The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-03-31

pubicans were in the majority in
stead of being only a handful, told
the house that the father of the sur
plus earnings tax had never come
before the committee since the
time he laid out the silly scheme
which led to its enactment. Pro
fessor Oliphant has been so silent
about his sponsorship of the plan
that it has become almost thunder
Gus. And Mr.. Treadway thought it
was unusual that a parent should
shrink from acknowledgment of
parenthood. He obtained no answer
or explanation. The surplus earn
ings tax, in a modified form, was
still in the bill as reported to the
house, however, and there was Suf-
ficient New Deal strength in the
house to hold it there. 1t will be
different in the senate, and the
speech by Senator Harrison simply
is an announcement in advance.
It has been interesting to me to
review these facts because am in
Healthy ion that the situa-
Sign ton in congress is
more or less a re-
Election of the opinion in the entire
country. The November elections
lie ahead. Mail from home is pour
ing in, and the character of that
mail is always closely studied by
the politician seeking reelection.
That is to say, the average house
member or senator is keeping very
close tab on what the feeling is back
home. They were not put to that
necessity during the first four years
of Mr.. Roosevelt's administration.
All that was needed was for a men,
Der to say that the President wants
this or that, and vote that way.
So clearly has all of this been
made apparent that few who so de-
sire are afraid any longer to assert
themselves-to say what they think
even if that is in administration op-
position. It is a healthy sign. It
means that congress, while going
along with Mr.. Roosevelt many
times, will put more and more
checks on his proposals that have
had their birth in the little red
house, of Georgetown's section of
Washington, where all of the New
Dealers congregate. It means fur
ther-in the opinion Of some of the
real Democrats-that the New Deal
has played out. They are, there
fore, getting back into their harness
as Democratic leaders.
And, in this light, there has been
another development that should not
be overlooked. I refer to the col
lapse of Robert H. Jackson's cam
didacy for governor of New York.
When Mr.. Jackson, who lately was
made solicitor general of the United
States, was "going to town" as the
expression is, left wing press agents
had him all but elected in New
York. A big banquet was rendered
him in New York city. Mr.. Roose-
welt was quite instrumental in that
banquet plan. He lent aid in STIR
ring up attendance. It was notable,
however, that the banquet created
no excitement. That is, there was
no excitement of Importance, and
just there the candidacy began to
sag.
I do not know what the real rea-
son was for Mr.. Jackson's subse-
quent statement
ignores that he would not
Farley seek the New York
governorship. It is
just possible, however, that the abb
sence of Postmaster General Farley
from the banquet sponsorship had
something to do with the flop-for
flop the dinner and candidacy sure
ly did. Now, everyone around Wash
ington knows that Mr.. Roosevelt no
longer takes the postmaster gen.
eral into the executive confidence,
even though Mr.. Farley is chairman
of the Democratic national commit
tee. Indeed, it was printed in sew
eral widely read columns that Mr..
Roosevelt actually distrusted Mr..
Farley. I would not be able to re-
port on that detail, but I can not
overlook the fact that left wingers,
especially the long-haired group,
have been sniping at Mr.. Farley for
months. It is just possible, then,
that they have persuaded Mr..
Roosevelt to the point of conviction.
He has listened to that group very
great deal and they may have made
him feel that Mr.. Farley is under
mining the President.
In any event, one may follow the
tax pronouncement by Senator Har-
rison right on through the signifi-
cant silence of Mr.. Farley. One
may find how Mr.. Farley has had
numerous and sundry conferences,
or chance meetings, with a good
many powerful old-line Democrats.
But to examine the thing from a
congressional angle again, I am
pleased by the detection, the es-
Enlistment of the line of demarca-
ton between Democrats and New
Dealers. Not that I care who runs
the government, or is charged with
responsibility. My interest lies deep
err. I know from having watched
the wheels 60 round that too great
a majority of one party in con-
gress produces bad laws. It can
not be avoided.
G Western Newspaper Union.