The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-08-11
"DOWN THE HATCH"


lions have been run by politicians
men interested in hanging onto or
getting into public office. Last week,
this time-hallowed fact seemed
about to perish by act of Congress.
In the last Congress, Senator Carl
A. Hatch, conservative New Mexico
Democrat, introduced a bill to take
relief out of politics" by forbidding
political coercion of, or solicitation
of political funds among relief work
ers. The bill failed. Last winter,
Hatch re-introduced his handiwork,
now expanded to ban political &C
tivity by Federal jobholders as well
as reliefers. The Senate passed the
bill, but House New Dealers, we'll
aware of it's political implications,
buried it in committee for four
months.
A fortnight ago, however, under
the constant pounding OF the Repub-
lican press and the pressure OF anti
third term congressman, the Hatch
bill popped up again in the House.
There amid uproarious scenes, a
coalition of Republicans and con-
sentative d ocrats swept it
through. Next day, without single
negative vote, the Senate accepted
House amendments. AS sent to the
White House, the act would:
ca Prohibit any person from
coercing any other person voting in
a Federal election or primary.
(2) Outlaw the use for political
purposes of any funds appropriated
by Congress for relief.
CO Ban the promising of any job
or wage created by Congress for the
purpose of winning Federal nomi-
nation or election.
ca Forbid any Federal Office
holder below the rank of policy
making department heads and their
immediate assistants from using his
''oficial authority in a Federal
election or nomination.
In this form, the bill represented
a major political upheaval. 1t meant
that promises OF patronage, the glue
with which every politician holds
his machine together, were hence
forth illegal. 1t meant that the vast
army OF Federal employees-post-
masters, district attorneys, revenue
collectors and thousands OF others
could no longer make compaign
speeches, solicit campaign funds or
participate in national conventions.
1t meant, said newspaper wags, the
major portions of the American
party system had gone down the
Hatch" 1t might also mean, accord
ing to some sincere critics OF the
measure, violation of civil liberties
in that it would hamper the free
speech" of oftice-holders.
Advertised purposes of the act
were % to take relief out OF poll
tics" and ca to advance the cause
of "clean government" That it
might do both seemed entirely pos
sible; but few doubted that the
motives behind the bill were them
selves purely political. BY destroy
ing the aid the New Deal, like all
other political parties, had expect
ed from its ranks of jobholders, the
act seriously damaged Roosevelt's
chances OF dominating the next
Democratic convention and put
another spoke in the third-term
wheel.
Any doubts that the Hatch bill
was a political coup Were erased by
scenes following it's passage.
Senators streamed to congratulate
the man generally credited with
forcing the measure through-Vice
President John N. Garner. The
Hatch bill was the only piece of leg
islation ever publicly endorsed by
the Vice President, and it's success
had plainly enhanced his chances
for the 1910 Democratic nominal
ton.
At the other end of Pennsylvania
Avenue, meanwhile, the President
was in an uncomfortable spot If he
signed the bill, he would seriously
injure his own party; if he voted
it, he would lay himself open to
charges of fighting "clean govern
ment." AS all Washington waited
the decision, the prediction was that
Roosevelt would swallow the dis
tasteful pill. Which he did and sign
ed the measurable Pathfinder.
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