Evening star., 1936-02-24
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. Could Lincoln.

President Roosevelt's tax program for
the present session OF Congress is ex-
pected to be revealed this week. Rumors
have been that it will be limited in two
respects-drst, to approximately $780,
10000 new revenue, and second, to meet
ing the payments of benefits paid the
farmers for complying with the program
laid down by Secretary Wallace under
the new farm relief bill, which has
passed both houses and will be sent to
the President for his approval as soon
as differences between the House and
Senate measures have been adjusted.
The President may make other demands
for taxation, but If he does it will be
surprise, except perhaps for some kind
of tax to bring into the Federal Treas
ury at least the $2O0, 900, 900 in possessing
taxes which the Supreme Court ordered
turned back to the professors after the
A. A. A. had been invalidated.
X X X
The Government collected some $780,
100000 in processing taxes under the
A. A. A. and used the money. If even
tually there should be ruling that this
tax was illegally collected and must be
refunded, there would be another prob
lem for the administration. In order to
close the door to any such loss, some
legislation might be attempted in ad-
vance, and tackled on to the new tax bill,
If it is thought advisable.
Despite the desires of progressives in
the Senate, like La Toilette of WiscOn-
sin, and Democrats like Senator Byrd
OF Virginia, to increase the new levieS
so as to raise billion dollars or more,
there seems little doubt that the admin
istration tax program, whatever it may
be. will prevail. The Democrats are not
anxious to stir the country up with new
and heavy taxes on the eve of the ma
tional election, however wise it might be
to provide without further delay more
revenues to meet Government expenses.
If heavier taxes must come, they figure
that the time for them is after next
November 3, not before.
Republican thoughts, like those of the
Democrats, turn to three great States
across the leghanies-Illinois, In
diana and Ohio. Victory in these States
Is necessary to Republican victory. At
present Ohio looks to be the Republicans
best bet among the lot. In Illinois Re-
publican leadership has been shot to
pieces for a number of years. There
exists practically no Republican organi-
zation worthy of the name in Cook Coun-
ty, Chicago, while the Democrats have
built up a strong organization there.
What this means is easy to understand
when it is realized that about one-half
the vote of the entire State lies in Cook
County. DoWnState, which has been Re-
publican territory in the past, the farm
ing industry is the big industry. The
Illinois farmers, like those in Kansas,
Nebraska and other States, have bene-
flied through the A. A. A. checks and
are expected to benefit under the new
farm law. 1t seems clear that if the
downstate counties are to be won back
to Republicanism. the Republicans must
offer these farmers a substitute for the
Democratic benefits Nothing yet has
been put forward comparable to these
Democratic benefits.
X 4
Indiana is another State where Re-
publican leadership has gone to seed.
Factions even now are struggling for
control among the Republicans, with
former Senator Jim Watson and former
Gov Goodrich. not to mention former
Senator Robinson. striving for leader
ship. The Democratic Governor, Paul
McNutt, has made himself unpopular
with lot of people. 1t would appear
that the Republicans had a chance in
the Hoosier State, provided they could
get together.
And in Ohio the Republican organi-
zation, which is comparatively strong
and close knit, is up in the air today
over the matter of sending delegation
to the Republican National Convention,
in Cleveland. instructed for candidate
for President acceptable to the people
of Ohio. They do not like Senator Borah
of Idaho who is the only one OF the
major candidates so far to enter the
primary there. State Chairman Schorr
has conceived the plan of polling $4,000
Republicans throughout the State to
learn their presidential preferences, IN
the hope, presumably, that he VIII be
able to persuade Gov. Landon OF Kan
sas, or some other, to enter the lstS
with Borah, or to so weaken the Borah
claims for preference that the organl-
zation can put forward "favorlte SON
candidate with some hope OF success.
If the favorite-son candidate should win
in the primary, then the Ohio delega-
ton would be in position easily TO Jump
to another candidate at the conVentlon'
WlGn Lll6 tlIIlC CdlllC. IlC oIAAAS N@H-A--o
the Republicans in Ohio is encouraging
to the Democrats.
X X y
Senator Borah talked to the Nation
Saturday night, the night OF George
Washington's birthday anniversary, over
a Nation wide radio hook-up. He kept
away from partisan politics and dellV-
cred a statesmanlike address, deallng
with the subject of American 1orelgn
relations and seeking to rededlcate the
Nation to George Washingtons polcy
of no foreign entanglements. OF 90
mestic problems and the issues OF the
coming campaign he had practically
nothing to say His only possible shot at
the Roosevelt New Dealers was chal-
lenge to any one who desired to amend
the Constitution to come out into the
open with a specific amendment, ana
not to seek by indirection to change the
Constitution But when the Idaho SEN
ator was asked if he meant this as
direct challenge to President Roosevelt,
he denied that he had anything OF the
kind in mind. Borah has always 1elt
strongly on the subject of Americas
keeping out of entangling alliances with
foreign powers. He made his great tight
in the Senate after the World War to
keep this country out Of the League OF
Nations With war clouds hanging over
Europe today, he made it clear to the
American people Saturday night what