The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-07-13


said that politics makes strange bed
fellows. 1t does that many times.
Seldom, if ever, however, has there
been more unfamiliar faces extend
ing beyond the same bed linen as
occurred recently in congress. The
political bed served as temporary
resting place for most of the Repub-
hcans, a flock of anti-administra-
ton Democrats and STABLE collec-
ton of Eyes" men from the New
Deal camp. 1t was such a ludi-
crous combination that my memory
hardened back to the legend of the
Kansas wheat fields where it has
been said that owls, prairie dogs and
rattle snakes nest together below
ground.
Two great national policies, breast
fed and clothed by the New Deal,
were the issues that brought about
the strange alignment of politicians.
One question was whether President
Roosevelt should be allowed to keep
his emergency" power to tinker
with the currency and to buy silver,
both domestic and foreign, at prices
that provided a subsidy for silver
producers. The other question in
volved this nations position in it's
relations with other powers-com-
monty referred to as neutrality"
legislation.
1t ought to be noted, in passing,
that the queer and somewhat hui
morous combination of conservative
and radical political warriors deliv-
cred series of uppercuts to the
point of Mr.. Roosevelt's political
chin. They did it several times.
Mr.. Roosevelt did not like it. He
squawked about the obstructionist
tactics, which was what they were.
But his shrill cry about the tao
tics was predicated upon argument
quite as silly as the political align
ment which brought about the tenn
porary defeat.
Trade Brings About Some
Strange Combinations
While Mr.. Roosevelt's argument
was as full of holes as sieve, it
strikes me that it probably was less
to be condemned than the action of
some of the members of the senate
In the same series of controversies.
The strangest of combinations
among the politicians evolved from
a trade between the Republicans
and the portion of the majority in
the senate to which I have referred.
Senators from silver producing
states, some Democrats, some New
Dealers, and the Republicans made
a deal-a very polite description of
the transaction. It worked out so
that the silverite senators gave their
votes to the Republicans who were
seeking to take away Mr.. Roose-
velt's emergency power to
change the value of the dollar. The
Republicans also wanted to put an
end to the administrators purchase
of silver produced outside of the
United States.
In return for the silverite votes on
these issues, the Republicans gave
the silverites their votes to increase
the price paid for silver mined in
this country. The Republicans gave
the silver producers an additional
subsidy of about Is cents an ounce,
or agreed to stand for that much.
1t was rotten combination, a
trade that smells. I have long ar
gued that silver purchase at prices
above the market was typical of a
great deal of the theory that domi-
mates current administration poll
cies, but that senate combination on
the basis which we know cannot JUS
tify, nor be justified by, the desire
to correct unsound policies.
There was an old demagogue in
the senate some years ago who said,
in a flight of oratory, that sit is
sometimes necessary to rise above
principle for the party's sake" His
soul ought to rest in peace, forever,
because his goal was more than
achieved by the rare political trade
among the senators and by the type
of argument Mr.. Roosevelt made in
demanding retention of his "emer-
gency' powers over money.