Evening star., 1937-06-23
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Unless something like durable peace
is promptly forthcoming in the steel
areas, there will be growing demand In
Congress for vigorous action OF some kind
to ward OF the peril Of Wholesale in
dustrial war. Mondays bitter debate in
the House, in which both Democrats and
Republicans participated, revealed the
rising tide Of resentment against c. I. o.
activities and various indications that
John L. Lewis far-flung maneuvers have
administration blessing. Nothing has
aroused more intense feeling at the Cap
itol than interference with the United
States mails in the strike regions Mem
bers of House and Senate have no lack
OF evidence from all parts Of the country
that indignation over current develop
ments is gradually giving way to alarm
If President Roosevelt fails to move in
drastic form, should matters drift from
bad to worse, Congress, in the mood in
which many members now find them
selves will unquestionably be disposed
to initiate steps designed to bring
trouble-making leaders, among both en-
ployers and workers, to their senses in
the paramount name of law and order
and the general welfare.
X
c. I. o. plans to unionize Government
employees, outside of the military, naval
and postal branches, arouse lively atten-
ton, not so say considerable anxiety in
Congress. In light of late events, c. l. O.
domination OF the civil service conjures
up disquieting possibilities such as Sit
downs and the like. Many of Uncle
Sans workers have, of course, long been
organized in unions under American
Federation of Labor auspices and other
wise, but the technique introduced into
labor disputes under John L. Lewis di-
rection puts the question of unioniza-
ton Of Government employees in an en-
tirely new light. All these matters will
crop up in the heart-to-heart discus
sions which Democratic members of Con-
gress are about to hold with the Presi-
dent at Jefferson Island. Unless some
of the picnickers lose their nerve in the
meantime, F. D. r. is due to hear some
straight from shoulder talk on the
industrial upheaval. Many New Dealers
feel that not only is civil peace menaced
by the trend of things, but that the
Democratic party's future will be in peril
If 1t turns out that, while in full power
at Washington, 1t proved unwilling or
unable to cope with the Nations gravest
crisis in years.
Belgian Premier Van Zeelands &C
tivities in America are under close
scrutiny by both Washington officials and
the host of lynx-eyed foreign diplomats
on duty here. Particular interest at
taches to the possibility that the Brus-
sells statesman may present plan for
solving through the Bank Of Interna-
tional Settlements at Basel the problem
Of foreign financing. The idea seems
to be that the United States, instead
of lending money directly to European
countries, might open fat deposit ac-
count with the World Bank, which lends
its funds just like other institutions
The patentees of this ingenious scheme
seem to think 1t would get around the
requirements of the johnson act, be-
cause Uncle Sam would not be advanc-
ing fresh dollars to defaulting nations,
but would simply deposit" them In a
bank in which some American capitalists
owned stock and on the board of which
the Federal Reserve System might have
a couple of seats. According to some
proponents of this notion, which would
be about as popular in Congress as the
smallpox, it would be a good way of
utilizing our surplus gold. One Of the
so-called attractive features Of the prof.
ect Is that it might facilitate liquidation
Of war debts.
X X X X
Senator Barkley's successful captaincy
Of Senate forces that rejected the Robin
son IS per cent amendment to the ad-
minist1tioni $l.soo.oQeooo work.relief