Evening star., 1942-09-10

instances the
primaries are &z1@ -
equivalent to an David Lawrence.
election, but there are contests in
the vast ma jority of districts.
Many members have been here
uninterruptedly since November,
1910, and, with the exception of
an occasional trip back home to see
their constituents, have had little
opportunity to mend political
fences. The recent recesses have
been welcomed as giving members
chance to do little campaign
ing.
1t will be suggested that this is
something which need not be done,
because If member is on the Job
In Washington his constituents
ought to be appreciative of that
fact, Some are, but unfortunately
for the sitting member there is no
way to persuade the rival candi-
date back home to forego cam
paigning as well.
The ambitious rivals, who are
the nominees of the opposite party,
really have the advantage in that
they can campaign continuously
before primary and thus get a
long start, whereas the sitting men,
Der, though he may be sure of re-
nomination in his own party, can
not find time to handle the speeches
on the stump made by the nomi-
nee OF the opposite party.
Bold Stroke by President.
To bring members back to Wash
tngton in the midst of campaign
is hard on the incumbents particu-
larly, but undoubtedly the Presi.
dent grew impatient with the wide
spread criticism to the effect that
everything in Washington was be-
Ing postponed till after the cleo
tions.
In this respect, Mr.. Roosevelts
message insisting on action before
October ! is bold stroke and
should at least answer those who
have been saying the President
would not venture to antagonize
any sizable group in the electro
rate, such as the farm bloc, be-
tween now and the November cleo
tons.
1t will be noted, of course, that
the President has handled much
more delicately the subject of wage
control. It will be charged that he
has refrained from asking for au-
thority to fix wages, leaving the i'm
preston that he does not intend to
be vigorous in that area of his anti
imitation program.
Such criticism is only partially
justified, for the fact is that the
President already has assumed pow-
ers with respect to wage control that
totally ignore the legislative branch
of the Government. The War La
Dor Board has set up system of
wage "stabilization" which in most
Instances means an increase up to
certain point to Offset increased
cost of living expenses. This sys-
tenn has no authority in any specific
status and is derived, if it be con-
stitutional-and nobody is question
Ing it in wartime-from the general
powers of the Executive or Com
mander in Chief
Indirect Method.
If Congress had not passed legis-
lation specifically providing for ITO
per cent of parity on farm prices
the President would by this time
have created farm price stabiliza-
tion board to function in a manner
analogous to the wage stabilization
machinery It's only because the
President feels barred by specific
statute on farm prices that he is
asking for modification. Presum-
ably, if he did not get the repeal by
October !, he would use priority
powers and other forms of coercion
derived from other statutes to bring
about compliance with his formula.
This would be to do by indirection
that which he is thus far forbidden
by status to do directly. 1t is being
assumed that this is what Mr.
Roosevelt meant when he said that
If Congress didn't act by October /,
he would act. He would, it is be-
lieved, nullify the statute by max
ing it's effective enforcement i'm
possible.
Members of Congress, while re-
sentful of the Presidents clumsy
method of dealing with his own
party as well as with the minority,
are likely to pass some legislation
soon enabling the Executive to set
up machinery for controlling farm
prices.
Members will open up with
speeches when the debate starts
and 1t Is likely that the record will
be made showing neglect of the
farm problem by the President ano
his own heutenants. Indeed, 1t Ii
being asserted that the failure OF
the War Labor Board to keep wages
down encouraged the farm group Il
prevent farm prices from being
frozen or reduced.
IReproduction Rights Reserved