The producers news., 1936-03-13
Washington
SCENE
By LEN DE CAUX

ers warn children that the devil
finds work for idle hands.
What Congress needs at this
moment is a bevy of those moth
ers camping on the steps of the
Capitol reminding the $4,000 a
year men in the House and Sen
ate of that old adage.
In the country, according to Of
ficial figures which are believed
to be far below the actual number
100000 persons are dependent
upon relief. Over 100000 are
without employment. Yet two
days of Congress have been tax
en- up with debate on the two
word reference to WPA funds as
"stage money" by strong-lang-
jagged General Hagood.
Cong. Blanton, Democrat from
Texas, started the thing off by
appoplectically suggesting the i'm
peachment of Secretary of War
Dern, assistant secretary of War
Woodring, and Chief of Staff
Malin Caig for the retirement of
this General Hagood from active
! service because of his remark.
Sen. Hastings Republican
from Delaware, often called the
Dupont puppet in the Senate, con-
tinued the hullabaloo by TRADE
against the lack of freedom Of
speech in the Army. Sen. Robin
son, the Democratic floor leader
in the Senate, jumped up to re-
mind Hastings that Brig Gen.
VIM. Mitchell was cashiered out of
the Army by Republican admin
istration for a criticism of the air
service. He charged that Hastings
was responsible for Mitchell's dy-
ing under a cloud of disgrace.
Then the debate ragged. Hastings
charged the Democratic admins
tration with suppression of free
, speech for generals. Robinson re-
! torted by saying the Republicans
were worse. Hastings came back
with a remark about the poor
patriotic women who were left
bandless after the Marine band
. refused to play for women who
had listened to slanderous re-
marks about the administration
from one Bainbridge Colby. Rob
inson said Hastings was the Gauss
of Mitchell's death under disgrace
because Hastings had blocked I
! bill to restore to Mitchell his sta
! tus lost through court martial
! Then Hastings said something anC
then Robinon, then Hastings, Rob
inson, Hastings, Robinson.
The 100000 are still depen
dent upon relief. The 100000
are still unemployed. Congress ha
yet to settle the question of tn
retreat of the Marines from tn
Mayflower (hotel) and the plac
ing of General Hagood on the lis
q of those awaiting ORDERS"
/ Nero? He was just piker.
z One rather important item iii
4 come from the debate, howeve.
e Robinson, in the heat of the she
. dow boxing, charged that at leas
one general in the Army is play
= ing politics. Hastings demande
the name and Robinson retorte
by saying that Gen. F. G. Bolle
d commander of the the 7th Corr
a Area, is involved in politics, has
Il candidate for the presidency of Ii
I. United States, and "is gleefl
) about it."
:. The army has always been
d politics. The social functions of il
n officers, the pressure of the pre-
tige of the Army upon backwooC
congressman, has always been q
important influence in securin
% juicy appropriations for the Arm
g and freedom from too close ser
= = tiny by Congress.
,s The Army, of course, is one
K the most important adiuncts
8. any government. It's authority.
ID threat of authority, is the fin
as basis upon which the laws of
m nation rests. It's functions in Il
4 state is amply illustrated by e
ents in South American republic
But in this country there h;
always been the pretense of q tv
party system. The difference b
"A tween the two systems has be,
nard to see at times and Meth
"a remotely challenges the system
to capitalism.
le Let one party appear to ev,
90 family 4h~4oAo