Evening star., 1943-04-13

favorable reaction was reported. It
was then that some Republicans
were said to have told State Depart
ment officials they would not oppose
a three-year renewal if the law was
amended to give Congress the nulli-
fcation authority.
In this connection, Senator Davis,
Republican, of Pennsylvania OBJ
served that he always had believed
the trade agreements should be sub
jected individually to Senate ratifi-
cation, but now he supposed it would
be best, with a war on, to 20 ahead
on the present basis.
Senator Butler, Republican, of
Nebraska commented that he would
vote to continue the program to
keep up cordial relations with
South America" and from Senator
Wilson, Republican, of Iowa came
the statement that I'VE probably
will have to go along with the trade
program as it is"
Gearhart Challenges Hull.
In 3,0O0-word prepared state
ment Mr.. Hull said failure of Con-
gress again to extend the blanket
authority would indicate that the
United States does not intend to
bear its share of responsibility in
peacetlme. AS evidence that the
program had worked successfully, he
said, none of the 27 signers now is
at war with the United States.
Mr.. Gearhart challenged Mr.. Hull's
concept OF the program, asserting
the other nations had taken undue
advantage of the United States and
got the best of the bargain. At the
same time, he said this country's
agricultural exports had fallen con-
slderably while imports grew.
Mr.. Hull accused Mr.. Gearhart of
having an 'isolationist" attitude and
finally, his Tennessee anger boiling
over, turned to Chairman Doughton
and said he was ''fed up" with the
type and number Of questions. Mr..
Gearhart and Representative Rob-
ertson, Democrat, Of Virginia then
engaged in a shouting duel, COM
pletely ignoring the chairman's
gavel banging for order.
A quiet but just as 1nsistent op-
position was voiced by Representa-
tive Woodruff, Republican, OF Michi-
gan, of the committee, who said he
feared what low tariffs would do to
this Nations economy in the years to
come. To which, Mr.. Hull replied
that the program seeks increased
production, better distribution and
more abundant consumption which,
he said, is neither Republican nor
Democratic doctrine-it is American
doctrine"
Listened for 40 Years.
Mr.. Woodruff remarked he did
not believe our standards of living
could be maintained IF we find our
serves in open competition" with
other nations for trade.
I've been listening to all that
for 40 years" Mr.. Hull responded.
These constant fears and predic-
tions-yet labor's conditions have
been improving all the time"
At one point in his discussion with
Mr.. Gearhart, Mr.. Hull said:
"The gentleman is headed straight
down the gulch of extreme national
ism that got us in this mess and I
hope the Lord takes care of him."
Mr.. Gearhart replied:
Did you came here to give us in
formation or to tell the people you
don't like me?"
Mr.. Hull and Mr.. Gearhart inter-
rupted each other so often that
finally the Secretary said:
Il must insist on having one
speech for every one Of the gentle
mans two"
Mr.. Gearhart said other nations
had set up tariff regulations, licen-
sing rules and deprecated currency
that outweighed, financially, the
benefit Of the agreements that
might have accrued to the United
States.