The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-17
Shares Head OF Table
By ARTHUR KROCK

WASHINGTON, March 1b.-freely. answer
ing questions about the Rural Identification
Administration which he had previously hest
tated to do, the Secretary of Agriculture, Mr..
Wickard told Sennte subcommittee today
he had no further doubt of the President S
wish that he testify This is the latest Incl
dent in support Of the belief that Mr.. Roose-
velt after his experience with the tax bill
veto, wishes to work as tremendously with
Congress as possible.
If this belief shall be transmitted into an
undeniable fact by subsequent incidents, and
not be shattered-as often before-by sud-
den shift of White House tactics, it can be
attributed to several factors in addition to
the obvious one that better executive-legisla-
tive relations are vital to the most effective
conduct of the war and the influence of the
United States in the councils of the United
Nations. Among these factors are:
l. The Democratic revolt against the Presi-
dents attitude toward Congress which was
successfully led by Senator Barley thrust
into disrepute the political theory espoused
by some fourth-term campaign managers.
This theory was that the best way to assure
the Presidents reelection and the choice OF
a submissive Congress was to turn the coun-
try against the present Congress. The leader
of the tactic was to be the President him
self, and Congress was to be blamed for
tax forms. The theory seemed to be taking
form in the language of the veto tax mes
sage, and Mr.. Barley launched his attack
to demonstrate that the theory was both un
sound and unWiSe.
| g. Republican victories in Congressional by
elections have advanced the possibility thai
Republicans will have a nominal House ma
| jority before their national convention meets
! Through coalition the President has already
- - L~4L 1L~ L,,@ A..
be made more graphic if the Republicans
acquire party majority before the nominal
ing conventions, even though they do not at
tempt to organize the House. And it will
greatly widen the belief that though the Presi
dent should be reelected, politically hostile
Congress will be elected with him.
/ In such a prospect with the nation at war
ordinary common sense counsels the restora
ton of as good relations with Congress a:
/ the President can effect.
3. The Presidents influence with Allied
statesmen, as soon as he espoused the policy
of giving material aid against the Axis, ha!
been very great. Until recently the impress
sion prevailed among them that, whenever HI
chose to join battle with Congress, he woule
prevail; that his reelection was as certain
as to them it seemed desirable; and tina
the popular referendum which the 1914 poll
will provide was a foregone conclusion il
Mr.. Roosevelts favor.
Il But when his Senate spokesman success
fully resisted the President when Congress
OVERRIDE his tax bill veto and no visible pop
ular uprising followed against the members
and when Mr.. Roosevelt felt obliged to SEM
Ito Senator Barley the plea he sent, Alice
statesmen began to have very serious doubts
that they had read the future Alright Con
: gress which they had been influenced to dis
t regard, resumed it's coordinate Importance il
their estimate of the forces behind curren
Government action. And for the first time
since the war began, in the encourages 0
: Allied diplomatic and military missions t.
Washington, the observation was heard tina
+ mavbe it would be more serviceable to tn
cause of the United Nations if the 1914 Amer
lean elections should produce President ant
Congress in political harmony, even II tina
President were not Mr.. Roosevelt.-NeW Yorl
Times.
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