The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-10-14

Entered as Second Class matter,
ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
If president submits a legisla-
tive program to congress and it is
defeated or tabled in whole or in
part, he has several choices Of flu
ture courses of action. He can use
the immense power of the presi-
dency in an attempt to influence
senators and representatives who
oppose him-something that has
been done many times. with varying
success, ever since patronage be-
came q major political weapon. Or
he can accept his defeat with more
or less equanimity, as Hover did
when confronted by an unfriendly
House after the election Of 1880, and
trust to time to prove him right or
wrong. Or he can "go to the people"
with his program, and try to muster
sufficient strength in his support to
sway the congress which always
keeps an ear to the ground.
On at least two previous occasions,
presidents-faced with splits In their
own parties over major policies
have gone to the people. Taft did in
1909, when the Payne-Aldrich tariff
bill, which all but closed America to
imports, was passed, and resulted in
the detection Of many prominent
Republicans from the Administra-
ton. Taft failed, the Republican
Bull Moose bolt followed, and in the
next election the President received
the worst beating ever taken by an
incumbent, carrying but two small
states.
Then came Wilson and the League
Of Nations issue. The Senate re-
fused to ratify American participa-
ton In the League-and the war
President, fresh from his European
triumph, determined on q swing
around the country. The tragic re-
suits Of this are history-Wilson coll
lapsed physically at Wichita, and
from then on until his death, was q
sick man.
And now, in the view Of practical
~ every newsman, President Roose-
welt, after q Congress which turned
down one Of the most far-reaching
Administration programs In our his
tory, has also gone to the country.
As Jay Hayden writes, "The one
thing that can be said with reason
able certainty respecting President
Roosevelt's nationwide swing is
that it Is primarily concerned with
the rebellion Of congressional Dem
ocrats. -"
Men close to the White House say
the defeat Of the Court Bill rankles
bitterly in the Presidents mind. He
regards it as essential to his OBJ
jectives. And it is widely believed
that he intended to talk in support
Of the bill in the bailiwicks Of its
Democrat opponents, such as Wheel
er and OMahoney. The fact that
he did not refer to 1t is credited to
the Black-Klu Klux Khan disclos-
ures, which forced a change of plan.
It Is felt that the Presidents future
declarations on the subject will be
deferred until it can be determined
what will be the country's reaction
to the Black appointment, and
Blacks radio speech in which he adj
mitted past Khan membership and
at the same time declared his faith
In racial and religious freedom.
Furthermore, Presidential advisors
fear that there may have occurred a
serious loss in the Executives public
popularity. A Fortune survey indi-
Gates that he has lost supporters in
all the economic divisions, and that
the great part of this loss followed
the Court bill fight. But the tide
of public thought can change fast,
and the Administration hopes that
any losses can be repaired, and that
the best cure lies in Mr.. Roosebelt
making himself seen and heard by
as many voters as possible especial
ly in the Mountain and Pacific
Coast states, where, it is thought,