Evening star., 1944-02-24

ident has chosen to listen to the
"yes" men who are appointed t<
Office. Instead of consulting with
the Senators and Representatives
who must carry the ball in the
autumn elections, he has consulted
with men whose radicalism or group
interests have clashed with the pub
lie interest as viewed by members
of Congress.
Mr.. Roosevelt has hitherto been
regarded as the certain nominee OF
his party for fourth term. The
events of the last "a hours present
new set of circumstances. They
reveal a revolt against Mr.. Roose-
velt's leadership on domestic affairs
and unless he makes peace with his
own party leaders, it may be that
such a schism will be developed as
to insure the election of Repubi-
can President.
Democrats Are Liberals.
The Democratic party considers
itself the liberal party-the party
that refuses to go back to the old
days of reaction. But it cannot
meet the protests of the people
against arbitrary and whimsical
Government unless it presents a
new front. What the Democratic
party needs is a new leader and a
house cleaning 1t needs man who
will respect Congress and not inter-
fere with the judiciary either. 1t
needs, in brief, man who will re-
turn the Democratic party to the
side of constitutional government
and preserve at the same time the
continuity of administration on mat
ters of foreign policy.
What brought applause in the
House and Senate was not the
arguments made by Chairman
Doughton, Democrat, of the Ways
and Means Committee or by Sen
ator Barkley, Democrat, leader Of
the majority party in the Upper
House, but the independence and
courage shown by each in telling
the country frankly and openly
their opinion of one-man govern
ment which derides the legislative
branch. For Mr.. Roosevelt has de-
clared war on the members of his
own party. His recent message
charging members with fraud" on
the soldier vote issue and now
charging them, after seven months
of labor, with writing tax bill for
the relief of the greedy instead of
the needy" is something so un-
precedented that it can only be
assumed Mr.. Roosevelt has COM
pletely lost touch with the currents
of opinion as reflected on Cap
itol Hill.
Barkley Hinted for Higher Office.
Out of the episode may come
new presidential possibility. Though
the thought was doubtless remote
from his mind, Senator Barkley has
qualified himself for higher office
He has shown that honesty and
conviction can supersede any pres
sure of convenience or rubber
stampism" Mr. Barkley has said
openly what dozens of other men,
bers would like to have said. Mr.
Doughton has done the same thing
he has made confession of his
innermost feeling about executive
dictation to Congress even when
jperpetrated by the leader of his
own party.
The events of the last "a hours
mark one of those rare crises in
constitutional government which
furnish reinsurance to every Amer
lean that the government of the
people still rules. For with all its
mistakes, with all it's inconsistencies
and its vagaries, the Congress rep
resents the people. If the legis-
lators are mistaken, the people can
remove them. But in 1912 the
people expressed their protest by
electing nearly half of the House of
Representatives from the Repub-
lican party. The President and
his advisers chose to disregard that
vote as being based on local issues.
But it was a warning signal and in
a democracy no elected leader can
afford to ignore such warnings.
The President has a tremendous
responsibility. Whatever else may
happen to him politically, he is to
be Chief Executive till next January
He can swallow whatever pique he
may feel and turn his mind toward
course that means harmony
within his party or he can fan the
flames of discord.
The telegram which Mr.. Roose-
velt sent to Senator Barkley is an
obvious attempt to let bygones be