Evening star., 1944-05-15

argue with the @s'sss. sssss@
esident at Frank r.. Kent.
these conferences kept them quiet
But it wasn't acquiescence, it was
restraint.
No one can blame the President
for wanting to escape the conse-
quenceS of the mistakes made In
his name by Attorney General Bid
die, but the method he adopted
though used before, hardly would
commend itself to fair minded men
First, he charged the press and
radio had not given the people the
facts, though he was unable to point
out any fact that had not been
given, or to give any fact himself,
that had not already been printed.
Nevertheless, he then blithely
proceeded to supply the press with
information about the case that
almost Immediately turned out to
be incorrect. For example, he de-
clared the case had been settled by
the result of the employees election.
This was far from the fact and
was at once denied by the company,
which asserted it will not accept a
contract containing the closed-shop
clause which the union is demand
ing. And it was also denied by
members of Congress, who insisted
the Investigations, which each
branch had ordered, would be con-
tinued.
Popular Feeling Indicated.
Actually, the speed and emphasis
with which House and Senate de-
cided upon these Investigations was
a notable indication of popular feel
ing and affords good reason for
the Presidents desire to put the
case under the head of finished
business. 1t was further evidence of
the degree to which he has lost con-
troll of a Congress in which his
party has a clear majority.
1t should, in fact, be more than
that. 1t should be an additional
and particularly clear warning of
the condition certain to exist if the
present effort to secure a fourth
term succeeds. In that event, al
most every one, except the profess
sional Democratic spokesmen, con-
cede that Mr.. Roosevelt would have
Congress far more hostile than
nova Congress in which the Re-
publicans would control the House
and the Republicans and anti-New
Deal Democrats the Senate.
What that means, of course, is a
practical breakdown of the Gov
ernment. Both President and Con-
gress would be reduced to futility
and the terribly serious postwar
problems, upon the proper solution
of which the welfare of all of us
depends, would be botched, bungled
and evaded. It is a prospect no
thoughtful person can contemplate
without apprehension.
Yet, 1t is impossible to deny the
prospect exists. The various re-
fuSals of this Congress to support
administration measures and the
frequency with which it has over
ridden presidential vetoes supply
convincing evidence The facts were
plain before the Ward investiga-
WCIS tOUtu. 1llUSS FOUSS
merely made them palmer. The
Ward seizure was ordered by the
President, directed by his Attorney
General, and was completely an ad-
ministration affair.
The move to investigate was a
move indicating disapproval of the
order and an unwillingness to sup
Nn1sf al III
tions were introduced by anti-New
Dealers-Senator Harry F. Byrd of
Virginia, in the Senate; Represent
ative Dewey of Illinois, a Repub-
lican, in the House.
Nullifying Confusion.
IT is unfortunate the investiga-
ton is not to be made by one COM
mittee instead of two. 1t seems silly
to have House and Senate compet-
ing in such matter and it is to
be hoped some way will be found
to coordinate the two Otherwise
1t is difficult to see how nullify-
ing confusion can be avoided.
However, this has nothing to do
with the point that the House and
Senate action is another demon
stration of presidential inability to
control Congress and a warning of
even less ability to control the next
Congress should Mr.. Roosevelt be
reelected.
Every one is glad he has returned
from his months vacation restored
to health. 1t would be fine thing
indeed if now, thrusting aside those
who have personal interest in
keeping him in the White House
indefinitely and are constantly tell
ing him that for the sake of the
Nation he should run again, Mr..
Roosevelt would face fully the facts
and grasp the situation in which
he and the Nation will find them
selves if he is again elected.
But there is slight chance he will
do that. His personally selected
National Committee chairman has
already announced that he will be
nominated. Others-CIO labor
leaders. New Deal Senators, lob
holders, recipients of presidential
favors in one form or another, left
wing publications and publicists-
are all clamoring for the fourth
term
The trouble about the President
Is that he seems not to have a sin
gle detached, disinterested, indie
pendent friend able or willing to
Sit down with him and tell him the
truth. Practically all his intimates
and advisers are in his administra-