Evening star., 1936-02-02
American Voters
Becoming Dizzy
BY O,cen L. Scott.

FotCAo. ECliIICdl SpcCldllSGS OI CIle CWC
| parties as yet are unable to decide
whether or not to take it seriously.
After their diagnosis they advise that
the trouble grows out of an attempt
On the part of the public to make heads
or tails out of the chsrges and counter
charges, claims and counter claims, COM
parisons and counter r-comparisons that
fill the air of politics. 4..s>s.
The effort produces tangle of con-
tradictions that is battling to the people
even before they give the 1886 election
campaign their undivided attention.
To judge by the clamor thus far
raised, the voter readily could think that
any one of the following fights was un-
der way: Andy Jackson VS.. the Repub-
lican Party; Roosevelt VS.. Andy jackson;
Smith VS. Smith; Roosevelt VS.. Roosevelt:
Supreme Court VS.. Alexander Hamilton;
Moscow VS.. Washington.
Actually, what the people are seeing
is the start Of what promises to be a
no-quarter struggle for political power,
with the victor gaining four-year lease
on the worlds most important govern
ment.
First signs suggest that this battle
will be Waged on the basis of past his
tory rather than present problems. The
effect may be educational even if be-
wilderng.
Mr.. Roosevelt has just been hit be-
tween the eyes by words that he uttered
in 1880. Then, rising to the defense of
the rights OF individual States and in
opposition to encroachment of Federal
power, he told how agriculture and busi-
ness and public utilities involved mat
ters for State concern. an these" he
said, washington should not be en-
couraged to interfere"
Yet now. when President of the ma
tional Government instead of Governor
of State, he is found aiming blows
at the Supreme Court for approving his
1880 views Those views, the President
feels at this time, will lead the country
back to the "horse and buggy days"
Three years ago Mr.. Roosevelt was I'M
loosng some hard verbal jabs at the
head OF Herbert Hoover on the ground
that Mr.. Hoover's spending and unbal-
anced budgets were threatening to wreck
national finance. Now Mr.. Roosevelt Is
absorbing blows from Mr.. Hoover on
the same issue The difference is that
one ran up deficit of about five billions
and the other is in the process of estab-
fishing deficit of fifteen billions.
About the time voter thinks he has
those situations untangled the figure of
AL Smith is seen creeping into the ring.
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Roosevelt not many
years ago were the closest of political
friends And not long ago Mr.. Smith
and Mr.. Hoover were the most bitter
of political enemies. Also Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr. Hoover showed deep personal
antagoniSm. In the latest turnabout
Mr.. Hoover and Mr.. Smith are joining
up for fight against Mr.. Roosevelt.
Al Smith who in 1923 was accused by
Mr.. Hoover of advocating State social
ism. today is hitting at the President
with the charge that he is moving Mos
COW to Washington and is promoting
the cause of the Socialists. To that
charge the party in power countered
with smack that came SO fast that the
spectators had difficulty following it.
They turned the punch with state
ment from AL himself, made in 1929
when he said: "The cry of socialism has
been patented by the powerful interests
that desire to put damper on pro-
gressivc legislation. Failing to meet
arguments fairly and squarely. special
interests fall back on the old stock
argument of socialism"
Then Al shot out another, charging
Mr.. Roosevelt with seeking to be a die
tator and tyrant. Once more Mr.. Smiths
crack was turned back on him with the
revelation that in February, 1888, he was
urging that what this country needed
was a dictator and that the Constitution
should be wrapped up and put on shelf.
Mr. Roosevelt is prepared one of these
days to tell the story of how business
leaders in 1888 wanted him to assume
dictatorial powers and how he refused
TO listen.
The mention of the Constitution has
brought Senator William E. Borah into
the fray, swinging haymakers against
those who advocate change. But then
it is seen that his blows bounce back
when discovery is made that Mr.. Borah
a few years ago was backing movement
to curb the power of the Supreme Court
by requiring concurrence of at least
seven judges in any decision holding an
act of Congress unconstitutional.
Al Smith and Herbert Hoover and
others hit at the New Deal for wrecking
business Mr.. Smith said that the Presi-
dents breathing spell' is just the re-
spite before the Knockout punch is
delivered
The citizen, bewildered by contradic-
tions from both sides, has trouble be-
lieving his eyes after that one
He reads that business is harassed,
but that United States Steel showed the
best earnings statement in five years;
that General Motors earned $167, 100000
in 1885, an increase of rs per cent in one
year; that the Du Pont company earned
more than S. share in the last year.
* X
Dividend increases dot the financial
pages. Utilities that were to be destroyed
by last sessions legislation are found
selling more power than at any time in
history Earnings are on the rise. Rail
roads reported sizable net profits after
a long famine. Oil companies discover
gasoline sales far above expectations and
profits encouraging.
Farmers ended the last year with three
billion more dollars paid for their crops
than in 1882. The Department of Labor
reports employment up half million
in two months and wages up nearly
fifty million dollars week in the same
period.
Yet the bewilderment continues.
For in the midst of prosperity reports,
the New Deal continues vast expenditures
for relief and plans Federal outlays