Evening star., 1939-01-12

Congress are en-
deavoring to reflect, if not interpret,
the underlying currents of protest
which have been responsible for the
reverses given the administration at
the polls last November.
From some points of view, the
administration is lucky that the at
tack has taken the form it has be-
cause, thus early in the session, the
fire Of the opposition is drawn on
grounds that seem to the public
largely personal, Notwithstanding
the efforts of the opposition forces
to make 1t seem really impersonal.
In every one of the contests there
are basic principles which are de-
rived from the operation of existent
laws, but the opposition Senators
who are considering the new ap-
pointees are not raising broad ques-
tions of policy. They are for the
present trying to relate the questions
Of personal fitness to the operation
Of controversial laws.
Safeguard Issue Raised.
Thus, the real question is not
whether Harry L. Hopkins is fit or
unfit to be Secretary of Commerce,
but what safeguards should now be
put into the appropriation laws on
w. P. A. so as to keep politics and
coercion out of that organization.
Again, the real problem arising
out of the fight against the conflr-
nation of Donald Wakefield Smith
for reappointment to the National
Labor Relations Board is not
whether Mr.. Smith is fit or unfit. but
what shall be done now about
amending the Wagner law itself
AS q matter of fact, he has voted
identically as has each of his other
two colleagues in all decisions of
the board that have been reviewed
thus far by the courts, and the rec
ord shows substantial majority of
instances in which the board has
been upheld.
Also. the real issue with respect
to the confirmation of former Gov.
Murphy of Michigan to be Attorney
General is neither his qualification
nor his temperament nor his char
acter or integrity, but whether sit
down" strikes should have been con-
doned by public officials. This ques-
ton is before the Supreme Court of
the United States, which is expected
shortly to rule on it. The voters of
Michigan, moreover, have expressed
themselves on these points, and
sit-down strikes are by no means
In vogue today.
Ability for Role Scrutinized.
Whether Mr.. Murphy acted wisely
or unwisely in critical situation in
volving possible bloodshed is not the
legal issue before the Senate, but
whether Mr.. Murphy is capable of
acting as general manager of
Government department known as
the Department of Justice, in which
scores of attorneys and assistants
are employed and Solicitor General
like Robert Jackson and an Assistant
Attorney General like Thurman
Arnold are already there, possessing
the confidence of the White House
Collateral issues can be drawn in
connection with some of these ap-
pointments, but they merely befog
the fact that in Congress there is as
yet no concerted attack on New
Deal legislation as such, nor is
there any evidence that, beyond the
necessary revisionary process of
amendment, any substantial attack
will develop at this session.
The administration realizes it can
be bombarded by adverse publicity
through some of the contests on its
appointments, but, in the end, it
will be found that every one of these
nominations will be confirmed and
the opposition in Congress will then
be confronted with the necessity of
. direct attack on New Deal laws.
Democrats Still in Power.
When the time comes for revising
or amending existing laws, the ad-
ministration undoubtedly will show
q willingness to make adjustments
to opposition points of view on pro-
visions that have been clearly dem
onstrated to be in need of change.
But, as Mr.. Roosevelt reminded his
hearers in his Jackson day speech,
the Democratic majority in both
houses is still bigger than is GUS
tomary, and he might have added