Evening star., 1941-02-15


books-a process resembling the de-
vice of forming the committee OF
the whole-and might even send an
envoy to the Delphic oracle. BY
the time the requisite number of
oxen had been sacrificed and other
moderately CORY ceremonies had
been performed, the Roman people
had the distinct impression that
the gods were on their side and
that everything was proceeding ac-
cording TO order.
For precisely the same reason,
the American people employ
magical device known as the Senate.
We study their flights of oratory,
observe the manner in which they
peck at their issues, consult the
entrails of legislation. We allow
the mumbo- jumbo of committee
hearings and consult a number OF
Delphic oracles, of which Wendell
Willkie is only the most recent.
Debate Continues.
Minutes, hours. days, weeks and even
months go past. Everybody under
stands the measure, the issues, the
principles involved but the prac-
tice of our political magic con-
tinues to persuade the public mind
that the gods are on our side and
that everything is being handled
in due order. Senators rise on their
hind legs and talk endlessly, about
anything and everything under the
sun. Coalitions are formed and dis
solve. Strategy meetings take place.
Quiet little deals are made on the
side. Such a man gets the Federal
Juogeship ne has been working for.
Another gets a big Government
project for his district. Yet another
receives the head of a political ad-
Versary on a silver charger.
Then one day, almost out OF a
clear sky, when the last drop of
political advantage has been wrung
out OF the situation, the Senate sud-
denly decides to vote The galleries
are filled and man by man. these
elder statesmen rise and thunder
their Ayes" or their Noes" The
final result is almost identical to
that which could have been obtained
by a vote on the first day. But in
the meantime, the 10000 900 Amer
leans spread out over the 5000 600
square miles of the United States
have had chance to understand
what the measure is approximately
ABOUT. They have been shown that
the rights Of the minority have been
respected, that debate has not been
suppressed and that the Govern
ment of the people is still at work.
Action Needed In Crisis.
Thus we foster government bv
consent of the governed and base
our national unity on the theory
that there are differences of opin-
ION and interest, which must be
taken into account but which can
be bridged by compromise.
For long-range stability, this sort
OF government is still the best in
the world The only question ia
whether today We still have the
time to face urgent crises with un-
limited debate and hidden fili-
busters.
The solution-at least one solu-
tlon-ls the device adopted by Theo-
dore Roosevelt when he took
Panama" The Senate launched into
months of debate concerning his ac-
ton, but as T. R. pointed out, "as
the debate went on, so did the
Canal" While Senators talked about
1t. the steam shovels were biting
into the Isthmus. So there remains
the possibility that, faced with a
crisis and f1libuster, President
Roosevelt might be compelled in his
own authority to do the things au-
thorized in the aid-to- England bill
without waiting for the Senate to
complete its Snail's pace discussion
of the business. And as Wheeler,
Clark, Taft and Nye rose and Grated,
the tanks, guns. ships, planes and
destroyers would flow in a steady
stream across the Atlantic.
On the other hand, it would be
better from the viewpoint of ma
tional unity and public morale, If
the law were passed before Roose-
welt took action. With the spring
blitz about to burst. Americans are
entitled to ask a short debate and
quick vote from their legislators.