Evening star., 1939-03-05
McNary and Martin
Hail Restoration Of
Congress Power
6. o. P. Leaders Speak in
SesquicentennioI
Broadcast
p the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
Republican leaders last night
hailed their party's increased
strength in Congress as an indica-
ton of the vigor and endurance of
democracy and of the American
peoples determination to maintain
the form of government they have
had for $50 years.
Speaking on broadcast program
commemorating the sesquicentennial
anniversary of the first Congress,
Senator McNary of Oregon and Rep
resentative Martin of Massachusetts,
the Senate and House minority lead
ers, said the economic distress of
the last few years had led Congress
to surrender some of its independ-
ence and vote great discretionary
powers to the Chief Executive.
But the American people needed
IN last falls elections, Senator Nc
Nary said, admonitions against turn
ing power over to one man and
undertook to redress the balance
OF authority in the National Govern
ment."
This they did by greatly reduc-
Ing the swollen power of one party
In Congress. Thus on the birthday
OF Congress We find that body re-
verting to its traditional independ-
ence. We find again general ac-
ceptance of the principle on which
our Government is built, namely,
that 'deliberative forces should pre-
vail over the arbitrary"
No Longer Rubber Stamp"
Representative Martin said the
people always had taken a hand
when Congress has surrendered its
rights and independence"
Our rejoicing over the survival
for $50 years of our form of govern
ment is made more hearty" he
added, "by the thought that again
Congress is returning to its tradi-
tional place of independence. No
longer can it be said that Congress
is a rubber stamp body for any
one. No more do we hear of must
programs to be enacted, irrespec-
tive of what the majority in Con-
gress thinks about them.
With the restoration of Con-
gress and our Government to a
constitutional basis, venture the
prediction that it will not be long
before America goes forward again
to a better and higher standard
OF living and to happiness and
contentment greater than any we
have previously enjoyed. y = The
people know they are now safe from
unwise and fantastic experiments.
Solutions for all our problems can
be found within the framework of
our traditional American Govern
ment and it is only when we depart
from the basis that we remain in
chaotic and troubled waters"
Brake on Hasty Action.
Senator McNary said the ad-
vantages of the representative sys-
tenn OF government were illustrated
in the means by which governments
formulate their foreign policies.
For some peoples. he said, the
decisions which may plunge them
into bloodshed are made behind
closed doors by a few men," He
added
Here under our representative
system of government such vital
policies are hammered out on the
anvils of legislative debate. The
presence in the Nation of an alert
and vigilant Congress is an anti
dote against secrecy in the formula
ton of foreign policy. Moreover,
1t constitutes a brake on hasty or
ill-considered action.
Thus if this country again is
forced to take up arms-and may
God forbid-our people at least will
know the reasons and causes for
such a course"
Americans Called Fortunate.
Representative Wadsworth, Re-
publican, of New York, speaking on
another radio program, said United
OtdIeS ClUlIellS are fortunate
people, envied by all the world"
THE Government of the United
States" he said Lives today as the
oldest government in the world. mo
abandonment of it's fundamental
principles has occurred. No sub
stantial change in its structure has
been brought about. ="
Compare this picture with what
you see in Europe and Asia. =
There we see in many places COM
plete denial of all those things which
we have been led to believe are pre-
cious and for which human beings
have struggled for centuries"
Howard hnnn,,nrns