The Omaha guide., 1939-07-15

Few Congresses in history have
produced as little in so long a
time as the current one. Of the
dozens of major bills introduced
Ito say nothing of the thousands
of minor bills, of which a consider
able percentage falls into the
crackpot category less than half a
dozen have been definitely acted
upon. But that doesn't mean that
Congress is lazy of incompetent
or is more than ordinarily domi-
mated by buck-passers. 1t does
mean that one issue, of the most
immense significance, has been up
permost-and 50 far no n has Of
fered a solution that has met with
widespread approval. That issue
is the role of the United States IN
today's complicated world affairs.
AS Newsweek puts it, "The 10th
Congress offers no more striking
contrast than the calm unanimity
with which it votes hundreds OF
MILLIONS for defense, compared
18th the hectic uncertainty with
shich it parties and postpones de-
eisions on foreign policies. Sena-
tors and representatives who a a
gree ON the number of ships, planes
and guns needed cannot agree on
what they are needed for"
The conflict between the isola-
tionists and the nationalisbs a
been going on for a long time. To-
dav it is more bitter than ever
and seems destined to become con-
stantly more so in the future. 1t
is a known fact that this Admin
~istration definitely falls into the
in+ernationilist classificatisn-Fhe
most potent Presidential advisor ;
such as Ambassador Bullitt n
Kennedy. seem convinced that we
must eventually throw in our lot
with France and England, n
the sooner we do that the better
off we'll be. The Republicans IN
Congress, led by stern isolation
lists Borah, Johnson and Nye, are
convinced that this course rs suci-
,dal. spells the participation of the
us. in a possible war which is not
OUR concern. Republican OPPOSE
tion is not particularly important
+o the White House-in spite Oh
COP gains last November, the
Democrats still have a handsome
majority. But this issue has split
\artv lines wide open. Effective
Democrats such as Clark of Mis-
souri,. are as strongly isolation
ist in feeling as Borah. And many
lesser lights in Congress, whog
VIEWS have not yet been put on
record. will vote for isolation when
the time comes.
Still more important, judging by
all the available indicators, the A
merican people are tending isola-
zionist in view. A recent Gallup
Institute of Public Opinion) Poll
showed overwhelming disapproval
of US. involvement in Europe's
troubles. The Gallup polls have a
~ccurately indicated the drift OF
public feeling in the past, and ma
nv a Congressman whose prime
interest is in pleasing his consti-
tuents, irrespective of what he per
sonaly thinks, is certain to cast
his vote according to their find
ings.
Summing up, the advocates of
the s~trietest kind of U. S. neutral
ity have the edge at present. Whe-
Their or not they will hold that
edge depends upon many potential
tiles, tangible and intangible. But
the force they exert today is in
directly indicated by the Admin
istration's recent hands-of policy
in the matter of neutrality legis-
lation. Mr.. Roosevelt is not Civ
ing orders now-Washington OBJ
servers say he APPARENTLY feels that
Congress is in no mood for dicta-
ton.
In the meantime, practically ev-
eryone seems agreed that we must
build up our national defense to
the limit. And Congress has voted
military appropriations with a law
ish hand. So far more than $780,
900 1000 has been appropriated at
this session for national defense
purposes. A recent bill (passed by
the House and apparently sure of
Senate approval) shows the kind
of fighting tools we + making.
1t provides for two As, 000-ton bat
k1ochine 1aVrar %ba- onUthinU