The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1946-01-10
WNU Washington Bureau
1916 Eye ST.. N. W
Congress Should Listen
To Voice of the People

vide for limited tax revision; and
for government reorganization.
Since September. the President in
special messages. has asked for uni
'versal military training. for COM
'pulsory health insurance. and for
fact-fnding panels and cooling off
periods to head off industrial strife.
Aside from the three measures
passed. all the other presidential
proposals have either been emascu-
lated. held up in committees. or
completely ignored up on Capitol
Hill. The President has been criti-
cized in some quarters because he
has not gone to bat with congress
and fought harder for enactment OF
his program for reconversion and
postwar economy.
What of War PoUers?
And this criticism brings up an
important question which the peo-
Pile most certainly should consider
il we r to get the most out Of our
democratic form Of government.
President Truman still holds his al
most unlimited power under the
wartime act. Most folks will agree
that during wartime it was neces-
sary that the chief executive exer-
else this dictatorial power reaching
into almost all phases of u Ia
tional life and national economy.
But now that the fighting is over
and the country is attempting to get
back onto a peacetime basis. the
question is: Shall the President
continue to exercise that wartime
power?" In other words. the Pres
ident could seize all industry tied
up in strikes and operate them;
he could direct the foreign policy Of
the nation: he could fix wages and
set prices; he could do all these
things and many more under the
power that he now holds. but will
lose next June 80.
President Truman, however, as
was President Roosevelt before
him. is loathe to use this power be-
cause, Il lit did so. this government
in peacetime would be operating as
a dictator nation and not as a de-
mocracy governed by the Consent Of
the governed. And the very organ
izations and individuals who are
now loud in their criticism of the
President, who claim he is lacking
in program and initiative. would be
the first to raise their voices in pro.
test over the first dictatorial act.
Public Opinion Rules
This country and its democratic
institutions must Of necessity be
guided by public opinion. No law.
no act of our leaders will long with
stand the force of an opposing pub
lie. The point is. however. what is
the opinion of the public on these
vital domestic and foreign ques-
tons?
Here in Washington are heard
only the voices of the vocal minority
and pressure groups. We hear these
voices on foreign policy. we hear
them on elimination of price and
rent control; they are heard on
farm questions, SURPRISES, parity
prices, conservation. the Missouri
Valley authority; the question of
strikes -. what about Russia 80.
wage increases -. the cost of living
|. so-called socialized medicine
a thOusand-and-one questions.
Are these loud and consistent
voices from minority groups here in
Washington the considered opinion
of the American public Of the
men and women in the 16. 900 home
towns of the nation of the ST.
900. 900 farm and rural area folks
of the millions in our teeming
cities?
1t would seem to your home town
reporter that now would be a good
time to really let our legislators
know what the folks back home &C.
tually think about all these vital
questions. 1t all boils down to the
question Of whether the nation, I'M
der our democratic form of govern
ment, is to be guided by a unified
spoken. public opinion on both for
eign and domestic affairs. or wheth.
er the decisions Of the congress and
the President are to be controlled
by the minority Hobbies.
Danger of Lobbies
These lobbies. however. are so
powerful and persistent. that a real
crisis can break out any time. All
this talk about the invisible gov.
eminent" that we used to hear is
not merely wild imagining. There
r hundreds Of well-paid. shrewd
lobbyists in Washington. all skilled
at getting the legislation they want
passed for the interests they repre-