The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1962-01-05

session does not give nope Tor any
thing significant to be accomplished
in the coming year.
The reason for this state of affairs
could be that the Presidents political
staff and possibly the President him
self-are overly-impressed with the
clamor of the rightists. While the
White House publicists wish to pic
ture the Administration as "moder-
ate'', there is danger they will in
stead leave an impression of empti-
ness.
What they seem to have forgotten
is that they won the close 1860 cleo
ton by talking and acting like liberal
Democrats, not like conservative Re-
publicans.
What are the areas of retreat?
Federal Aid To Public Schools
The Administration, under inept gen.
eralship of HEW Secretary Ribicoff,
flunked the school test at the last
session. There has been finger-point-
ing by Mr.. Ribicoff at the school
teachers. There has also been private
criticism, from some Quarters, of
Cardinal Spellman.
Yet the fact is that the President
has not taken the school fight to the
people even though the needs he de-
scribed in the 1860 campaign remain
unfulfilled. There have also been sug-
gestions that the religious" issue
should be met by a constitutional
amendment, rather than deferring ac-
ton now for the public schools. The
Administration did not act ION the
suggestion. Instead it seems to have
run for cover in hopes that the school
storm will pass. ~. ~
Determination in Housing-The
big argument for postponing congress
sional moves for stronger federal civil
rights legislation has been that the
President would handle this problem
by executive action. But on the first
big test, ending racial restrictions in
federally-supported housing, the Adj
apparently has decided
to put off executive action indefinite
ly. lest some Dixie delegates are of
Tended. The new argument: "Their
votes are needed for more important
things"
Not surprisingly this has brought
taunts of "expediency' from those
Right-of- Center and has caused moan
ing among those Left-of-Center.
Medical Aid for the Aged-The
"word'' is that the Administration
really will fight for a medical care
But there has been little
public preparation, such as lining up
the liberal and labor support that
will be needed to offset the onslaughts
Of the American Medical Association.
This has given rise to reports that
compromise possibly on the So
,ial security provisions of the pro-
posed legislation-is already in the
works. afif,f
Can the ANA, the Dixiecrats, or
he opponents of federal aid to pub
ic schools be appeased? I wonder.
Where personalities are con-
cerned there has also been over
concern with the agitation from the
Right. When all is said and done
that is why Chester Bowles was
shifted from the State Department.;
it was an attempt to silence right
wing criticism.
The decision to 'go along'' with
John Mccormack of
'oston as new Speaker is further
violence of trying to please the Right.
fcCormack is the choice of strange
ombination of Southern Bourbons
nd Big City Bosses. This combina-
ion of Democrats is not usually to be
ound in the forefront of the fight
or liberal social legislation.
1t is possible, of course, for the
resident to reassess. the situation
efore his State of the Union mes
age and other messages go to Con-
ress. But there is an increasing ten
ency in Washington to refer to- this
S "the third Eisenhower Administra-
on. A little less time, spent listen
lg to the thunder on the Right and
little more time providing legislative
could alter the situation
n The New Frontier, aliH'l