Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-02-23
WNU Service, Union Trust Building,
Washington, d. C.

washington, ID. q.
AS we contemplate the second
month of the political calendar one
thing is clear and that is the strong
conservative trend in the congress
as whole and within the structure
of the two major parties as well.
Many straws show clearly the way
the prevailing winds have been
blowing. One was the Jones-Wallace
controversy which soon became a
senate versus Wallace Roosevelt
controversy. Another was the turn
taken in the battle over the national
service bill which developed into a
fight against the fair employment
practices policy and the closed
shop. Behind both these moves
there was play of forces which
marks the beginning of struggle
which will make the biggest post
war story on the domestic front.
The opposition to Wallace had
many and complicated ramifications
but it revealed the conservative
trend both in congress as a whole
and within the Democratic party.
Within the party it was a struggle
between the REGULARS" and the CLIO
political action committee adher-
ants, something which is being re-
Elected in the conduct of the party
organization, too. When Democratic
National Chairman Hannegan was
questioned as to whether he was
going to work with the CIO-PAC he
answered that he would welcome
their assistance, but in the same
breath added: land other independ-
ent organizations" The inference
drawn by the reporters was that
the two groups would pursue their
separate ways. 1t is reported that
Wallace was offered a deal by
which his confirmation as secretary
of commerce would be assured and
perhaps RFC powers left under the
department of commerce, if he
would agree to put "safe" man
in to administer the government
lending. This would have meant
breaking with his CIO-PAC follow
ing and Wallace naturally refused.
That illustrates what rivalry there
exists between liberal and conserva-
tive elements within the Democratic
party. 1t is also whispered that
campaign has begun by which the
Democrats hope to pare down the
influence of the CIO-PAC. The
scheme is to build a strong coalition
between the southern Democrats and
the northern big city bosses.
Compare Wallace
To Bryan
The Democratic REGULARS" claim
they have no fear Of Wallace as a
successful contender for the presi-
dental nomination in 1913, although
they admit that he is the one man in
public life, now that Willkie is gone,
whose leadership would be most
likely to unite both liberal and radi-
cal support. But they claim he is
another William Jennings Bryan,
much more intellectual but with the
same fate in store for him: often a
bridesmaid, never a bride.
The Wallace supporters talk quite
differently. They say any man who
could rally 429h votes last summer
at Chicago could get enough of the
necessary additional 105h by 1913
and that every time bad, big bust
ness assaults him as it did through
the friends of Jesse Jones, his stock
with the common man" and little
business" whom and which he con-
stantly champions, will 60 higher.
In other words, the louder the
Wall street "wolf-pack" bowls the
more the CLIO pack" grins. This
reasoning is based on those two
somewhat paradoxical observations
1--WE love him for the enemies he
makes" and "every knock a boost"
That is the ''leftist" reasoning, and
whether or not the regulars" think
it is sound, they have to take it into
consideration. In any case the op-
position to Wallace on both sides of
both houses of congress shows the
conservative color of the legislative
body.
AS to the party organizations, they
have indicated that they intend to
put their faith in works. On the
same day (January 23) both Re-
publican and Democratic national
chairmen announced that their re-
spective political machines would
start running on a full-time basis.
AS said. Mr.. Hannegan revealed
his attitude toward the left-wingers
of his party by implying that
Messrs. Hillman, Murray, ct al
would paddle their own canoes.