The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-14

WASHINGTON. - The session
of Congress which will begin on
January 3 will be confronted by a
greater variety of problems, both
foreign and domestic, than any OF
its predecessors since the World
War. Old-time Washington cores
pondents look forward to perhaps
the stormiest session since that
of 1917.
For one thing, this is a Presl-
dental election year, and every
proposal of the President will
come under closer scrutiny and
be more subject to attack by his
political opponents than has been
the case in any preceding Con-
gress under this Administration.
While the Republicans have on
" % Senators out of 96, and only
1859 Representatives out of 435,
there is such a decided split in
the Democratic party that nobody
can foretell the outcome on any
vital question which may come
before the Congress. The division
in the Democratic party being in
the nature of a revolt of many
members of both houses against
the New DeaP' policies of the
President, it follows that what
ever Mr.. Roosevelt proposes will
face the possibility of coalition
of disgruntled Democrats with the
Republicans to defeat his pro-
gram.
Truce Ended
The truce which enabled the
passage of the revised Neutrality
Act definitely ended when the
extra session came to an end in
early November. The coming ses-
sion promises to be a battle of a
finish over the major issue, which
is, in effect, whether Roosevelt
runs again.
It has been limited, in some
quarters which are often we'll in
formed, that Mr.. Roosevelt may
make a public announcement
early in the new session disclaim-
ing in unmistakable language all
desire for renominatinon. Such
a declaration would clear the air
for the consideration of public
business on its merits, though
there would still remain the in
evitable struggle between Demo
Gratis and Republicans for political
advantage in the 1910 Presidential
campaign.
The field in which there is like
ly to be more discussion than any
other is that of international rela-
tons, which have taken new
and alarming turn since the revis-
ed Neutrality Act was passed. Not
only has the situation in the Far
East become of more immediate
concern, but in Europe the men
ace of Soviet Russia has been add
ed to that of Germany.
While the general feeling in
Washington is that neither Russia
nor Germany offers an immediate
threat to the security of the Unit
ed States, and that the Japanese
Chinese situation is not likely to
get to the stage of a threat to the
Philippines, which this country is
bound to defend if attacked,
nevertheless there has been in the
past two weeks a decided revival
of the "war jitters'' which had
everybody in Washington stirred
up last Summer.
Nations Sole Spokesman
This situation works to the adj
vantage of the President, since
he is the nations sole spokesman
in international matters, short of
ratification of treaties or an actu-
a declaration of war. It is gener-
ally conceded here that Mr..
Roosevelt's outspoken indignation
at Russia's invasion of Finland re-
fleets an almost universal popu-
lar feeling. His general conduct of
European relations in the present
war has met with such popular
approval as to increase the pro-
liability of his reelection in case
he should decide to run again, and
should the interests of the United
States seem to be seriously threat
ened.
There is a strong feeling in
Congress that its members should
interfere as little as possible in
the European mess, but there is
an almost equally strong feeling
being expressed that the activities
of the State Department in ne
gotiating trade agreements with
various nations ought to be look
ed into. The belief that American
interests have not been best serv-
ed by some of Mr.. Hull's deals is
gaining siren n, especially
among members from the agricul-
tural states. It is certain that the