The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-23

Washington, Nov. 2S-Although congress is giving an all-star demon stration of how thoroughly 53l mer from various areas-or 532 if you include the vice president-can gel themselves thoroughly gummed ur when the national welfare is al stake, the real issues are being fought out backstage.
 Members of congress are react- ing in the bulk, as usual, to the prepOnderance of pressures behind them, whether the pressures come from the administration, the vOt- crs, special interests In their con. stituencies or other forces. There are few members who vote their own convictions and let the bal- lots fall where they will. But their number Is negligible.
 Right now the White House and Wall Street are swapping secret challenges which, at least according to the Roosevelt conception, have to do with the question of who's going to be boss during the current econ- omic unpleasantness.
 This dispute probably is more sig nificant than the miX-up on Capitol Hill and Its outcome probably will largely determine future congress sional action.
 Recovery Rivals
 It has been pointed out in these dispatches that the administration and "big business" blame each other for the industrial slump and that the issue between these two forces centers around the question as to which has the best ideas for achiev- ing the nations economic salvation This state of affairs seems to be rapidly boiling down toward the question whether 1t is the New Deal or business (the capltalistic system, industry or. as New Deal propag agandists like to simplify It. "VVall Strcet") which Is really on the spot.
 The word Is being passed out rather freely, although surrepti- tiously, to bankers, public utility magnates and captains of industry that the New Deal is going to march on nearer to socialism unless private capital picks up the prosperity bal and makes few yards of recovery (Whether the New Deal can marcl on or is more likely to be thrown fol a loss Is c question that can be re- served for future discussion,)
 Last Chance
 Some persons-and they ma, Iknow-feel that business Is beinl given what amounts to last chance to cooperation with the administra ton and that If 1t fails to do so 1 can look forward to such prospect as government ownership of rail roads, other public utilities and in' surance companies.
 And that jibes with the real at- tiude of the administration. Be. licving that "VVall Street, has put
 on a campaign to dlscredit him,
 Roosevelt has decided that he Is
 much more likely to be able to
 turn the tables and discredit his
 conservative opposition.
 Privately he contends that he
 has cut down government spending --aS demanded-and that he is
 moving rapidly toward balancing
 the budget--as demanded.
 Inasmuch as these moves hav been followed by a pronounced bus mess recession, Roosevelt now feel he is in e position to demand tha business keep Its promise to "tak' Iup the slack" to re-employ the un employed, to keep the wheels of in dustry turning and so on.
 Along with promises of tax re- vision, tho administration is moving to facilitate large capital investmen in housing in 6 program designed tt stimulate a resuscitating building boom. If private capital doesn't re- spond, Roosevelt and his advisers will plunge in and build millions oi houses of its own.