Evening star., 1939-11-04

supporting what they considered to
be sound legislation. It was not an
administration victory except in
the sense that the administration
was right and so far as can see
the only lesson is that when the ad-
ministration is right it can COM
mand in the Senate great vote, or
when the administration turns from
one OF its wrong policies, it will get
our support.
Many Of us know that the en-
bargo law was an administration
measure. The late Senator Robin
son, as leader, after conference with
tho President asked for the sup
port OF 1t on that ground. It pre-
sented no pressing matter. Many
Senators voted for 1t as a harmless
paclnc gesture. When the Presi-
dent changed his course it was not
difficult for them to support the
measure.
1T may interest you to know that
IN more than one conference while
the repeal bill was pending Sen
ators considered that the defeat of
the Dill would tend to end the third
term agitation and they considered
that they could beat the bill but they
refused to play politics in the mat
ter.
Can Rely on the Right"
7 append for your information a
list Of the conservative Senators
who voted for the measure. Adams
Austin, Bailey, Barbour, Bridges.
Burke. Byrd, Connally, George,
Gerry, Gibson, Gillette, Hale, Har-
rison, King, Miller. Reed, Tydings,
Van Nuys, Taft, Smith, johnson of
Colorado. If 10 of these % had
decided to make an issue in the
matter with the President they
could have defeated the legislation.
1t may be that the President will
take lesson from this experience
1t may be that he will realize that
he cannot keep up with the left but
can rely on the right"
The aforementioned Senator
asked that he be not named because
he did not wish to engage in a per-
sonal controversy and was interest,"
ed only In the general principles
underlying the recent experience of
the President with the Congress.
But 1t may be said that such views
are shared by other Democratic
Senators and represent significant
gesture Of friendliness to the White
House.
Cooperation between the two
wings Of the Democratic party is
going to be more than ever sought
by the harmonizing elements which
have ahead Of them a presidential
campaign and congressional elec-
ton. but again and again in the
past talk Of cooperation has been
upon a yielding of views and con-
victions held by the conservative or
independent group of Senators.
Trend From Radicalism.
With what is considered to be q
growing conservatism in the country
as exemplified by the 1898 gains
Of the Republicans in Congress the
view is set forth by the Democrats
from the South especially that the
President might well trim sails in
respect to the reformers at his side
and set out to bring about adjust
ments in the party which will rec
ognize the trends of public opinion
as away from rather than In the
direction Of radicalsm.
The basic issues of spending
beyond the tax receipts and of re-
vising the Wagner Labor Act and
wage and hour law have divided
the Democrats into two camps
called conservative and liberal. But
actually they are not divisible along
those lines because the so-called
conservatives in the Republican
ranks represent an even more ex-
treme right wing position than do
the anti-New Deal Democrats. The
latter constitute really middle of
the road group, and while they have
not organized formally as a group,
they hold the balance of power in
Congress today, both in the Senate
and in the House.
President Roosevelt, now that
Congress has ended its special ses-
sion, has about eight weeks In
which to prepare for the January
session and to plan a budget
message and a legislative program
with which to lay the lines for
the 1910 appeal to the people. Dur
ing that time he will be consulting
Republicans on any issues arising
out Of the war situation, but he will
doubtless find it necessary to consult
frequently all the leaders of the
conservative side Of his own party If
harmony on domestic issues is to
prevail next session among the
Democrats.
Reproduction Rishts Reserved.)