Evening star., 1939-08-27
Presidency CoIIed on
Assured Headache
By O1Den L. Scott.

know for what they are bargaining.
The job of President, with its honor
and its power, looks highly attractive.
Actually, that job in the period ahead
promises to become about the most i'm
possible job in the world. 1t was .
realization of that fact that led Sena-
tor Robert Taft-himseH an aspirant-
to say in effect that no sensible man
would enter lightly on any effort to
assume Presidents duties.
Fulhlment of those duties to the sat
isfaction of the country under present.
day conditions appears out of the ques-
ton.
The Nation is demanding Of its Presi-
dent that he avoid entanglement in the
affairs Of the world; yet the Nation ex-
poets old-fashioned prosperity that has
to be based upon a world stability that
only the United States could produce
by seeking to serve as the worlds banker
and policeman, entering deeply into en-
tanglements.
AT the same time, the Nation is de-
mandlng aow-and will demand of the
next President-that the United States
do less regulating of business and of
agriculture and of finance, the very ne
cesslty for regulation of which grows
out OF an attempt to avoid entangle
ments abroad.
demands OF the people at present and
IN the period to come are almost certain
TO be incompatible with the problems
that will need to be solved.
Ihere is the relatively simple problem
Oh the Nations sadly upset budget.
Everywhere the demand arises for an
end to spending of borrowed money. for
an END to increases in the national debt,
1or curtailment of Government spendA
lng' Tor period of frugality in Wash
ington
Yet farmers want to keep the subsi-
oles tnat they must have if their in
come is to be maintained, or if price
nxlng-with regimentation of both in
oostry and agriculture-is to be avoided:
everybody apparently wants to keep a
program OF work relief in place of the
dole; nobody is in a mood to cut down
on the Army and the Navy in times like
oio-age insurance and unemployment
insurance are necessary and are here
to stay.
mus no President, heading any DO
htlcal party, can reach the goal of a
balanced budget without increased tax
alton, lnasmuch as the minimum spend
ing total offered by the most conserva.
tive candidate for President is $1,000
oeo,ooo and the most money ever raised
by taxation was $4,000, ,eO00oe.
But instead of increased taxes. the
next President will be counted UPON tn
reduce taxes. Reduced taxes will be ey-
pected to produce more revenue through
an increased national income resulting
from temporary cut in Government
income and temporary further upset
10 the budget. In other words: Pump
pfimlng IN reverse is proposed through
reduced income rather than through in
creased expenditure. New Dealers would
approve that method.
And SO it goes.
The country will want the next Presi
dent to satisfy employers by amending
the country's labor laws, but at the same
tlme Will want the same President not
to do anything that will take from labor
! the rights that it has gained in recent
| years.
/ The next President will be expected
to induce Congress to provide the Ma
ton with wise laws; but the same
! President will likewise be expected not
| to demand things of Congress. Rather
he VIII be expected to suggest while
| Congress moves of its own accord into
! action. The Presidents decisions will
need to be so wise that they will con-
vince a majority of 431 Representatives
and 96 Senators, each of whom repre-
sents special sectional interests and each
of whom has very great fund of ideas
| of his own.
| The real fact of the matter is that the
presidency is job too exacting in its
! demands and too limited in its actual
powers for any one man to fill under
the complex conditions that exist today.
| Today's demands require of Presi-
dent:
| l. That he be a diplomat capable of
| shaping foreign policy that will pro-
| tect American rights abroad without in
any way producing the danger of war
and without using American financial
| and material resources to help the world
! get back on its feet.
| 2. That he be an economist wise
| enough to devise policies that will pro-
| duce recovery, yet so mild in effect that
| they interfere with the special interests
| of no group.
3. That he be politician, able to hold
in line majority of each House of
Congress without using anything more
| persuasive than message.
4. That he have pleasing radio per-
| sonality. and one that will assure a
strong measure of confidence.
S. That he be an executive able to
| administer vast enterprise with more
than 100000 employees and an annual
budget Of more than $4,000, ,0O0,0 900; al
ways keeping track of details of operation
to avoid scandals and extravagancy.
growing number of individuals ap-
parently think that they can fill the
bill that the presidency demands.
At the same time, growing number
OF side-line observers are convinced that
nobody can fill the bill under present.
day conditions without more strength
|