Evening star., 1936-12-19

flourish If only ,,
up to the point '' "''"e'
of furnishing an antagonist in future
campaigns.
Hamilton started out last Summer
on job which Postmaster General
Farley had begun four years before.
The last campaign demonstrated con-
clusively that lines are formed and
opinions are crystallized in the three
and-a-half-year interval between in
suguration and the next national con-
ventions.
The New Deal has been conscious OF
this important fact for some time.
Indeed, the sense of awareness of what
the electorate might think began with
Mr.. Roosevelt's determination to talk
to the people in 'fireside chats" over
the radio.
No such advantage accrues, how
ever, to the opposing party, which,
even when granted the Use of radio
facilities, appears before the public
as simply interested in opposition for
opposition's sake.
The real opportunity for construc-
tive opposition comes in Congress. The
Republicans have only 88 members of
the House, but if they act together,
if they work out policies together and
form a nucleus whose acts appeal to
the public, there will be allies from
the Democratic side on enough issues
to warrant attention.
Persons familiar with the history of
the House can point to the remark
able way that Jack Garner, then
leader on the Democratic side and
later Speaker, did minority job with
only about 120 Democrats at his side.
Again and again Mr.. Garner was
able by his maneuvers and shrewd
handling of bills sponsored by his
group to force Republicans to come to
his aid, and on a subsequent occa-
sion, the Texas leader forced the ap-
proval by the House of a tax bill he
had championed, and there were only
votes cast against it,
Common Ground Essential.
80 leadership in the House can ec-
eomplish much, provided it is in tune
with public trends. The biggest job
ahead of the Republicans is to find
common ground for their 88 members
of the House
In the Senate, virtually the same
situation exists. Can Senator VAN
denberg of Michigan, who is slated to
be leader, take up the cudgels of op-
position IN such way as to draw sup
port from the Democratic side? This
Is the essence of successful opposition
and it Is to the public interest be-
cause it provides those checks and
balances which are so essential to the
preservation Of our constitutional
system.
Hamilton's principal work will be
with the State organizations. He will
have a considerable task. Many of
the State organizations have undoubt-
edly been fioored by the overwhelming
character Of the defeat administered
last November. Also, the Administra-
tion has about 38 State Democratic
machines. Where the party in power
has the governorship, it is difficult for
the opposition to get State political
organization under way. This, unfor-
tunately, is the history of political or
eanization work, irrespective of which
party Is in the saddle.
Mayors Offices Held.
Not only have the Democrats con-
erol OF most of the States, but they
have command of the mayors office in
most all Of the large cities Against
such handicaps the preservation of q
two-party system is tremendous up
hill struggle. The challenge to Ham,
ilton is all the greater because added
to the usual advantages of party pa
tronage through the power to dis
tribute ofices-something Mr.. HAM
tlton cannot promise for years to
come-is the power to distribute pub
lie funds. For years to come financial
benefits of some kind will be flowing
from the Federal Government to a
vase number of citizens.
One dislikes to be discouraging to
any set OF conscientious men who start
out to provide necessary opposition,
but it does look SIS if the real opposi-
ton to New Deal policies will come
from inside the Democratic party
rather than from the Republicans.
Likewise. 1t would appear that these
conflicting factions will get together
on election day "for the good of the
party" as they did last November,
and hence it would seem that the
Democratic party will be entrenched
In power for long time to come.
What Is "long time" in American
politics? The Republicans held power
for is years, between 1896 and 1912,
and they resumed their control for IL
years after 1920. The Democrats are
assured Of eight years by virtue of the
last election, and if they extend their
power to IL or even 16 years, it will
even then hardly rival the long lease
which the Republican party has main
tained on the executive and legislative
branches Of the Government.
CCopyright, 1936D