The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-07-23
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b. 6artorFic1d.h
By CarterField !

lIicI OOuBnllIl CdnUludto IOT + cSa-
dent, expects to be the directing
force in the next house Of repre-
sentatives OF bloc Of not less than
100 members. This bloc, he be-
lieves, will hold the balance Of
power, thus making Coughlin and
Lemke the umpires who decide
what is to pass and what not. That
is, Of course, with respect to ques-
tions where there is regular party
line division between the Democrats
and the Republicans.
All of which is not as weird as 1t
sounds. In the first place, it will
not take very much OF bloc to
hold the balance between the Re-
publicans and the Democrats in the
next house of representatives, in all
human probability. Experts agree
that there is no likelihood OF a
large majority for either side. Even
il Franklin D. Roosevelt runs very
well, indeed, he will be lucky to
carry a majority OF more than SO
Democrats in the house. He is
much more likely to have less than
20, with a strong probability that
he might have slender Repub-
lican majority against him.
Whereas if Governor Alfred M.
Landon is elected, while the house
is almost certain to be Republican
in that event, there is no probable
ity OF a fat G. 0. P. majority. It
would probably be less than so.
There are certain fixed conditions,
such as the solid Democratic dele
cations from the southern states,
the solid Tammany delegation and
the sure Democratic districts in
Chicago that foreshadow this.
For instance, New York state
now has Is Democratic members
OF the house, is Republicans, and
one Tanmany district vacant. The
best the Republicans hope for in the
Empire state. even II Landon car
ries it by zoo, 900, is a gain Of four
seats, so that the Democrats would
still have Is.
So that ii Lemke sees any large
fraction OF the 100 men and women
he has endorsed for the house
elected they will certainly COM
pose a bloc which would be the
balance OF power on any issue
which divided the house on strictly
party lines.
Doubtful Elements
When Lemke talks about 100
members in his bloc, he counts in
two elements which he may not be
able to control, but which on many
issues will be in sympathy with
him. One Of these is the Town
sendites. Doctor Townsend has not
said what he thought about the
Lemke candidacy. He may or may
not be able to control men who
have been elected on the old age
pension platform, but have made
their own campaigns SO far as other
issues are concerned.
Lemke also counts the Wisconsin
members OF the house, which will
be controlled, unless there is an up
set, by the La Toilette machine.
Here again it is true that the
Wisconsin members may be in SYM
pathy with the Coughlin-Lemke OBJ
jectives sometimes, but it is also
pretty sure that there will be no
dictation to them.
But even if the Lemke claim is
cut down to 40-or for that matter
to 25--it will be a considerable
menace If it can be controlled
Obviously many of the members
who will be elected on the Town
send platform cannot be induced
to vote for printing press money
Some of them already have been
nominated in districts where the
election is a mere ratification OF
the primary. They believe in $500
a month pensions for those over
sixty, and they do not want the
purchasing power of this 5000 cut
by imitation.
The mere fact that most econ
omists agree that the Townsend
route is just as direct road to
imitation as the Lemke-Coughlin is
beside the point The Townsend
people do not admit that.
Must Import Wheat
In view of the present drouth sit
uation, which will result, agricul-
tural experts figure, in the United
States importing wheat this year,
and in view Of the fact that it was
necessary to import very large
amount OF meat last year-especial-
" pork-some friends Of President
Roosevelt are urging him to follow
out one OF his own ideas and stop
the blowing under" scheme so
dear to Secretary Henry A. Wal
lace's heart.
About three years ago, though
most people have forgotten it, the
President was very strong for the
Pharaoh and Joseph idea Of saw
ing up SURPRISES in good years,
against the bad years bound to
come. y,
For instance, this idea would
have involved buying up the little
pigs. or more intelligently, buying