Evening star., 1938-12-24

Der elections did, s ,R
they at least put n,,,..
a bolster of con-
fidence under the minority and gave
q touch of restraint to the majority,
SO that the drawing together of ma
tional elements may be the more
readily anticipated this time than
on any occasion in the last five
years of political and economic tur-
bulence.
The fundamental problems of MAX
Ing our national economy work more
effectively have by no means been
solved, but the broad outlines of the
social program that has been in
process since the Roosevelt adminis-
tration began in 1888 have been
steadily getting more and more
deeply imbedded in the statute books
of the Nation.
Returning Senators and Repre-
sentatives talk with less heat and
more reason about forthcoming leg
lslation, but it IS significant that the
conversation always turns toward
amendment" rather than repeal.
This is but one of the many signs
OF what may be termed melloWness
or new fleXibility. What occasions
it may be difficult to reduce to con-
crete terms, but anybody who stops
to consider the extraordinary pow
ers of the presidency nowadays will
soon sense the possible deadlock that
could arise if unCompromising atti-
tudes were assumed.
Thus the President holds the veto
power. Amendments to the Wagner
Act must be to his liking or he can
veto them. Then they could not
become a law unless tWo-thirds of
both houses gave their approval
One less vote than two-thirdS in
either house would be enough to
cheCkmate the amendments.
1910 in Mind.
But something much more power
ful is in the otfing. 1t is the 1910
elections. Whether Mr.. Roosevelt
runs for a third term or decides
to throw his support to some men,
ber of his official family, he does
want Democratic success. For that
reason he will not risk giving his
opposition any issue on which they
can go to the country.
Thus this testing of political op-
portunities will have much to do
with the eventual shaping of leglsla-
ton. If, as has been suggested so
often in recent weeks, the country
has been turning toward the right
and is tired of what may be termed
an excess of New Dealism, then the
minority party will not hesitate to
push for more and more correction
of New Deal laws. If, on the other
hand, the administration is con-
vinced that unity in the Republican
party can be prevented by bringing
forth middle of-the-road programs,
which will attract a certain meas
ure of Republican support in Con-
gress, there will be a tendency to
yield a point here and there and
remove, if possible, the chances for
political attack.
Foreign Policy Uncriticized.
How much foreign affairs will
play in the making or unmaking OF
political cleavages it is too early to
say. The Republicans, as their
Democratic brethren used to do, are
sizing up public opinion to see if
the Presidents moves in foreign
policy are entirely in tune with the
wishes of the American people.
Judging thus far by the relatively
little criticism that has come from
VI O
Presidents firm attitude toward to-
talitarian states, the administration
Is on the right track and can an
ticipate no serious dissent on that
score.
But there's one aspect which is
Ioming up as likely to cause some
complications. Americas policy to-
ward Russia has been one of friend
illness, even though Communistic
eXcesses and purges have been as
destructive of human liberty as
those of the German and Italian
states. There is siZable drive on
against Communism, which is as
strong, if not stronger, than the
drive against Nazi-ism. 1t is re-
fected to some extent in the rather
invisible but nevertheless powerful
support which the House Committee
Investigating Un-American Activi-
ties, presided over by Representa-
tive Dies, has been getting There
IS reason to believe that the COM
rnittee has back of it such strong
groups with political potentiality as
the American Federation of Labor,
the American Legion, the patriotic
societies. to say nothing of some of
the church organizations, which
have not forgotten the Communist
attacks on the Greek Catholic
Church.
1t is In sense something like
the situation which confronted Pres
ident Wilson in the days before 1917,
when groups insisted on absolute
neutrality. Today there is a rising
1nsistence from many quarters that
as sharp things be said to Russia as
are being said to Germany, Italy and
Japan. Unfortunately, the strategic
reasons for silence are not easily eX-
planned because if a European war
does break out, the Russian help
will prove invaluable to the de-
mocracieS.
For good or for i'll, the foreign sit
uation will sooner or later affect
American policies and politics.
(Copyright, 193S.)