The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-01-25

The President 80
wear than has ever been the case
in the past, because the national
conventions are to be later this
year, by at least month, than they
have been for many years.
Whether he runs himself, or in
tends to name his successor-and
there is no dissent whatever from
the contention that he wishes to- do
one or the other--he has not laid
the groundwork in these first mes
sages.
Just what is planned by the Presi-
dent nobody knows except the Pres
Ment himself, assuming he has
made up his mind. He is talking
about . lot Of plans to different
groups OF advisers, but, as usual, not
even the members OF these intimate
groups know whether he is really
favoring their plan or some other.
His enthusiasm in such conferences
has always been unbounding. Par
Elephants for the first few times are
always convinced that they have
completely sold the Chief" But Il
they continue long in the inner cir
Gle they gradually learn to discount
this enthusiasm. They learn that
the President is interested in almost
everything, and perfectly willing to
delve tn an exhaustive manner into
the details OF some scheme which
he will decide not to follow.
Hssr about Various Plans,
Bus There Is No Certainty
So there is no way OF being sure
what the rabbit will be this time,
and senator's and representatives do
not profess to have any certainty,
though they keep hearing about VA
riuas plans. But they are mighty
sure that. with his often demonstrate
cd resourcefulness, Roosevelt is not
going to make his fight to dominate
the Democratic National convention
and win the election on the issues
stated in his message.
His defense OF trade treaties, not
only for their economic value but
as barrier to wars, and especially
as an answer to the demands OF the
have-not nations for colonies, etc,
was expected. It has been known
for weeks that he would fight for this,
and that renewal of the power to
make these reciprocal trade agree
ments would be one of the tough
fights of this session Of congress.
But there is nothing new in his
messages on which to carry the
New Deal forward, as members OF
congress see it. This can be inter
preted, as they view it, in only two
ways, Either he has no idea-Which
is almost impossible to conceive OF
such a fertile brain--or he does not
intend to inject any new controver-
sial issue at this particular time.
There is even some skepticisn
about the amount of space the Presi
dent devoted to arguments for con
tinuance of the Enlargement pol
icy. 1t is true that this is the out
standing fight in plain sight as con
aress opens. But some shreWd OBJ
servers believe that the Presiden
purposely stressed it for anothet
reason-to divert attention from tn
fact that he is not proposing an.
new plan for curing the ills of thu
country, of which the most outstand
ing is unemployment.
Message Has Varied Meaning
For Foreign Diplomats
Foreign diplomats in Washington
are amazed at the character OF tn
comment that has greeted Presiden
Roosevelts message to congress
AS they see it, the most importan
parts OF the message havebeen a
most ignored. So interested ar
they about it that many have cor
ferred with colleagues, wondering
their knowledge Of the English lar
ruaee, or rather the blind spot
which occur when person learn
q new language, have caused Their
to misinterprct It.
II Il rather obvious, for instance
that the German embassy her
wired its government that the Pre-.
ident was determined to have
place at the peace conference table
Inspired stories printed in German
and allowed to be sent out OF tn
country by the censors have CON
mented on this phase.
The German reaction Is ths
Roosevelt Is anxious to bring pre-
r,,re In bear at the peace table