Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-09
Blaming Of President
For Impasses With
Congress Traditional
Stimson Book Cited
On Hoover, Wilson,
Toft Experiences
By David Lawrence

BY David Lawrence
The national campaign can begin
in earnest now. The two national
conventions and their supplement-
the special session of Congress-are
over.
Both sides scored headlines on the
special session. President Truman
first dramatized the high cost OF
living as an issue and the Republic
cans then dramatized the Commu-
mist infiltra ton into the Democratic
administration.
The debate on both points will
continue until election day. Judged
by previous campaigns in American
history and one as recently as two
years ago, the cost of living affects
more voters than any other single
issue. It was meat control by OPA
and the shortage of meat that lost
both houses of Congress for the
Democrats in November 1916. Like
wise the lack of action by the Demo-
Gratis against communism in the
Government was a major factor in
that campaign as waged by the Re-
publicans.
Anti-Red Lineup Potent.
Politically speaking, the anti-Com-
munist lineup on the political side
is a potent one. Despite the Pres
ident's effort to make it appear that
the House Un-American Activities
Committee is just now dragging a
red herring" across the trail OF
other issues, this committee has been
in being for several years and every
time the question of appropriating
funds for continuing the inquiries
has arisen, the result has been in
favor of the committee by more than
. two-thirds vote Of the House OF
Representatives.
Back OF the ti-Communist drive
are such powerful organizations as
the American Legion, the American
Federation of Labor, patriotic So
cieties such as the Daughters OF
the American Revolution, and a
preponderant sentiment inside the
Catholic Church which has long
been the foe OF the irreligious
Soviets. 1t adds up to quite lot
of political strength.
The cost-of living issue, on the
other hand, cuts across parties and
organizations and If nothing else
were a factor-that is, if President
Truman were regarded as strong
candidate otherwise-it would be
almost controlling.
COP to Cite Black Markets.
The Republicans, moreover, are
not going to let the Democrats blame
them for the high cost of living
They will point out that price con-
troll has meant black markets 1r
food and has curtailed production
of manufactured goods. They will
point to the heavy demand from
abroad for agricultural products
paid for in large part by the Mar
shall Plan. They will point to the
scarcities developed out of Euro
pean demand and the higher con-
sumption due to high wage levels
They will argue that the Democrats
themselves have been unwilling In
both Houses of Congress during the
special session to sponsor bill
10 reiinpose the OPA and price
control.
Imitation is a complicated ques-
ton that is not going to be settled
on the stump. Prejudices, how
ever, can be created on both sides
and votes Influenced even though
the argument will get away from
The merits. That's why the cali
for a special session by the Presi-
dent was transparency political
an effort to blame Just the Re-
publicans. Small wonder the Re-
nublicans retorted with their spy
investigation. AS for red herrings.'
the two parties have been drawing
them against each other on cur
rent issues ever since the 1916 cleo
ton that produced a political
division between the White House
and Congress.
No matter what the special SEES
sion has passed in the way o
legisla ton, the cost of living coult
not have been affected very mucf
in the next 80 days before election
But the impression that one part,
or the other is responsible for thu
current soaring of prices is some
thing the political folks will try tt
convey. irrespective of what the trut
causes of high prices may be.
"Contentment Curve" Important.
In presidential campaign, The
principal factor is the curve OF con-
tentment. 1t might be assumed thai
the high wage and employment
level leads to a vote Of gratitude
bv the beneficiaries But it didn't
In 1916. AS for 1948 there may be
something prophetic in this para
graph from the recently published
hook authorized by Henry L. Slim
son. Cabinet officer who served
under six Presidents:
THE election of 1880 had put the
opposition in control of both houses
and Mr.. Hoover found himself thu
victim of what StimSon considered
the most unfortunate single aspec
of the American constitutional sys
tenn. Like Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Wilson
before him, he learned that failure
resulting from an impasse between
President and Congress are usual,
held against the President"