The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-10
. BEHIND l THE SCElJESI WASHINGTON 4ev RODNEY DUTcHER-b
 Democrat Washington
 Correspondent
Where Do We Go From Here? No One In
 Washington
 Can Tell You

Washington, Feb. 1O.-Once again a Washington correspondent takes typewriter in hand-instead o1 throwing 1t out the window-and addresses himself to the timeworr but consistently interesting Ques- tion:
 "Where do we go from here?"
 After a recent check on the White House, Congress and Busi- ness one is tempted to answer:
 'We don't. We just sit!" The alacrity with which Roose- velt, Congress and industry have adopted labor's sitdown strike tech- nique is bound to impress the seri- minded as well as those who re- gard life as comic strip. The plain fact is that they all have lost or mislaid-their self-Starters. It's a Stalemate
 Business, as everyone knows planes the administration and its uncertainty as to government inten- tions. More or less conversely Roosevelt-who to date has no def1- mite recovery" plan whatever-if waiting to see what business is go- ing to do in the way of activity Gle is optimistic, as usual)
 Congress is definitely conserva- tive insofar as the New Deal i concerned, and prefers doing nothing rather than obey the president.
 Anyone who wants to attempt the impossible of getting clear picture of the situation must ap- preciate this fundamental fact: Roosevelt is not now strong enough to put his program through Congress (except perhaps for certain items badly tattered) and the congressional opposition, on the other hand, isn't strong enough to enact anything which is anathema to the president.
 This, if one interprets both Noah Webster and current events correct Ily, means stalemate. It may also be said, in some cases, to mean con- promise.
 Tough on the Prophets
 But predictions as to the details of any forthcoming compromise are so hazardous that the Roosevelt Congress stalemate becomes prime causative factor in the uncertainty to which nearly all hands vehe-- m ntly object.
 There will certainly be a new farm act and a new tax law and very likely some wage-hour and reorganization legislation. BUT Roosevelt doesn't know and Con- gress doesn't know and Business doesn't know what any of them will be like in final form.
 Roosevelt's hops, skipS and jumps between anti monopoly crusade, cooperation with bus mess a Ia Richberg and numer- ous other conflicting theories are gummy enough by themselves.
 But when you consider that practically anything he is likely to suggest has at least a 50-5O chance of being stymied on Cap itol Hill, it appears that even if he made up his mind there would be no prompt end to "uncer- tainty."
 For instance, his highly praise. worthy, entirely innocuous ane probably not very important bil to stimulate house building skinned through the Senate by only two. vote margin.
 No Surrender
 The President might straighter things out by capitulating com. pletely to his conservative advi. sers and critics, including southern members of Congress, or they might straighten things out by capitulating to him.
 Either possibility seems remote Roosevelt feels that his opponent. have presented no bright new ideas and vice versa.
 Conservatives may be comfortec somewhat to learn that liberals ir Congress and even middle-roader! have become increasingly dissat. isfied with Roosevelt's left-right. right-left zigzags and the mount ing evidence that he has no cleal plan of advance.
 Some Roosevelt intimates keep insisting that his waiting game" makes sense, that the public, Con- gress and Business are not yet ready for such decisive action as he will propose if and when nec- essary, and that he is really wait ing for public demand to clarify and become articulate.
 More cynical minds are likel! to flutter back year ago to thu time when F. D. R. was confidentl, waiting for "the people" to com' through with a rousing, ringing demand for passage of his Su preme Court plan. (C0,1yr;oh% 1000 MIA Cax1Yioa Tno