The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1963-04-25
Washington
News Notes

WASHINGTON. DC. - Politi-
clans are already Diminishing this
years congressional show an d
turning their attention TO next
year, when thereH be . presi-
DENTAL election and cOngression-
al elections And 1e64s election
day is only eighteen months
ahead.
The belief on Capitol Hill is
thst the Republicans are sure
70 gain seats in the U. s. Sen
ate. Both Democrats and Repub-
Iicans expect 70 gain seats in
the House, and both parties
claim optimism concerning the
presidential race, though Presi-
dent John Kennedy Is an Obvi-
Gus fsvorite, and the Democrats
are genuinely optimistic.
There Is a new push behind
Senator Barry Goldwater of Ari-
IONA al present though some feel
the leading conservative cannot
head off the nomination favor
lite, Governor Nelson ROekefell-
er. whatever happens.
Democrats would prefer TO run
against someone other than
Rockefeller and the liberal Dem
ocrats Of the eastern areas would
Like to see GoldWater the COP.
presidential candidate. Conserv-
alive Democrats and those who
represent conservative states
tremble at the thought
The Kennedy encourage at
the White House is supremely
confident. The private and pub
lie polls show that Mr.. Kennedy
is highly popular with a fat ma
jority of the nations voters. But,
of course, these samplings are
as of now. No one knows what
will transpire in the next year
and a half.
Republican hopes center around
a fiscal and economic m ),
which they think Mr. Kennedy
and his Administration is now
making. and upon Cuba, where
they think the President has
worked himself into a box. with
help from his State Depart. Re
publican hopes will also increase
If the economy does not perk
up.
Democrats including Presi-
dent Kennedy have reflected
their realization Of the economic
danger and every Administra-
tive effort is being made 10 bring
about tax cuts and economic
growth. The stock market seems
10 reflect an opinion that the re-
suit will be inflationary years.
This conclusion was reinfOrc-
ed in the recent game between
Big Steel and the White House
One of the nations steel compan-
les, wheeling, announced a steel
price increase, in what amount
ed TO a challenge TO Mr.. Kenne-
dy-the announcement coming
exactly one year after steelS ca
pitulation TO the PresideCt in
1862.
The President played a game
Of nerves with steel. finally is
suing a statement which was in
terpreted as giving the gO-ahead
to price increases - selected"
increases. This means price in
creases will be forthcoming and
II means initiation, inevitable in.
flstion, even though it may not
be Immediately felt.
And on this news the stock
market rose, which was tanta-
mount to an expression of in
flationary sentiment on Wall
Street.
The economic problem facing
the country has not yet been
solved by the President and the
economy Is not yet moving
again, as Kennedy had hoped.
But initiation and rising prices
and heavy spending might avoid
q recession and might result in
some progress in the fight to re-
duce unemployment and eco
nomic stagnation.
The Presidents persistent and
ironic headache these days is
Cuba, where he Won such a not
able victory in October, 1862,
and there are some who think
this issue will nag and hound
him down 70 election day.
The recent announcement that
Washington was cooperating
with Britain to scuttle the reb-
els. no matter how much justi-
fled by international tradition
and concepts, was not a popular
one and may have been a politi-
cal mistake. In fact, the Cuban
problem may give the Republi-
cans their most promising tar
get in the next eighteen months,
largely because of the Presi-
dents undenied responsibility in
the 1861 Bay of Pigs fiasco.
And there is no way out into
the clear for the Administration,
yet visible. as Republicans begin