Evening star., 1950-01-08
New Session of Congress
To Be q Poor Show
Writer Sees Political Considerations
Dominating Washington Scene
Bv Frank r, Kent

By Frank r. Kent
Perhaps it may help the ordinary citizen
to understand what may be expected of the
session of Congress just begun If he will
reflect upon remark made early last year
by Senator Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan.
Speaking to a personal friend shortly after
he had announced that he would not be q
| candidate to- succeed himself in 1858 but
intended to retire to private life, Senator
Vandenberg made a singularly frank and
Illuminating statement.
Until after he had announced. his retire.
ment. he said, he had never fully realized
how inescapably the thought of the political
effect upon himself of what he said and how
he acted in the Senate was with him. He
had, he thought, been reasonably independ-
ent and voted as he felt and believed.
Nevertheless always in the back of his mind
there was the thought of: How is this going
to affect me in Michigan" Now" said the
Senator, "for the first time have no such
thought. Instead. have sense of beautiful
freedom which I never had before. And I
am deeply enjoying it,"
Concededly, Senator Vandenberg is one Of
the most high-minded, courageous and in
telligent men in American public life. There
fore. it is easy to believe that SO far as a
majority of the members of this Congress
are concerned, their consideration of how
their votes and words are going to affect
them politically is not in the back of their
minds, but we'll up in front. In fact, it Is
so large consideration with the bulk of
them that there Is in their minds little room
for anything else. Considering the character
OF our politics. the power of the pressure
e Gus and the weight which universal suf-
frage gives to ignorance and prejudice, it Is
not only natural for members of Congress
TO function this way but almost inevitable.
And there is little that can be done about it
except to hope that back in the States and
districts public sentiment in favor of sound
measures and in opposition to unsound ones
may develop. Without that kind of senti-
ment there isn't very much hope for us.
y X
Naturally. the closer the session of Con-
gress it to election day. the more pronounced
becomes the condition above described. This
session starts only 10 months before the No
Vember election in which every member Of
the House and one-third of the Senate must
be reelected If they want to stay in public
LIE. The primaries, in which most of them
must be renominated and which for some are
more difficult test to survive than the gen.
eral election are held at intervals beginning
in April and ending in September. With the
many controversial and complex matters
with which this Congress must deal, there
is every reason to believe it will be at least
July and possibly later before it adjourns-in
other words, it will run almost UP to the
election.
Thus, it is plain that this final session Of
the 8lst Congress will be stepped in politics
clear to its eyeballs. With the exception of
Senator Vandenberg. with his new and
peautlfui sense of freedom, and a very few
Others, like Senator Harry Byrd of Virginia,
VINO never lets that thought Of: How is
this going to affect me in Virginia?" get
beyond the back of his mind every member
OF the House and the Senate is going to
speak and vote primarily with the view to
helping himself politically back in his State
OF district. Not one of them will knowingly
or willingly vote or speak in a way to offend
any considerable number of voters back
nome. There Is no question about that
Hardly any will deny it. Nor is this political
situation confined to the Capitol It is
equally intense at the White House Mr..
Truman with his eyes and thoughts on re-
election in 1882 is deeply concerned in DEM
ocratic victory at the polls next fall So are
all his advisers. aides, speech writer's and gag
men.
without exception, they grasp the fact
that ii the Democrats lose control of Con-
gress at the coming election. In all proba.
bility the Republicans will elect the Presi-
dent in 1882 That thought is in the front
OF every White House mind and every White
House word and deed reflects it. The whole
presidential program, as outlined in his mes
sage to Congress and elaborated by the
administration publicity agencies is con.
ceiveo framed and presented first with the
view OF retaining Democratic control The
question OF whether it benefits the country
is entirely subordinate. This may seem .
harsh thing to say, but the proof is over
Wheim1ng. There are no Vandenbergs and
no Byrds IN the Truman encourage II there
is any one either of the inner circle" or
on its fringe with that beautiful sense Of
freedom" his name is not known.
Adding all this up, it should be clear to
any one that the chances of anything being
done or considered at this session strictly
on its merits is practically zero. # the right
prevails, 1t will be by luck or accident, not
by design or because it is right. The politi.
cal saturation will be complete. This applies,
OF course, to the Republicans as well as the
Democrats. Every policy and every program
Will be politically based. The thought of the
election just ahead will tinge almost every
speech and vote. Candor and sincerity will
pe consplcuousiy absent. The labor lobby.
the farmers lobby, the veterans lobby and
the extremely powerful Federal jobholders'
lobby will be more active and more potent
than before. The efforts for economy will
be largely synthetic; the increased taxes
II any-will avoid the voting groups. The
whole show will be tawdry and unpleasant.
IL IS pretty poor prospect, but there is
no sense IN not facing realities.
The Star man, said: You would be surprised
at the number of autograph albums we come
In contact with during year." Perhaps the
DOCKS signed by the celebrated Shake
Spearean players still are proud possessions
Of WASHINGTON families II 50 tha,, 80. -.