The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-09-28
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER

III M 'osND 49, ""
WASHINGTON This i some
thing I never expected to write.
For the first time since I have been
reporting in Washington. I believe
ne are in danger of going over to
7 don't mean the temporary,
quasi dictatorship that war always
brings to a brief life. I mean a
dictatorship period.
There can be no immediate re-
turn to normal when the fighting
stops. II congress cannot recover
its sense of responsibility and its
independence from pressure groups
like the ravenous farm lobby. II
will be no more capable of dealing
with reconstruction than il Is
capable OF dealing with war
problems.
We are seeing before our eyes
this week the breakdown of legis-
lative government. Congress is not
legislsting, it is carrying out the
orders of handful of farm lobby
ists who hover around the halls at
the capitol and give their orders.
They are the congress people you
never elected and whose names
YOU probably don't even know. 1t
has been going on a long time.
Now il has reached defiance of an
urgent need TO hold the economy
of the country in balance. To see
this thing happening at critical
time like this is an appalling
event which sends shudder
through your frame if you want to
keep this a democracy.
Time and again I have said that
relationships rise up out of the de-
cayed ruins of parliamentary gov
eminent. Time and again l have
said that those who accused Presi-
dent Roosevelt of trying TO become
a dictator were silly. They were
silly so long as We have a strong.
healthy congress which did not
have to eat out of the hand of one
lobby.
have never seen any danger
in delegating power so long as the
agency delegating it is in good
health. Modern government re-
quires quick decisions and flexi-
bility not easily provided by the
legislative process. But strong
executive power must be kept in
framework Of policy set by the
legislative branch. Congress is
daring President Roosevelt to put
his war powers TO the test in a
way that will mean White House
defiance of congress on question
In which the public interest is so
overwhelmingly on the presidents
SIDE that he is the likely winner
and democratic machinery the
likely loser. Congress is riskiny
destruction of its prestige and in
fluence 10 a fatal degree.
Weeks ago when ! wrote rather
bitterly about congress and its
demagoguery. some Of my friends
IN congress went into pouts. l
understand some of the congress
sional ladies took out their hatch
cts also. Well. maybe l was a
little rough. and I piped down. be-
cause coming from Baptist par
ents l always figure that a fell
low ought to have a chance to re-
pent. But do we have to wait for
ever?
l doubt If the country will wait
forever No other country has
been able to wait forever. One
line morning after parliamentary
government has failed some loud
mouthed fellow in a uniform ge.s
up and announces he is boss and
that you can call him Il Duce or
Der Fuehrer and like it, BY God.
The odd thing which every one
OF US ought to keep in mind is
that the people like tat first
certainly These Germans and
russians fighting at Stalingrad
believe in Hitler and in Uncle Joe
lhey believe the strong maa
knows how TO lead them to victory
lhey are glad that unbelieyers
were jailed or shot. When govern
ment breaks down. people turn to
me man they think is strong
enough to put them right side up
again.
You know how this country
turned to Mr.. Roosevelt that morn
ing IN March. 1888. He looked ike
the man who could save the coun-
NY from chaos. He's stilI around
some things have occurred recent
y that suggest he is getting into
M ii'ooa. Congress, you had bet
.e "eten TINS. The people won't
ave you. They'll let you 20 down
ne drain II that's where Won IN.
,.st on gong, and they'll tie 10
NJ. Roosevelt as they did in 1888.
congress, you are asking for II.
.nd II vii be sorry day for the
: nitea States Of America if you
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