The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-05-05

-. asking, III SllSCI,
Time G. O.P. what are the Re
Got Busy publicans doing?
The letter, quite
obviously from a follower of that old
Democratic stalwart, former Sen.
Jim Reed, explains that the writer
would like to see Democratic party
machinery back in the hands of
Democrats, but it is complained
that the Republicans have provided
little opposition to the New Deal left
wingers. The further complaint is
registered that many of the Demo
Gratis in congress have failed to set
forth "cold facts" about New Deal
spending.
l have paid very little attention to
Republican party affairs for quite
awhile for the simple reason that
Republican partisans, either as a
party or individually, have been do
ing nothing. They have chance
now to do something. Whether they
will become really active, remains
to be seen. They have BEEN quarrel
ing among themselves, snarling,
fighting, letting petty jealousies
keep their ranks split wide open.
But let's take look at their pic
ture now to see whether there is
any real hope.
1t will be recalled that during the
fight against the Roosevelt plan to
pack the Supreme court with six
new justices, the Republicans kept
very quiet. That is, they were quiet
as far as surface indications 60. Be-
meath the surface, they were busy
helping the Democrats fight off that
nation-wrecking scheme put forward
by the New Dealers. believe every
one regarded that as good political
strategy. By refusing to make the
Supreme court packing plan parti-
san issue, the Republicans kept a lot
of ammunition out of New Deal
hands. That fight was led by regu-
lar Democrats like Senators Wheel
er of Montana, Burke of Nebraska,
Rep. Hatton Summers of Texas and
others like them.
But the Supreme court battle was
followed by cleavage in the ranks
of the dominant party in congress,
and the Republicans failed to follow
up their jobs as the opposition par
ty. They failed to take advantage
of many opportunities. In fact, moth
ing was done at all until the govern
ment reorganization bill was
pushed onto the stage and Presi-
dent Roosevelt made that legisla-
ton an issue. It may be said that
the Republicans did nothing of con-
sequence in that fight, but they vot-
ed with the real Democrats at the
finish. That was the vote that killed
the reorganization bill. Theirs was
the vote which, had it been taken
under the British or French parlia-
mentary system, would have forced
resignation of ''the government" be-
cause it showed lack of confidence
in the executive.
And, now to the present. In the
last few weeks, there have been
signs that ought to be heartening to
the rank and file of the Republican
lists. They are, however, just signs,
as far as any honest appraisal goes.
The Republican national committee
has selected Franklin Mailman, a
Washington newspaper correspond
ent, to take charge of and reorga-
nize the party's publicity set-up. Mr..
Mailman is a fine writer, one of
Washington's best. He has spent
some fifteen years as political OBJ
server. He has courage and imagi-
nation; perhaps not as much imagi-
nation as Charles Nicholson of the
Democratic national committee, but
he is young and vigorous.
This "sign" is significant because
there has been no trained publicity
man at Republican headquarters for
the last three months, and the man
who occupied the post before either
was unable to do anything or was
not allowed by his superiors or the
factional strife within the party to
accomplish anything So, say it is
important to realize that the "voice"
of the party is apparently going to
be employed again.
Rep. Joe Martin of Massachu-
sets, who is chairman of the Repub-
hcan congresSion-
SIgnS or al committee, and
Awakening is assistant Re-
publican leader Of
the house, has come forward with
two or three blasts lately. Also,
he has been able apparently to
awaken some of the ninety-odd Re.
publicans in the house of represent.
atives to the fact that they consti
tute the opposition party. So they
have been making some speeches
in the attack on the New Deal spend.
ing program. Chairman John Ham.
ilton of the national committee has
been on the air a time or two ano
former Gov. ALI Landon of Kansas
has attempted in a couple oil
speeches to recall that he was the
party's 1886 presidential nominee
Former President Herbert Hoover
came back from Europe anc
jumped onto much of the New
Deals vital theory in one of the best
speeches he ever has made. A score
or more reorganization" meetings
have been held in various parts O.
the country in the last month, ane
I understand that flock more Of
them is scheduled.
But to go back to previous state