The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-03-07
Observations
Split With Barley
But One of Many FDR
Squabbles
BY Helen Essery

Everybody in this town who can
thump a few words on typewriter
has been holding forth on the split
between Democratic Senate Leader
.Aloen Barley and his President,
Everybody who cannot type has
been talking out loud about the re-
bellion OF the Senate and what il
means nov. next election day and
forever more.
SO should like to speak my own
thoughts on this fascinating sub
ieci. Perhaps my thoughts are in.
spired by my woman's point OF view
In fact, am sure they are. But !
now present them unauthorized.
And hope that you and will re-
main friends thereafter.
To me the entire episode is far
from a pretty spectacle. 1t presents
Washington to this country and
the rest OF the world as a SQUAD
bling capital.
Some more politicians fighting
among themselves. most OF the
people who get the long view OF
Washington are saying. Why don't
they use their strength on winning
the war. What's a veto anyhow
when our men are fighting and dy.
ing Why don't the politicians get
on with the war;
who cares whether the Presi-
dent in his peacemaking letter said
Dear Alben' or whether the senator
said he's always love the President
the same? What We want TO hear is
that the war is being shortened by
the planning Washington is putting
into the fight We don't care boot
il couple OF office holders are get.
ting touchy as election day comes
on. We want TO know when there is
chance OF our boys coming back
home and what is being done to get
them on their homeward way"
II the people out in the country
feel this way about the break be.
tween the President and the SEN
ator from Kentucky what do tho
81
think OF these hysterical goinss on
in their capital asked diplomat
who had Just returned from Italy
what the soldiers there we're think
ing about.
rTheyre thinking that they hope
10 God they can find dry patch
in the mud in which they live so
they can sit down for a minute and
wiring out their wet socks. II they
think about Washington at all. they
think OF il as so much boloney"
The President has indeed been
contemptuous OF the Congress. He
did everyday his dictator al hand in
vetoinz the tax bill. He has indeed
sneered publicly at the lavmaking
branch OF the government | have
stood al the White House press
conferences and been Mortified as
he tried with quips and laughs to
make the Congress seem lot OF lit.
tie men in Ounce caps I've thought
This was form OF Reesexeltian sai.
ETY. plus a cold determination 10
present Congress as lot OF silly,
old dodoes.
Surely the President knows that
the Congress is the nerve center Of
the nation Its members come fresh
from the people. Its voice is the
voice OF the people. In lis halls
have been done the things that
have made America the country it
is and our political destinies are
still in its hands. They must re-
main in its hands Il America is 10
remain free.
The Congress. regarded as an IN
stitution. is the hope OF democracy
and the hope OF the nation. Without
the check ii gives TO the executive
branch the President might govern
as a despot. Weaken its powers. as
the President has tried TO do. and
we have not a democracy but a
despotism.
However, and this is big HOW
EVER. one swallow does not make
summer day. One outburst such
as the Barkley-led rebellion does
not restore the Congress TO It's copy
book place in the sun. The Con gress
will do far better for its own group
and for the people it represents II
it earnestly asks itself why the
President has regarded it so lightly.
Spasmodic rebellions are not the
way to justify its worth or value.
4 one-act play is not enough
The events OF the past week In
the capital we're not merely a va.
riety OF drama. Yet this is the man
ner in which the Congress has
viewed the show.
Did you ever see so much fun
around here?"t a Capitol guide
laughed. Looks like We need a
traffic cop right here in the CORR.
dor"
1t was indeed fun. Theatrical fun.
Not the kind OF fun to make an
anxious American have faith in his
President or his Congress.
should think It would occur
sometime to that soldier in Italy II
he ever does find that dry spot 10
sit down on that Washington today
is nothing to write home and ask
about.