition in both parties
contained q liberal sprinkling Of World
War veterans who have been consist
emily hostile to bonus legislation. Ex-
service men among the 28 Democrats
who voted against the Vinson bill In.
cluded Representatives Bierman Of Iowa,
pardsn and Robertson Of Virginia and