Evening star., 1939-12-23
The Political Mill
Issues Raised in Next Congress
May CompIieote 1910 Campaign

to a third-term omination-even
though many of them have made
no public statement regarding it.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky, the
Presidents choice for majority lead
er of the Senate, has again the job
of steering the administrations pro-
gram through the Upper House.
And it may be ticklish job.
Third Term Resolution.
The Kentucky Senator, who In all
probability will have the State dele
cation supporting him for the presi-
Dental nomination in the Demo-
cratic National Convention, is re-
garded as entirely faithful to the
President. In other words, he would
support third-term nomination if
the President wishes 1t.
One of the first obstacles which
Majority Leader Barkley may have
to meet is an anti-third- term reso-
luton, which Senator Rush D. Holt
of West Virginia, Democrat, threat
ems to offer when Congress reassem-
bles. Senator Holt has held such a
resolution in allegiance for more
than year, acting on the advice
of some of the Democratic older
heads. He plans, however, to put
the Senate on record in this matter,
unless there is some, definite an
nouncement from the white House
that the President will not permit
his name to 60 before the national
convention. He has patterned his
resolution after one that was
adopted by the Senate in the days
of the Coolidge administration.
Nearly all of the Democratic Sena-
tors-not to mention the so-called
progressive Senators-who sat in the
Upper House at that time supported
the -third-term resolution.
Whether the resolution is voted
up or voted down. it will be an
embarrassing situation for many of
the Democrats who will be called
upon to express themselves.
Anti-Lynching Bill Issue.
Even more serious for the Demo-
cratic leadership, however, may be
the anti-lynching bill which is due
to come up in the House January
8. 1t is expected to pass that body,
as it has in the past. When it gets
to the Senate the tug of war will
come. Southern Democrats have
filibustered similar measures to
death on several occasions. The
administration leadership will be
called upon at the coming session by
important Negro organizations to
put all its strength back of the
measure and force it through. Since
the Negro vote in many of the
Northern and Western States is ma
terial. and since the New Deal ad-
ministration has come to rely upon
that vote, the pressure will be very
great.
The administration. which has
had the benefit of the labor vote
in the last two national campaigns,
must also face proposals to revanAp
the Wagner Labor Relations Act.
During the last session, the admin
istration forces were able to stave
of any consideration of amend
ments to that act. But now it is
question whether dilatory tactics
will succeed again in postponing
consideration of the matter.
And finally, the question of ap-
preparations and Government ex-
penditures will force itself very far
to the front. In the election years
of 1884. 1896 and 1888. the relief
rolls mounted high-much higher
than in the off years. With a pos
sible s3,000,0 ,0OO 900 deficit staring
Congress in the face. what will be
the course toward large relief fund
appropriations?