Evening star., 1943-12-19
Fences at Home
Need Mending
By ODen L. Scott.

much less exciting task of mending
fences at home
The plain fact now being impressed
upon the President by his aides is that
while the affairs of the world are going
quite well, affairs at home, from the
administration viewpoint, are not going
so well. 1t appears that the voting
public no longer responds, as it once
did, to Mr.. Roosevelt's travels abroad,
regardless OF the Importance of those
travels. Inasmuch as any Presidents
power ultimately must rest upon the
attitude of this voting public President
Roosevelt is forced now to sit up and
take notice.
Aides at the White House stress the
point that in recent months the Presi-
dent has been forced by imperative
war demands to devote his whole at
tention to foreign affairs. At the same
time they explain that, as result of
talks with Russia's Stain, understand
ings have been reached that should en-
able Mr.. Roosevelt to turn now to some
OF the more pressing domestic affairs.
The President sought some time ago
to turn home problems over to deputy
president" in James F. Byrnes as war
moblllzer. 1t turns out, however that
Mr.. Byrnes is not able to command the
same following or to exert the same
powers that the President himself is
able to exert One result is that the
situation in Congress and in the country,
from the Presidents point of view, is
getting out of hand.
This situation has gone from bad to
worse ever since the Government under
duress surrendered to John L. Lewis.
The White House allowed labor leader
to show himself to be more powerful
than the Nation itself with effects that
tend to grow more serious. The Gov
ernment's surrender, as an alternative
TO test of strength with Mr.. Lewis, had
the consent of, If it was not maneuvered
by the White House itself. 1t must be
said that Justice Byrnes opposed the
surrender, but was overruled
The following results have flowed from
the Government surrender:
First of all. other labor leaders. to
retain prestige, have been forced to
make demands for new wage increases.
These increases can be resisted only at
the cost of alternating those union lead
ers who remain friendly with the Presi-
dent. Mr.. Lewis, who Is not friendly
with the White House, actually was
given In the end much more than he
would have settled for earlier.
Next the administration lacks anv
persuasive argument to use in Con-
gress to block legislated wage increases
Such as that now being voted for rail-
road workers Neither Mr.. Byrnes, nor
Fred VlnSon as economic Stabilizer, can
make much headway in convincing Con-
gress that union leaders who are friend
~ with them should be turned down
while union leader who is not always
so friendly is favored.
In the third place, farmers are given
another argument in their demand for
some special favors. Congress finds 1t
more difficult than ever to denv farmer
demands in the face of the fact that
concessions were made under duress to
a labor leader
Finally. by its deal with Mr.. Lewis.
the administration lost much of the
persuasive power in its demand for
much higher taxes The administration
tax plan was designed to give tax
concession to coal miners. among other
workers, while hitting hard at other
groups in the population, particularly
the middle and upper income groups.
Congress baked at that whole plan
what had appeared to be an expedi-
ent deal to settle strike in the easiest
way apparently turned out to be a costly
deal to the White House.
1T Is not only the situation in Con-
eresS, however. that gives the President
much to think about. There likewise is
developing situation out in the country
as result OF ratloning and price con-
trol. Voters appear to be irked by re-
Strlctlons that are inevitable If scarce
goods are to be divided evenly and if
prices are to be restrained from very
sharp rises at time when the volume
OF money is much larger than the VOL
ume OF goods
Mr.. Roosevelt in the period ahead can
be expected to tackle the problems that
nave grown up at home while he was
oevoting his attention almost exclu-
siVely to military problems and foreign
affairs. The President is described as
FULLY aware that he must do a selling
Job out in the country If present politi-
cal trends are to be reversed. Those
trends admittedly are running against
him at this time
Several moves are expected President
Roosevelt is likely soon to take up the
radio again. He has a number OF
speeches in mind, including his annual
state OF the union message to Congress.
Domestic problems are likely to figure
increasingly in these talks.
Then 1t is probable that rationing
allotments of gasoline, of some kinds
OF food, OF tires and of some other
things will be increased during 1914.
The expectation is that people will tend
to forget their irritations If they are
given larger ration of a few much
sought after commodities. If the Ger
man war should end by mid-1s44 ra-
tioning may not be problem by elec-
ton time.
Ways probably will be found to per-
NIT wage rates to rise gradually in or
der to temper the growing complaints
among workers. Farm prices probably
Will increase slowly with the same end
In view. An effort will be made to