Evening star., 1938-04-02

the letters Inat p., -
are coming in,
they simply cannot understand how
Mr.. Roosevelt could possibly have
avoided mentioning the principal rea-
son why so many persons fear a die
tatorship in America today.
For if anybody outside of official life
were asked just why there can be no
dictator in America. just why 1t can't
happen here SO to speak, the most
forceful answer that could be given
would be this: Just as long as the
separation of powers is maintained so
that the legislative, the executive and
the judicial branches are each inde-
pendent Of one another and yet act
as check on one another there can
be no dictator.
If there is danger of dictatorship
today. it is because Mr.. Roosevelt, by
the sklllful use of public funds and pa
tronage, effected for time a merger
between the legislative and executive
branches of the Government and then
attempted through this merged power
to drive through by law a complete
control over judicial decisions-by
means of packing the Supreme
Court.
Judiciary Can Kill Guarantees.
Naturally there can be no dictator
ship as long as there is free speech
and free press, but these two con-
stitutional guarantees can be taken
away by a prejudlced or controlled jul
dietary preceded by arbitrary action
by a prejudiced and controlled Con-
gress operating at the behest of a
Chief Executive
The only real check against die
tatorship in America is the unhamp-
cred operation of the constitutional
system. Today that system is under
challenge. for Mr. Roosevelt himself
in public address to Congress a year
ago warned that he would try to ac-
complish by statute that which had
usually been sought by amendment
to the Constitution itself.
Today, moreover, the question of
whether the Congress of the United
States will remain subservient to the
Chief Executive or vote Independently
Of his pressure and influence as ap-
piled by lobbyists and lieutenants of
the administration is the most pene-
trating of all current problems.
The situation has resolved itself
into one not unfamiliar to countries
with parliamentary system where
the national legislative body every
now and then, sensing the opinion
of the country. votes confidence" in
the executive or lack Of confidence"
Vast groups of voters have lost
confidence in Mr.. Roosevelt and want
their representatives in Congress to
manifest that same point of view by
a negative vote whether it is on the
reorganization bill or anything else
that happens to present the opportu-
nifty.
Bills implications Feared.
With many of the thousands of
voters who are telegraphing in here
about the reorganization bill, it has
ceased to be question of what this
particular bill contains, but what it
implies under Mr. Roosevelt's record
of arbitrary action as emphasized by
his removal of Chairman Morgan of
the T. VA. Notwithstanding a statute
which expressly says t. V. A. di-
rectors can be removed only by action
of Congress.
Mr.. ROOSeVelt's denial of an intent
to be dictator was undoubtedly an
effort to stem this tide of resentment.
But the letter to the unknown friend
was poorly phrased and failed to
make single reference to the con-
stitutional safeguards which if re-
spected by the President can always
save America from a dictatorship.
Few "dictators," moreover, have
ever acknowledged that title or char
acterization. Even in Germany, you
can't address Mr., Hitler as "Mr. Die
tator' nor can you refer to Mr.. Mus
solini in the Italian press as a die
tator In Germany, the head of the
present government calls himself Der
Fuehrer" which translated from the
German language means The leader"
Mr.. Roosevelt would hardly deny
that he would like to be, known as a
successful leader" So he is abso-
lutely conforming to European prece-
dent when he says he has no inclina-
ton to be a dictator" 1t is most
regrettable that in his letter, Mr..
Roosevelt argued against the posi-
bility of his being dictator merely
on the ground that he did not hap
sen to have the qualifications" to
make a success of it. Too many peo-
pie may infer that he thinks it would
be perfectly all right If he only did
have the qualifications.
Didn't Ridicule Dictator idea.
What Is most unfortunate is that
since Mr.. Roosevelt really wanted to
strike back at the dictatorship argu-
n1ent being made against him, he
didn't ridicule the whole idea. He
might have pointed to the fact that
the people still rule through Congress,
or at least are supposed to, but the
trouble with that line Of argument is
that it isn't humorous at all be-
cause Congress has abdicated many
Of its functions as legislative body
and Is only now beginning to realize
that the country wants Congress to
assert its independence.
~ The art Of government is the art
Of adjusting conflicting viewpoints,
and If Congress were really independ-
ent and the judicial branch were
really less influenced by political ap-
pointments than it is today then the
country might expect a sensible op-
Grafton by the Federal Government
In the public interest. Until substan-
tial progress is made toward such an
adjustment Of views, business condi-