The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-12-11
NTEI50lNs1IOlQ:
New House Seats Promise
Merry Christmas for COP
Under Guidance of Republican Leader Joe
Martin, Democrats Will Face Increasing
House Opposition.
By BAUKHAGE
Nescs Analyst and Commentator.

"a commentator.
phone and tell a state chairman
just whom he wanted nominated for
the presidency and If he was
fairly powerful popular figure, "the
boys" could and would frequently
deliver. Those days are over and
press and radio gets much Of the
credit. Candidates have become real
personalities to the voters and the
voters don't let the bosses make up
their minds for them any more.
Increase of Federal Agents
The Republicans realize this. They
also realize that there are other
powerful influences which exist now
which did not exist the last time
they won a presidential election
one is the increased influence of the
party in power which has grown
with the increased number Of fed
eral agents who are in contact with
the people. The Republicans, there
fore, will do all in their power in
the next session of congress to cut
down the organizations such as the
Triple A and the OPA.
Another federal agency which I'M
doubtedly will be greatly increased
IL the man-power problem is to be
solved, is the United States Employ
ment Service. However, if the en-
ployment service has to stand out in
front in the enforcement of a COM
pulsory labor law, it may become a
political boomerang to whomever
the public considers is responsible
for it and the Republicans hope to
manipulate that situation to their
benefit.
Leading the Republican party
next year will require political skill
because the party of the opposition
in wartime is in a difficult posi-
ton. It must get it's share of the
credit for winning the war, but it
must avoid the blame for the mis-
takes which are bound to be made
and side-step the brickbats which
any measure attracts which hits
any particular group of voters.
The Republicans have plenty Of
problems ahead, but if House Lead
er Martin is typical, they have plen-
ty Of confidence and more energy
and enthusiasm than they have been
able to display for decade.
Here are excerpts from three days
of Secretary of Agriculture Wick
ards diary (if he kept a diary,
which he doesn't, but the words are
the secretary's).
Monday: Went to Peoria, ILL.,, and
addressed meeting of the National
Catholic Rural Life conference. This
organization was founded over 20
years ago and has as its objective
the betterment of rural living.
At noon attended luncheon meet
ing given by the Chamber of Com
merce. Many farmers were pres
ent. In the evening I addressed a
meeting of the American Meat insti-
tute in Chicago. The institute had
a number Of farm leaders as their
guests. At all of those places the
question I heard most often was:
GLOW are we going to get enough
farm labor to keep up the produc-
ton which you say must be main
tained?"
After the meeting Monday eve
ming I went down to my farm in In
diana. The fall pigs had to be vac
cinated and given shelter. There
were the usual amount Of repairs
and odd jobs to be done and ! be-
gan to see the need for more help.
The labor shortage which I had
heard about during the last few
days was painfully evident on my
own farm.
Tuesday: Sold the last of our
spring pigs. I obtained use Of a
couple of trucks in addition to my
own and we had them all in the
stock yards by noon. My daughter,
Ann, came up to the farm from Pur-
due university after morning classes
and we drove the last truckload of
hogs to market ourselves.
While at the bank, the editor Of
the local paper came in and greeted
me and remarked it was too bad
about Joe Todd. I asked him what
had happened. He told me Joe's
relatives had just received word that
he had been killed in action in the
Pacific. Joe and Ann had gone to
the same country school. They had
been in the same Sunday school
class in our country church. He had
enlisted early in the air corps and
had advanced to the rank of first
lieutenant.
Wednesday: Back in Washington
I wish that it were possible for
me to see and talk to farm people
more often because Of the inspira-
ton receive from them.