Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. COULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. |
Whatever the condition. Of the ship
Of state, to which President Roosevelt
referred In his statement to the press
last Friday, 1t seems perfectly clear that
the New Deal ship is to pursue "the
same old course" For the President,
in his nth anniversary discussion Of
affairs, announced himself flatly for the
so-called penalty tax" in the new reve-
nue. bill to be laid on closely held and
family owned corporations. Further
more, the President announced his hos
tility to a repeal Of the publicity clause
Of the Revenue Act for salaries Of corpo-
ration oficials who receive over $4,000
a year. The House Ways and Means
Committee, in reporting the new bill,
provided for the repeal. In addition, the
President asserted that the detectives
of the New Deal were to be pursued I'M
relentingly.
The opening of the week sees two adj
ministration measures violently assaulted
by Democrats-the tax bill and its pen
atty clause in the House, and the re-
organization bill in the Senate. Under
whip and spur, the administration
leaders hope to force these measures
through to final enactment, without
much change. The penalty clause"
aimed at closely held corporations, has
been characterized as an attempt on the
part Of the administration to punish
certain Of its opponents-as Henry Ford,
for example. It has been called entirely
unfair in principle and in operation.
But the President insists that it Is in
tended to reach unfair practices-par-
ticularly to reach the case Of the owners
OF corporations who pay themselves big
salaries and show only a small, If any,
gain as a corporation. The administra-
ton leaders have also been able to re-
tain, SO far, In the revenue bill the prin-
ciple Of the undistributed profits tax
although 1t has exempted all corporations
having q net income of $4,000 or less
from its operation.
The President still continues to ap-
peal to the great mass of voters through
Efforts to hit those with large incomes,
through the taxing powers OF the Gov
eminent. When there are no more
rich, the poor will be poorer. That has
been the experience in the past. In his
comments to the press, the President
said that the warfare against special
privilege" would go on. There is still
far too much special privilege. In his
opinion.
Meanwhile the political purge" shows
signs OF increasing through the efforts
OF the administration. Officially the
President and Chairman Farley Of the
Democratic National Committee insist
that they are doing nothing to inter-
fere in Democratic primaries, for the
nomination Of Governors, Senators,
Representatives. etc. Nevertheless, it
looks as though the Indian sign had been
painted on Senator Gillette of Iowa. one
OF those Democrats who were unwilling
to go all the way with the President in
the court bill fight last year. For his
opponent for the senatorial nomination,
Representative Otto D. Wearin. has said
that he was led to enter the race by
series Of conferences at the White House
and with administration leaders.
Time is slipping by and the Democrats
In Pennsylvania seem little nearer patch
ing up their differences over the guber-
material nomination. Charles Alvin
Jones Of Pittsburgh, the selection of the
majority Of the party leaders, is out
campaigning already. David Stern,
Philadelphia publisher, Is still railing
at the selection Of the Democratic State
Committee for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation. The Republicans might have a
chance to win in the Keystone State this
year If they produced some candidates
satisfactory to labor. The Earle adj
ministration has been none too popular,
and the Governor. who is now q candi-
date for the Senate seat held by Senator
James j. Davis. Republican. could easily
have his troubles in the election next
fall.
While James Roosevelt, son of the
President, Is out at sea with the ma
rines-he is lieutenant colonel in the
reserve list-a more or less mysterious
drive Is under way in Massachusetts, to
nominate him for Lieutenant Governor
OF the Commonwealth. Two members
OF the Democratic State Committee are
directing the flood of petitions, signed
oy thousands Of persons, urging Mr.,
roosevelt to become candidate. James
M. Deely is conducting the campaign N
Inc western part Of the State, and
Charles Maliotis Of Boston has estab-
nshed headquarters in that city. They
are the State Committee members who
nave interested themselves In this af-
1a1r. Mr.. Roosevelt may return to
washington and blow the whole busi-
ness out Of water.
Mr. Deely, discussing his part in tho
enort to draft Mr.. Roosevelt for Lieu.
tenant Governor in Massachusetts,. said.
I have known him for years and I
have been impressed with the efficient
manner in which he has handled difficult
and important problems in Washington
as member Of his fathers secretariat.
He Is more than a secretary. He is
really Assistant President and has DEM
onstrated that he is an able executive.
HIS father has every reason to feel proud
Of him.
with him as Lieutenant Governor,
the people Of Massachusetts, would have
an able man In that important office and
the State would be fortunate in obtain
ing the services Of man who has shown
flair for public service.
II have no authority to use his name
for Lieutenant Governor or any other
ONCE. My only desire is to obtain for
Massachusetts, a man for that Office who
would be credit to his party and serve
the Commonwealth ably and efficiently
and restore to that honorable ONCE its
old-time dignity. We up here in the
four western counties are enthusiastical-
" for him. He is popular in this section
Of the State and we have not experienced
any difficulty in getting support for
him."