The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-09-08

Washington.-A political angle
that has been largely overlooked,
but that definitely figures in the split
between the two wings of the DEM
ocratic party has been brought
sharply to the front by the primary
campaign of Senator Ellison d.
Cotton Ed) Smith of South Caro-
lima. That is the racial issue which
the South refers to as the Negro
Problem"
Probably nothing has so aroused
the antagonism of Southern Demo-
Gratis toward the New Deal, not
even the invasion Of state rights
by Washington, as the successful eff
forts of the national party organl-
cation to swing the Negroes OF the
North away from their traditional
allegiance to the Republican party.
They have been converted into
Democratic voters, and old-llne
Southern politicians do not like at
all the idea of accepting them as
political comrades.
Cotton Ed" in his campaign for
denomination made the most OF the
slogan of white Supremacy" and
his opposition to the Federal Anti
Lynching bill in the last Congress.
While he has been more vocal IN
public on the subject than have most
other Southern leaders, there is no
doubt that the friendliness OF the
Administrators supporters toward
the Negro as voter, rather than as
an object of charity, has much to do
with the Anti-New Deal sentiment
in the party in the South.
Party Rift Widening
All the reports reaching Washing
ton continue to indicate that the
rift in the party is widening. Inc
latest bit of Capital gossip is that
the differences in outlook between
the President and the Vice-Presl-
dent have reached point where
Mr.. Garner may take public attl-
tude of opposition to the President
almost any day, if occasion offers.
If that situation should develop,
which is not likely to until after
the November Congressional cleo
tons, the anti-Administration group
in Congress would be materially
strengthened. Mr.. Garner has a
very large personal following in
both house of Congress.
If the elections result as expected,
in material reduction in the DEM
ocratic representation in the House,
and an increase in the proportion
of administration Democrats,
the nation may easily witness
hand-to-hand struggle for personal
control of Congress between the
President and the Vice-President OF
the United States.
Such an open break would not
only accentuate the battle for party
control in 1910, but would have
powerful effect upon legislation by
the 10th Congress. The issue be-
tween the Administration and its
opponents inside the Democratic
party is a complicated one, but in
the main it is one of expanding or
contracting government expendi-
lures.
There is little hope or expectation
that tbs Federal budget can be bal
anced by 1910, so the question be-
comes one of whether to meet the
deficit by further borrowing or by
increasing taxes and reducing ex-
penses.
There are political reasons why it
is not likely that the income-tax
base will be broadened by the next
Congress to levy on incomes OF
"little fellows" who now imagine
that they escape taxation because
they do not see the toll which the
''hiden" or excise taxes take from
them.
Agricultural Problems
A plan which government tax ex-
perts and economists favor, of re-
pealina the manufacturers excise
taxes and substituting income taxes
on all incomes above $500 a year
may be killed off because the first
of such new direct income taxes
would be payable just before the
Presidential election. While Sena-
tor Pat Harrison, chairman of the
Finance Committee, and Floor Lead
er Barley, have both put forth the
suggestion of the broader tax base,
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