Evening star., 1938-11-12
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

| by u. GoULD LINCoLN.
The days of the rubber stamp
Congress are numbered. That seems
increasingly clear as the results OF
last Tuesdays election are scanned.
| This does not mean that New Deal
legislation which has been put on
the statute books is slated for repeal
although efforts doubtless will be
made to amend some OF 1t, par
ticularly the Wagner Labor Rela-
tions Act, the administration OF
which has stirred the American Fed
Grafton of Labor to frequent pro-
tests. 1t does mean, however, that
New Deal proposals will not be
rushed through Congress at the
| crack of the White House whip.
A great deal was said after the
elections of 1882, 1884 and 1886 about
a mandate" given President Roose-
| welt by the people, mandate to do
| pretty much as the President qe-
siyed-although many of the pro-
posals advanced for legislation by
| the President had not been dis
cussed during the campaigns prior
| to those elections. No such man
date can be read into the elections
| in 1898. In fact, the mandate clear
| lv was to put on the brakes. Con-
gress. particularly those members
who have just been elected, can
understand that; can understand
| that the country is anxious Tor
bit more recovery than reform
at this stage of the game.
Leaders Hope for Unity.
What the President hopes, and
what other administration Leaders
hope. is that Democratic losses IN
the House and Senate will now bring
a more united front in support OF
administration measures. That, ap-
parentlv, was in the Presidents
mind when at his press conference
Yesterday he expressed an opinion
there would be no united drive IN
Congress to bar New Deal moves. 1t
was the thought expressed too. by
Senator PrentisS M. Brown OF Mlchl-
gan. chairman of the Democratic
Senatorial Committee, when he SAID:
"Unuuestionably the increase In
the minority in both the Senate and
House will have the effect OF unity
ing the Democratic maJorltles IN
| both Houses l look for more CO.
hesive action on the part OF the
Senate and House majoritles than 1t
has been in the past. when there
was no effective opposition. There
IS no reason for the liberals in Amer
ica to be distressed by the outcome
of the election. The election proves
that the country again approves the
Democratic administration.
This seems like Wishful thinking,
however. 1t is true that the Repub-
hcans may, by continuous attacks
upon the Democrats in the House
and Senate. drive the majority TO
closer cooperation. But the Re-
publicans are not likely to be so
stupid. Their attacks will be dl-
rected at the Hopkins the Corcorans
. and the Cohnns. rather than the
majority party in Congress. And
if the Republicans tWit the admin
istration it will be because OF the
attempted presidential purge
which sought the elimination OF
some of the veteran Democratic
members of the Senate.
Seek to Widen Rift.
It is obviously the strategy Of the
G.. O. P. to widen the rift between
the two wings of the Democratic
party-the radical and the con-
servative wings. That should be
comparatively easy of accomplish
ment, particularly if the admins
tration undertakes to push through
Congress more radical legislation.
Seemingly from the statements of
the President, that is Just what the
New Dealers are intent upon doing.
Perhaps, however, after conferences
with party leaders such a program
may be abandoned. If the Presi-
dent undertakes to revive, for eX-
ample. his reorganization bill. with
out amending it in vital points, the
division among the Democrats will
at once become intensified
The President has the veto power,
and if the Congress undertakes to
repeal measures already enacted, in
which he is interested. he will be in
position to block Congress. For
while coalition" of anti-NeW Deal
| Democrats and Republicans might
easily carry a repeater through by
majority, it is entirely unlikely that
such a coalition could produce a
tWo-thirds majority in both houses,
necessary to override a veto. But