Milford chronicle., 1938-01-21

political occurrence is the growing
cleavage in the majority party. No
President enjoyed a longer or more
complete honeymoon with Congress
than did Mr.. Roosevelt-through
his entire first term he faced almost
no opposition, and for the first year
of his second term the opposition
was scattered and Intellectual. His
leaders in House and Senate exper-
fenced little trouble in rounding up
next-to-unanimous support for
White House measures, and defect
ing Congressman were swiftly and
definitely punished. Today a differ
ent situation obtains, with a sub
stantial part Of the Democratic ma
jority in open revolt against Admin
istration objectives, and with a lar
ger part in quiet, tacit revolt. Dur
ing the latter part of the regular
session and the entire special ses-
sion, the majority leaders worked
untiringly to heal wounds and bring
the dissenters back into the New
Deal folG-and they failed almost
completely. This was especially
noticeable In the Senate, wkere Mr..
Barkley, successor to Mr.. Robinson,
met practically as much opposition
among the members Of his own par
ty as among the Republicans.
The open cleavage began with the
Supreme Court bill. But trouble had
been brewing before, and the intro
duetion Of this measure gave Con-
gresAmen who had been growing
restive and doubtful Of Administra-
tion policies the opportunity they
had looked for to split with the
White House. The Black appoint
ment marked another major blow to
the Presidents power and prestige.
BY October, as Mark Sullivan point
ed out recently, ''it was fair to es-
innate that the Democrats in Con-
gress opposed to much Of Mr.. Roose-
velt's program, were at least equal
in number to those who supported
his program" Today the latter
group is probably actually in the
majority. The last important White
House must measure"-the wage
and hours bill-typlfies the trend.
Il is no secret that every possible
tactic was used in an attempt to get
this bill through. In July, before
the business recession, II passed the
Senate by a majority Of exactly two
to one. In December, similar Dill,
changed somewhat in wording but
almost Identical in purpose, was
beaten by the House, PIG to 1913. And
1t was the Democrats, not the weak
Republican ranks, which beat It.
some recent events have made the
split all the more dramatically clear.
II is a reasonable assumption that
the majority of the Democrats in
Congress want to help and cooper
ate with business. There is a very
strong bloc which wishes to put tax
revision and friendly industrial leg
islafioi first on the calendar. While
the President is not actively opposed
to this, his attitude is one OF cool
ness, and he apparently believes
that such legislation is of minor inn
Dortance, and should be deferred.
The anti-monopoly campaign, under
Robert Jackson, inaugurates a new
drive against big business. Secre-
tary Ickes has made speech which
amounted to a sweeping attack on
big business, and no one believes
cabinet member would make so Vi
tai an address without the permts-
sion of his Chief. In other words,
the Administration seems to be bent
on going ahead with its program,
whose cardinal point is the radical
revision Of American industry, and
an increasing measure Of govern
ment control over business. Many
leading Democrats are largely OPP
posed to this, and feel that 1t would
very possibly force us into another
long depression, greater centraliza-
ion of government with undermine
ng of democratic institutions. 1t is |
over this point that the struggle for
control OF the Democratic party, be-
ween New Dealers on the one hand
md the conservative wing on the
,ther, is now taking place.
The elections late this year will
determine the outcome-in the prf-
naries in many places, New Deal
Democrats will be opposed to anti
iew Deal Democrats, in a frank
ight for power. In the meantime,
congress will continue to be torn
y the opposed schools of though
fhieh means that there will be a
reat deal more talk than action,
nd that major legislation is likely
D become stalmated.
--------
in the business field. there are
ONE signs OF betterment. Demand
or durable goods has tended to in-1
rease. Christmas trade last year
Tas in excess OF $4,000, 900. 900 mark
ig a slight advance for the country
3 a whole over 1886.
Extremely interesting is the re-
ort of the National Unemployment
ensus. made to the President on
anuary l. While the method OF (
Iaking this census Is certainly {
pen TO criticism IL does constitute
le first survey OF the iobless with
ny pretense 70 accuracy, Accord
Ig TO it, the unemployed total
lnges between a minimum of T.
z, 900 and a maximum OF 10,870 900.
bout two million OF these are wo-
en-.
Since that census was taken !
observation-disclosures has
creased. Worst recent event In
is field was the shutting down Of
number Of automobile plants.