Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1936-01-23
WASHING TON. or.

reach an agreement on the type of
legislation for immediate cash payment
Of the bonus and the legislation passes
the house-Senator Nye and his pub
licity seeking Senate Munitions Investi-
eating committee take the partners of
the house of Morgan over the grill in
an attempt to show that this great
financial institution led the United
States into the World war-Morgan's
answer links officials Of President Will
sons administration with the develop
ment of sentiment favorable to Ameri-
can participation on the side of the
Allies-Senator Nye gains much pub.
licity for himself and the neutrality
bill which he sponsors in the senate
many new representatives Of business
arrive in Washington, open Offices,
prepare to fight against further New
Deal encroachment upon private bust
ness, and everyone runs around in
circles.
At the outset of this discussion, l
suggested that if events of the last
several weeks form
Looks Like a proper criterion,
Rough Battle the political cam
paign that is now I'M
der way is going to be rough. base
that prediction upon the view taken
Of it by Postmaster General Farley, the
king-pin Democratic politician and the
reactions that have come editorially
and in news columns to the Presidents
Jackson day dinner speech and the
political phases of his message on the
state of the Union. Mr.. Farley made
no bones about the prospect. He fore
sees all kinds Of mud singing, mis-
representation and personal attacks.
Aside from his statesmanlike discus
sion Of international problems, Mr..
ROosevelt's message to congress de-
scended to the point where he was def
nitely cataloging all opposition to the
New Deal as greedy and selfish" men
and women. Every one of them, in the
Presidents opinion, has personal ak
of avarice to grind. He intends, ap-
parently, to make that his theme song.
Whether his conclusions are right or
wrong is not in question here. The
point is that since Mr.. Roosevelt has
opened the fire in that manner, he can
naturally expect the same type of fire
to be returned. In the language Of the
twelve-year-old ruffian: "He asked for
it." There was another striking thing
about the Roosevelt speeches to con-
gress and to the Jackson day diners.
For the first time since he has Occu-
pied the White House, he gave every
evidence of being nettled and nervous.
He spoke in voice that appeared to
be tired; there was lacking that buoy
ancy, that smile, when he spoke that
used to characterize his expressions.
You will recall undoubtedly that for
long time in the early part of his ad-
ministration he was wholly unmindful
of his enemies, ignored them complete
ly, and plowed straight ahead with a
determination that won him many
friends. Lately, however, there has
been unmistakable evidence of a mar.
tyr complex in his manner.
Referring again to the two speeches,
I have heard any number of observers
comment, first, on
Laying his almost fearful
~. T;res appeal at the con.
clusion of his speech
to congress, and secondly, to his thinly
yelled comparison between himself and
President Jackson when he spoke to
the Jackson day diners.
am not making any predictions as
to where this trend will lead. 1t is
important to note, however, that 1t is
an old political trick to impugn the
motives Of the opposition. Such was
the mood into which former President
Herbert Hoover fell when in 1881 II
became apparent his political life was
on the skids and slipping fast. When
he was ION his way out" Mr.. Hoover
became so picayunish that even his
own associates found 1t difficult to do
the things he wanted done in the way
he desired. This condition continued
to develop until he began to complain
personally about the chair shirts" that
he had to wear. The chair shirts" in
cident probably was the best tip-off to
the sinking feeling that had begun to
permeate Mr.. Hoover's outlook at that
time. The rest is history.
AS to the course which Mr.. Roose-
welt is following in impugning the mo-
tives of his opposition, one can hardly
take objection because it has been
done so often and for the further rea-
son that neither Mr.. Roosevelt nor
Mr.. Farley Is political novice. 1 be-
lieve that Washington observers gen.
orally give each of these men credit
for being thoroughly versed in politics
and since Mr.. Roosevelt Is "dimly con-
scious that campaign is under way
and an election is scheduled" he nat
urally is laying his lines. They will be
pulled from time to time with a re-
sultant display for public view intend
ed to convince the person Of small
means or no means at all that he is