Evening star., 1938-08-24
Washington Observations
Political Experts Look to Campaigns for Evidence
of New Leaders.

but neither they nor their delegates
know anything Of this. and 1t Is to
you. not to them, that we look for re-
lief" Again in 1911 they petitioned
Congress to this tenor: THE very re-
duced price Of cotton forbids the ex-
pectation that the growing crop will
relieve their necessities and should
they be pressed by the iron hand Of
power to pay into the public Golfers
the utmost farthing. many poor fam
lilies will be reduced to = state of
extreme distreas, indigence and want" I"
Labor Day this year and the speeches
which will be made on that occasion
probably will be Of greater significance
politically than for many years tast
Chief. among the reasons therefor Is
the division in the ranks Of labor itself
and the effect which these differences
OF opinion are likely to have on the
coming elections. How far-reaching
this will be is a question which, in
the views of political experts. Is ex-
tremely dificult Of clear analysis, but
it is believed that the divergent view
points among labor groups is bound
to show itself to a marked extent in
election results. Labor problems abroad,
particularly the present dissension in
France over It's 40-hour labor law, add
TO the interest in the situation here.
Then. too. the imminent coming into
active operation OF the Wage-Hour
Act in the United States. with the
tremendous economic changes which
it will bring, Is another fruitful sub
ject for Labor Day oratory.
Conclusion, at least temporarily, of
the hearings here by the Dies Com
mittee on un-American activities, with
other sections OF the country now to
furnish the setting for divided group
hearings. has brought this investi-
CATION to the point where the question
is being asked on many sides: What
will be the final outcome of this
probe?" 1t Is doubtful In the minds
of many observers here whether any
specific legislation bearing on the sub
ject will eventuate. The greatest
effect. 1t is believed. is resulting from
the publicity and widespread informa-
tion to the American people OF any
possible dangers threatening the sta
bility OF this Government.
So much interest has been evinced
in the shipments Of materials Of war
from the United States to foreign
countries that the State Department
which, ever since the creation OF the
National Munitions Control Board,
has made public monthly the number
and value of licenses issued, is now
making public also the amount OF
actual shipments each month. In
auguration OF this additional service
entailed great amount of extra work.
in doing which Joseph c. Green. ex-
ecutive secretary of the board spent
many an hour on the long distance
telephone talking with United States
customs officials all the way from New
York to San Francisco so as to get the
desired information and get it
promptly. Except for a comparatively
small quantity Of shipments, he sue
ceeded the first month in getting q
complete report.
When President Roosevelt returns
to Washington next week he will find
a completed new fence around the
White House, considerably higher than
the old one. A passing visitor the
other day WAS heard to ask: Why did
they build it 10 high?" To which the
reply was made: Why. that's to keep
the Republicans out"
tCopyrisht. 1889