The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-27
LIGHT

he may have 10 cultivate them.
Assuming that he wants to dom
mate the 1910 convention. and
assuming that old fashioned
political manipulation and pat
ronage won't turn the trick. his
only chance appears to be 10
make the economic machine
work in the next eighteen months.
In that way alone-so his adj
visers feel-oan he win back the
people and through them the
politicians. He must play smart
economics rather than inside
politics.
Believe II or not. the most
forceful spokesman for this
school In the new secretary of
commerce-Harry Hopkins. He
will be- a key figure in the ap-
peasement act. If any. But
others who share these views
include such influential indi-
viduals as SEC Chairman Doug
las, Secretary Morgenthau and
RFC-er Jesse II. Jones.
fDdustry's scouts around
the White House have
warned their bosses not to
look for any immediate
transformation In the presi-
dent-or any other kind Of
miracle. That IN too much.
they insist. to expect In any
body with the name or per-
soHality of Roosevelt.
He will flare up every so
often. in the observers opinions.
He will always give way to emo
tionahsm and stubbornness and
irritable outbursts. He will
sometimes indulge in exhibitions
of mischievousness, retaliation
or pique. But what industry's
advisers now suggest is that
their employers reconcile them
selves to these intermittent sal
lies and make the best of it
try TO get along with him If he
appears to be In a more con-
ciliatory mood II is this sort
of advice which explains the
strange but strategic silence in
the household of the economic
royalists
Here's another point empha-
sized in verbal and written
analysis of the 1939-1e40 Roose-
welt. Though 1t has passed
without comment, he has not
denounced business men, bank
ers or industrialists for some
months. He has shifted his at
tack-and this is important
against the press and the polit-
icos. 1t adds up to a mystery
--Washington's most exciting
that is explainable only ON a
political basis.
Democratic leaders pri-
vate checkup diseloses that
II IL general debility rather
than party disloyalty which
underIies house members
Indifference to the party
ar presidential fortunes.
Though their number dwindled.
last November, most of the boys
and girls of the majority have
sat in the chamber for years.
Daily sessions from noon until
8 p. m. have become wearisome,
and they flee from the floor
whenever they can. They must
bear the burden of committee
and subcommittee work, which
occupies their mornings and
often their evenings. So they
steal away whenever no record
vote Is to be staged, figuring
they can afford to neglect roll
call and teller counts.
More than 20 GOP-ers, how
ever, are newcomers who derive
a thrill from floor debates and
discussions. For few -- till
they. too, become veterans - it
will require a stick of dynamite
to dislodge them from their
political posts. They have COM
paratively no heavy committee
assignments. Lastly, they're
trying to make good with the
home folks so they can stay here
a while. That's why Republican
Leader ole Martin can present
such spectacular show of
party solidarity, while Majority
Leader Rayburn cannot mobilize
his bilious battalions.