The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-07-08
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National Topics Interpreted "a EMIlIlS
by William Bruckart TTYTfTTTI
ationalP Bull dIng washng DC fU


one ought not omit reference to
Jesse Jones, chairman of the gigan-
tic Federal Reconstruction Finance
corporation, who would leave his
vast business interests, if neces-
sary, to serve his country in the
White House.
Nor would / be fair to all of the
budding candidates if I omitted
reference to John L. Lewis who has
been claiming such yeoman service
in behalf of the working men
through the Committee for Industri-
al Organization which is violently
antagonistic to the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor. Mr.. Lewis, of
course, will deny that he ever in
tends to desert labor even for the
presidency, but there are a good
many people who think that Mr..
Lewis has some little thought con-
cealed in his heart-something of a
wish or hope that he, too, might
find himself in the direct path of the
political lightning from the Demo
cratic national convention in 1910.
do not know now, nor do
think anyone else knows, what the
relative strength is among these va
rious gentlemen who are exhibiting
signs of willingness to serve the
nation as the Democratic candi-
dates. / can say only that little ma
chimes are being built up in various
places and, truth to tell, that means
only one thing. That thing is a
knockdown and dragout in the Dem
ocratic convention of 1940 Though
it is three and a half years before
that convention will meet, it is per-
fectly apparent that big happenings
may be expected and it is not yet
outside the realm of possibility that
Governor Earle's declaration for
Franklin Roosevelt may bring him
forward as a candidate again.
Most of those who do me the
honor of reading these columns
undoubtedly have
Famous had varying opin-
Loue Feast ions as to why
President Roose-
welt held the famous love feast on
the island in Chesapeake bay at the
end of June. From conversations
with Democratic friends in the
house of representatives, I am quite
convinced that not all of those who
were invited to the Jefferson Island
club for the meeting with the Presi-
dent were happy over the results.
OF course, as everyone knows, the
three-day session which the Presi-
dent had with Democrat senators
and Representatives was intended to
placate all of the little ills and dis
agreements that have arisen. These
congressman with whom / have dis
cussed the affair were not so sure
that the President accomplished his
purpose.
But I am quite convinced that
the real purpose Mr.. Roosevelt had
in holding a love feast lies much
deeper. l believe that he foresees
the very difficulties that mentioned
earlier, namely, the dangers of a
full list of candidates for the NOM
nation in 1910. Mr.. Roosevelt is too
good a politician not to move early
as leader of his party to protect
against that sort of thing. By drop
ping words in these free conferences
and by making suggestions concern
ing the general political situation,
the President was enabled to ap-
proach the problem that he fore
sees without disclosing too much of
his hand. Only time will tell how
he has succeeded.
In the meantime, one may prop
erly call attention to the situation
that has developed at the capitol,
particularly in the senate. Hereto
fore, I have mentioned several
times that strained relations existed
between the President and certain
leaders in congress. That condition
has not improved, to say the least.
Indeed, ! think it is very much
worse.
Probably Vice President Garner
and Senator Robinson of Arkansas.
and Senator Harrison of Mississippi
each will deny that which I am
about to say but knowledge of it is
so general around the capitol in
Washington that a denial will not
change my conviction.
Unless I have been reading politi-
cal signs wrongly for 20 years,
am convinced that the strained re-
lationship between the capitol and
the White House now embraces Vice
President Garner and Senators Rob-
inson and Harrison. The vice presi-
dent has done remarkable service
in behalf of the New Deal but I
never have believed that he was
intellectually in favor of all
Roosevelt policies. Senator Robin
son has served as majority leader
and as such has carried the bod for
the President on the floor of the
senate day after day, fighting for
legislation which the President
wanted and generally serving as
Mr.. Roosevelt's right hand at the
capitol. My own belief is that Sem
ator Robinson would have changed
many of the administration policies
if he could have done so without en-
dangering the Presidents leader
ship of the party. Much the same
can be written about Senator Har-
rison who has served as the chair
man of the senate finance commit
tee, powerful unit in carrying out
New Deal policies.
GWestern Newspaper Union.