Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-09

Little or nothing is said about 1t, but
no manner of doubt exists that the New
Deal high command is plenty worried
about the cumulative political eject OF
the new depression. From the White
House down, and especially in Congress,
which Is the particular OK that may be
gored, anxiety of the deepest dye pre-
walls as to how the country will react IN
the November congressional elections.
Not even the most sanguine Republican
expects the Democrats gigantic House
majority to be overturned. No metal
can touch the Senate until 1910. Yet the
possibility that Administration strength
in the lower branch may be heavily re-
duced, perhaps even cut in two, sends
shivers up and down the Spines of all good
and true Rooseveltians. The law that
the party In power is generally punished
for depression is almost MEMORABLE. So
it would be a reversal of political human
nature If the voters next Fall failed to
hold the Democrats responsible for the
economic decline. now described as the
steepest and most precipitate in our his
tory. Measured by the Federal Reserve
index of industrial production. business
slumped during the first half Of the
81. Most authorities don't expect any
radical uptrend before September l..
Whether that will be in time to make
the electorate New Deal-minded at the
polls is a horse Of another color. One
wonders what's to take the place OF
Happy Days Are Here Again" Is cam
paign song. Perhaps It'll be Thanks
for the Memories"
Our new system Of tariff -mAking-log-
rolling openly arrived at-will be on
show in Washington next week. The
occasion will be the commencement OF
protracted hearings under auspices Of
the State Department on the proposed
reciprocal trade agreement with Great
Britain. Proceedings will be in general
charge of DR.. Henry F. Grady, vice chair
man of the United States Tariff Com
mission, who used to be Secretary Hulls
chief aide in the Tennesseean'S restless
campaign for economic disarmament.
Members Of Congress who, in the good
old days, used to play the game Of tariff
making in the more or less clustered
Ways and Means Committee and other
wise, are taking q lively interest In the
dicker with John Bull. Many members
Of the House, in which revenue legisla-
ton used to originate, have entered ap-
pearances for the British hearings.
They want to see that we don't make
any concessions to perfidious Albion that
do violence to local interests like glass,
wooden goods, textiles, hats, shipping,
wines, bicycles. mop-handles, China clay,
fluorspar, livestock, linoleum, hosiery,
underwear. clothing, optical goods and
a host Of other commodities Britain
sells us. a.
49, 4
Washington newspaper men who spe-
cialize in foreign Affairs have Just re-
ceived some extremely valuable, first
hand information about the Palestine
problem from one Of their own group.
Phelps H. Adams of the New York Sum-
He told Overseas Writer'S this week
about his recent month of exploration
in the Holy Land. Evidently he con-
siders solution Of the three-cornered
British Jewish-Arab mess almost hope
less. The American observer found that
each of the three factions has q plausible
case for its contentious and foz its UNI
willingness to recede from them. Un-
less some political magician evolves an
adjustment not yet remotely in sight,
Mr.. Adams seems to think that world
Jewrys desire to make Palestine q more
receptive haven for its oppressed people
from Central and Eastern Europe Is
doomed to remain an idle dream. Some
international authorities hope matters
may be advanced when John Bull sees
his way more clearly in the Mediter.
ranean. after deal with Mussolini.
= III.