The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-05-27
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National Topics Interpreted KB E6E9R
by William Bruckart TTTT7TTTW
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OF industrial warfare have changed
from arms that affected compare
lively small localized business into
weapons that affected directly those
who have no concern whatever with
the issue except perhaps natural
sympathy with their own class"
The British prime minister added
that, under such circumstances,
1.-THE one thing we must pray for,
not only in our statesmen, but also
in trade union leaders and masters,
is wisdom" II seems to me that
Mr.. Baldwin's admonition can be ut
tered from high places in our Ameri-
can government with value just as
important as he gave TO his words.
Since there are oninous signs in
class struggle that unfortunately
=, -. has been promoted
Notntns In this country, il
Doing seems to me the
attention Of h e
people ought to be directed some
what more to conditions In congress.
Some months ago I wrote in these
columns my fear that the current
session Of congress was going to
leave a rather dull record for hav-
ing done nothing. Thus far, my fears
have been justified TO the fullest.
! Congress went into session in the
first week of January. To date,
therefore, it has been IN session FIVE
months. Its record of accomplish
ments includes passage Of four ap-
preparation bills, providing money
for federal government depart
ments; the Guffey-Vinson little NRA
coal law and the cash and carry
neutrality law. do not see how
anybody can be enthusiastic about
those accomplishments. Passage Of
appropriation bills is mere routine
usually because in most cases they
involve no controversial question at
all. Passage Of the neutrality act
likewise was an action about which
there could be little dispute even
though there may have been plenty
Of grounds for disagreement over
the type Of law enacted. That leaves,
therefore, only the Guffey-Vinson
coal bill over which there could
have been much delay in house
or senate debate. AL of this makes
the picture look even worse for con-
gressional leadership.
There is talk already about ad-
journment Of congress as soon as
hot weather strikes Washington
and the temperatures can get very
high and unpleasant While this un-
dercurrent of talk is not yet In an
important volume, it emphasizes the
fact that there is growing body
| Of legislators who see no possibility
Of accomplishing anything worth
while in the current session. II sug-
gests, further, growing molina
ton on the part Of many members
to get away from dragging leader
ship and, Of course, that implies dis
satisfaction as well as disillusion-
ment over the possibilities that ap-
peared very bright when congress
convened.
But what are the reasons? Having
gone rather thoroughly into this situ-
alton, think there are two factors
to be considered. One is the lack Of
capacity OF the leadership among
both Democrats and Republicans
and the other is traceable to the
White House. President Roosevelt
for four years has told congress
what TO DO and to that extent has
destroyed the initiative of the legisla-
tors as bo6y and now that some
members want to reassert the
power Of congress, the Presidents
organized spokesman appear not to
know what 10 do.
It may be said that the immediate
cause of the failure of congressional
>. leadership to get
Leadership much of the legis.
Fails lative program
out Of the way in
FIVE months is the controversy re-
sulting from Mr.. Roosevelt's pro-
posal TO add six justices of his own
choosing to the United States SUI
preme court. That statement, in my
opinion, is only partially true. There
are many senators and representa-
tives, otherwise loyal to the Presi-
dent, who now feel that the court
reorganization plan cannot be put
through. But those Spokesman thus
far have not advised the President
frankly of their views and in con-
sequence the court bill is still in
the way. To that extent, then, the
legislative leadership has lacked
courage and Mr.. Roosevelt has re-
manned adamant, which possibly
charges him with some responsible
ty in the legislative stalemate.
This condition may seem to have
no relation TO the discussion, earlier
in this column, concerning the labor
problem. It is, however, directly re-
lated TO that situation. I find in nv
conversations with senators and rep
resentatives very definite feeling
that congress should do something
in the way of legislation that would
re-assert the power of federal au-
thority and force respect for law
and order. They are not quite GER
tain what their course would be
but they entertain the thought, new
ertheless, that federal power can be
exerte6 In some way toward peace
in industry. Many of them recognize
that the Wagner labor relations act
is woefully weak and needs amend
ment IN order to do justice. They
recognize the sound principles i'm
bedded in that law, but they also
see that as the law now stands il
permits labor to abuse as well as
use its power. In other words, II
there were real leadership in con-
gress, have no doubt that legisla-
tive policy would be written into
the Wagner law which would COM
pei responsibility Oh the part of
labor as well as on the part