The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-02-11
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By WILLIAM An 1 ;|As{s a1SRRrS

S1l(il gISTf lnMnl N h,TsfSNJU
nominee, Governor Landon of Kan.
sas. That is not q small number,
any way you examine it. It is
powerful segment of the American
population but it is powerful only to
the extent that its leadership devel.
ops enthusiasm for the fight and ca.
pacity to take it on the chin when
victory goes the other way.
Among the New Dealers who can
be classified as sound politicians,
there is considerable regret at the
failure of the Republican leadership
to get going. President Roosevelt.
himself. would like to see more op-
position because it would make his
task much easier and would prevent
some of the unsound legislation
from seeping through congress on
account of lack of opposition. Fur.
thermore, if there were more Re-
publican fight, there would be less
chance of splits in the Democratic
ranks in congress. Democratic
leaders entertain very real fear Of
this possibility and their fear is
based, as I have indicated, on the
fact that there is not enough oppo-
sition among the Republicans to so.
lidify the Democratic strength.
From among the corps of politi-
cal writer's in Washington. l hear
much criticism of
Criticize the Republicans
Republicans who are variously
described as being
dead on their feet" They are
certainly doing less than nothing.
They have allowed the Democratic
national committee to carry the ball
on every play; they have offered no
publicity by way of criticism of New
Deal programs and they have de-
veloped no plans at all for revivine
the Republican organization or re-
storing life to the party workers.
am not saying that Mr.. Hamil-
ton is wholly to blame for this con-
dition. He must accept response
bility, however, because he is the
titular head of the organization. It
would seem, therefore. that unless
Mr.. Hamilton awakens and shows
some fight, there will be fewer
Republicans in the house or senate
after the 1888 elections than there
are now. The national chairman OF
the Republicans, according to all
discussion that I hear, sooner or
later will have to start cooking or
depart from the kitchen. Otherwise.
the $4,000, 900 voters which the Re-
publican party has as nucleus
upon which to build will become so
badly disorganized, so disheartened
and discouraged, that it will be inn
possible to reunite them.
Part of the Republicans difficult
ties are traceable directly to Capt.
tol Hill. I simply cannot under
stand why Senator McNary of Ore
gon, continues to serve as Republic
can leader in the senate when. in
the opinion of most observers. he
has failed to justify his title in any
way. It will be recalled that he did
nothing in behalf of Governor Lam
don's candidacy against Mr.. Roose-
Welt. Nor has he shown either the
capacity or the desire to carry on
as an opposition leader should carry
on since the new congress convened.
Again, this is not the fault OF
Chairman Hamilton. Frankly. l
think it is the fault Of the few Re-
publicans in the senate. If they had
any fight in them, or any faith in
their party label. they would insist
upon a militant leadership on their
side of the senate chamber, small as
their number is.
There are much greater signs Of
fight among the house Republicans.
They are trying
Signs OF to make them
E;obf selves heard. but