Evening star., 1944-09-25


who try to be
realistic ou t
these conSe- Frank r. Kent.
quences are raising Nightmares with
which to frighten little children.
And, anyhow, they are nothing but
lot OF reactionary old Roosevelt
haters" who want to grind down
the poor and would stop at nothing
to get that man" out OF the White
House.
For more than 10 years the New
Dealers have maintained themselves
against attack by this kind of bal
derdash. 1t seems incredible that
such stuff could be accepted as ar
gument and used to conceal the
facts. But their success with it in
the past is beyond dispute, and they
are still using it.
In their campaign this time, there
are elements and prospects which
few unfeverish persons, it would
seem, could consider without some
degree of apprehension. Yet, men,
ton of these is met in the same way
administration criticism always has
been met--to wit, by a complete ig-
noring Of the facts, by cheap ridi-
cule, demagogic appeal to the un-
thinking masses and personal abuse.
Dread Consequence Seen.
Nevertheless, it is the purpose here
again to draw attention to one Of
the surest and most-to-b dreaded
consequences Of Roosevelt re-elec-
ton. This Is the almost certain ex-
lstence for the next four years Of
Congress hostile to and distrust-
full Of the Executive, one which he
could neither coerce, control or per-
suade to follow him.
It is unreasonable to contend that
II Mr.. Roosevelt wins he is bound
to carry in with him majority Of
the House, because that has been
what has happened in nearly every
election in the past. Those who
thus argue do so because they do not
want to face the facts.
The fact Is that, despite prece-
dents, there is hardly practical
politician or an informed observer
on either side who believes that in
the event of Mr.. Roosevelt's re-
election. the House would have even
a nominal Democratic majority,
much less an actual administration
one.
There is almost complete unan-
Unity of opinion among them that
the Republicans will be in entire
control of that body. For this con-
viction, there are sound grounds.
The numerous congressional BY
elections of the past two years have
increased the Republican House
membership to the point where they
almost have majority in the pres
ent Congress. These have shown
Republican trend in the district
which is generally conceded.
Mr.. Roosevelt's candidacy, clearly,
is a personal one, depending upon
the war for success, and there is not
the slightest reason for thinking
That. so far as candidates for House
and Senate are concerned, this trend
will be reversed in November.
On the contrary. the political be-
lief is that 1t will be accentuated,
1t being plain that in nearly every
State there are many voters who.
voting for Mr.. Roosevelt for reasons
connected with the war, will stop
there.
Loss Of Congress Control.
It, of course, is true that the
Senate, because of its present make
up and the fact that only one third
Of its membership is to be elected,
will remain nominally Democratic.
though the Republicans are sure to
gain some seats. AS the Senate is
already antiadministration, through
Its majority Of Republicans and
anti-New Deal Democrats, this
means that 1t would be more so
after a fourth-term election.
In brief, the odds are overwhelm-
Ing that as fourth-term President.
Mr.. Roosevelt, who has been unable
to control this Congress in which the
Democrats have nominal majorities
IN both branches, would find himself
confronted with Congress over
neither branch OF which he would
have even semblance of control.
Thus would" be created the worst
possible situation for dealing with
the vast and vital postwar problems.
all OF which are being pushed over
until after the election.
In the White House, there would
be a tired, aging President, unable
to lead or direct the legislative
branch, secure acceptance of his
views or adoption of his recommen-
dations. And. at the Capitol, there
would be a Congress without leader
ship.
AS has frequently been pointed
out, this Is the worst situation that
can arise under our form of Gov
ernment. 1t means both executive
and legislative futility. 1t means a
practical paralysis of Government
and a dangerous chaos.
The probabilities that Roosevelt
reelection would create a condition
such as this are so strong that it is
difficult to see how any informed
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