Milford chronicle., 1947-01-03
TIKI MAN Is NOT FIRST
PRESIDENT TO FACE An
OPPOSITION CONGRESS-
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the three administrations. In each
case the party holding the Presi-
dency lost it at the next election.
Mr.. Hoover and Mr.. Cleveland
hardly had time to stow their fish
ing rods in the White House when
business SlumpS-twO of the worst
Ill hlStOry-Swept the country. Both
Presidents lost their Congressional
maJorlties in mid-term elections,
Just as happened to President Will
son i'll 1918, and to Mr.. Truman last
November.
While banks and factories were
closing in 1881 and 1882, Repub-
llcan President Hoover had to con-
tend with Democratic House and
Senate where anti-Administra-
tratlon Republicans of the farm
hloc held the balance of power The
senate had fOrty-seven Democrats,
one FarmerLaborite and forty-nine
Republicans, but a dozen of the lat
ter often were aligned against the
President.
president Hoover and Congress
battled over the bonus for World
War | soldiers, and over various
methods of fighting the depression.
HIS veto of the bonus bill was over
ridden by huge majoritles IN both
houses.
He sought to preserve wage
scales, but when he opposed direct
Federal relief to the jobless as lead
ing to the dole Democratic CL.l-
gressmen assailed him as d do
nothing President.
Speaker Garner lined up the De-
mocfats IN support of Mr.. Hoover 5
proposed $2,000.000,0 Reconstruct
tion Finance Corporation and the
Glass-Steagall bill to enlarge credit
facilities of the banks. But Congress
and the Administration quarreled
over ways of increasing taxation TO
balance the government budget.
Democrat Cleveland had Just
started his second administration
when the panic of 1893 hit the coun-
try, causing widespread farm dis
treSS, many business failures, wage
cut and unemployment.
In 1894 embittered farmers
elected a Republican Congress.
Many Democrats in the House were
free silver men who charged that
the gold standard. supported by
President Cleveland, was breeding
nation of tramps and million
aires"
group of anti Administration
democratic Senators helped Repub-
ncans amend a tariff reduction bill.
President Cleveland was not willing
to veto 1t but he showed his disap-
proval of the high tariff rates by re-
fusinS to sign the bill. 1t became
law without his signature.
Although President Wilson an
pealed to the voters to elect a De-
mocraticsmajority to carry out his
world peace aims. the Republicans
won congressional majority in
the 1918 election. The historic bat
tie between Mr.. Wilson and the Sc
nate over the League of Nations en-
sued.
After five months of bitter
"ranSlin2, the Senate refused to
ratify the peace treaty with the
covenant of the League of Nations,
as part of the treaty. Even the
treaty. with reservations on United
States participation in the League.
lalled to receive the necessary two
thirds majority in the Senate.
Mr.. Wilson. like Mr.. Truman. had
to cone with post war initiation
nigh living costs and an epidemic
OF strikes. He was struck down bv
paralysis while on speaking to,r
Tor support of the League of Ma
lIons and thereafter was unable to
devote full energy to national prob
lens.
Several Republican members of
the new Congress cOnvenino This
week have urged cO-operation be-
tween the legislature and President
truman in handling major domestic
issues as we'll as a united. non-nar-
tlsan foreign relations policv for
enduring peace. Other ReDublican
onsressmen have said they would
rot co-onerate with the President
IL he makes radical recommends
tions."
President Truman's comment ON
that was to ask who can say what
IS radical. He has said that his
state of the Union" MESSAGE to the
he"ubll"an controlled Congress-
I'll call or what he believes to he
necessary for the welfare of the