EDITOR'S NOTE—When opinions are
expressed in these columns, they are those
of the news analyst, and not necessarily
of the newspaper.
Defense.
In dealing with today’s interna-
tional situation the U. S. govern-
ment has its choice of two methods.
Any citizen may hold to one or the
other method with equal righteous-
ness:
(1) Strict neutrality and isolation.
Europe's affairs are no business of
ours. We should have no arms se-
crets, no secret alliances; all U. S.
activities should be strictly above-
board because secrets are undemo-
cratic and tend to create public
doubt about the government.
(2) The antithesis. In 1939 one
hemisphere’'s problems are anoth-
er's. If the institution of democracy
is worth saving we must join otfier
nations in aggressive combat
against dictators. his need not
mean war, but constitutes economic
and military favoritism to one group
of nations, with sanctions against
others.
In post-World war history, not un-
til the current winter have these
two contrasting foreign policies
found such ardent champions as to
cause a marked rift in Washington.
Champions of the latter (favoritism)
are President Roosevelt and admin-
istration leaders. Opposed is prac-
tically every Republican senator
and congressman, plus a formidable
bloc of insurgent Democrats. That
this difference of opinion is partly a
reflection of political animosity is a
foregone conclusion. Administration
forces favor internationalism as ex-
pressed in Secretary of State Cor-
dell Hull's reciprocal trade treaties;
contrariwise is the traditional Re-
publican tenet of high tariff walls
and the isolation that inevitably ac-
companies them.
This winter's foreign policy bat-
tle got its real start when a bomb-
ing plane crashed in California,
bouncing out a representative of the
French air ministry whose presence
in the U. S. had previously been kept
secret. The subsequent revelations:
That President Roosevelt had ap-
proved sale of U. S.-made warplanes
to France, though army secrets
were being carefully guarded from
all foreigners. A few days later the
senate’s military affairs committee
constituted itself a body of visiting
firemen (see photo) to call on the
President and get the real facts
about a rumored U. S.-French mili-
tary alliance.
The secret President Roosevelt re-
putedly told his visitors was so
choice that some anonymous com-
mitteeman blurted to the press the
minute the conference ended, which
bespeaks the futility of any admin-
istration attempt at sharing its mil-
itary secrets with congress. The
alleged secret: That the U. S. is
following a policy of selling arms to
“independent states’ as opposed to
dictators; that the U. 8S. will give
Britain and France every assistance
but troops in case of war; that the
“frontiers of the United States are
in France.”
If a vote were taken, most people
would sympathize with the Presi-
dent’s foreign policy, i.e., to help
Britain, France and China against
Japan, Italy and Germany; to im-
prove trade and political relations
with South America, where dictator
states are attempting to gain sway.
But for the President to speak open-
ly of his purpose brings the situa-
tion into a shockingly sharp focus
for the first time.
The net result will probably be
open congressional revolt against se-
cret alliances, against favoritism in
military exports and even against
the President's emergency defense
program, which many legislators
think is unjustified in view of the
tax burden it would create. Tossed
in along with other subjects of re-
*Front row, left to right: Illinois’ J. Hamil.
ton Lewis, North Carolina's Robert R. Rey-
nolds, Oklahoma's Josh Lee, New Hamp-
shire's H. Styles Bridges, Vermont's War-
ren R. Austin, South Dakota's Chandler
Gurney, Texas’ Morris S rd (commit.
tee chairman), Colorado's win C. John
son, Utah's Elbert D. Thomas. Back row,
left to right: Minnesota's Ernest Lundeen,
Oregon's Rufus C. Holman, North Dakota's
Gerald P. Nye, Missouri's Bennett Champ
Clark, Alabama's Indiana
Sherman Minton
and Wyoming's H. H.
sentment will be a broadside against
the treasury’'s highly-secret stabi-
lization fund, which congress fears
is being used to further monetary
agreements with Britain and |
France.
In the end a cumbersome, loud-
voiced and highly opinionated con-
gress may find itself incapable of
taking a constructive hand in for-
eign policy. Though rightfully in-
dignant over a Pan-Democracy al-
liance because future Anglo-French
friendship is problematical, Massa-
chusetts’ Sen. David 1. Walsh
summed up the entire exasperating
situation quite well: “In God's
name, who are we (the U. 8.) to
determine where truth and justice
exist? When we attempt it, we will
find ourselves in trouble.”
Treasury
Depressions hatch pension plans
and this winter's congress is del-
uged with panaceas to make the
U. S. safe for old people. Believing
most such plans (like Townsendism)
to be impractical, the administra-
tion has offered congress its own
ideas via proposed amendments to
the social security law.
Biggest amendment is that call-
ing for a start on old-age benefit
payments in 1940 instead of 1942,
annuities to be based not on pay-
roll taxes actually paid out on wage
rates. Hence the social security
Europe
After a nation wins so many vic-
tories as Nazi Germany has won in
the past 12 months (Austria, Czecho-
slovakia, Spain) it can practicably
adopt a ‘peace’ policy and continue
to win concessions from weaker
powers, who thereby gain the privi-
lege of sighing with relief. In Ger-
many's case a ‘‘peace’’ policy is the
more practicable because the Reich
must consolidate the past year's
gains and pay temporary attention
to repairing its internal structure.
How permanent Europe's “peace”
will be is conjectural. But follow-
ing Chancellor Hitler's half-threat-
ening, half-conciliating speech be-
fore the Reichstag, most of the con-
tinent was able to settle back while
the wiseacres drew a prediction
from the hat. The prediction: That
a peace era is dawning with Hitler
at the reins, during which Italy will
win territorial concessions from
France, and Germany will regain
her war-lost colonies. Moreover the
Reich will probably wheedle a trade
treaty out of Britain and—most dan-
gerous of all to permanent peace—
a milftary-economic peace with Rus-
sia. Point-by-point:
Russia. Thoroughly scared by the
chance that Germany will dominate
a Pan-Ukrainian movement in south
Russia, the Soviet is ready to come
to terms with Hitler. In exchafige
for surrendering his Ukrainian plans
Der Fuehrer could tap Russia's end-
less supply of foodstuffs. The pos-
sibility is confirmed by Izvestia,
Moscow Communist organ: ‘Should
Germany extend a hand to Russia,
it will not remain floating in the
air.” The gravest consequences
might result from such an alliance,
for Russian resources and manpow-
er, coupled with German ingenuity,
could throw a dictator scare into
the entire world.
Colonies. Most of Germany's for-
mer colonies are mandated to Brit-
ain. Hitler's speech demanded their
return and the next day Prime Min-
ister Neville Chamberlain told the
house of commons he would not
Chamberlain is nevertheless willin
to return the colonies, and since
the Reich's conquest is already al-
most complete Hitler should have
no objection to a temporary arms
reduction.
Trade. Hitler's speech declared
the Reich ‘“‘must export or die.”
Next day Robert Spear Hudson of
the British overseas trade depart-
ment said he believed “there is
plenty of export trade to go around.”
More important was the announce-
rent that German and British in-
dustrial representatives will soon
meet at Duesseldorf to consider
“mutual trade and economic prob-
lems.”
Italy vs. France. Hitler prom-
ised to aid Italy in case of war, ob-
ing an amicable stage, Britain
would therefore not be prone to aid
France against a German-Italian
combination. Hence it can be pre-
Ababa rail-
road.
Trend. Having boxed its way into
ninant European
the Reich is now ready to
of dor
TREASURY'S MORGENTHAU
Social security is costly,
board would simply make believe
that benefit recipients had been pay-
ing taxes throughout their adult
lives instead of a mere four
years. Other proposals would (1)
provide supplementary pensions for
aged wives, (2) help widows and
orphans of social security's in-
surees, and (3) enlarge the pro-
gram to include farm laborers, sea-
men, servants, domestics and self-
employers.
Starting hearings on this pro-
gram, the house ways and means
committee was startled to learn
that more social security would cost
tremendously more money, so much
in fact, that Secretary of the Treas-
ury Henry Morgenthau Jr. was re-
ported stroking his chin perplexed-
ly. Morgenthau figures:
(1) It would cost $1,000,000,000 a
year more than at present.
(2) Social security's hoped - for
1980 reserve of $47,000,000,000 would
be cut to $7,000,000,000, meaning
that the U. 8S. must* find from
$1,250,000,000 to $1,500,000,000 new
annual taxes to continue financing
the program.
If the above details bother the
committee, still more trouble will
hatch when California’s Rep. Ber-
trand W. Gearhart asks abolition of
the present payroll tax and substitu-
tion of general revenue levies for #
pay-as-you-go social security. Since
the government must already levy
extra taxes to pay interest on funds
it is borrowing from social se-
curity’s reserve fund, Mr. Gear-
bart's plan has attracted many
congressmen who think it is falla-
cious to tax the public for borrowing
funds the public has already been
taxed for via social security. If
the Gearhart plan is adopted, gen-
eral revenue taxes must be hiked
$1,000,000,000 a year at present (un-
der the unamended social security
act), twice as much in 1950, four
times as much in 1980,
Created in 1933, the public works
administration pays 55 per cent of
local-sponsored construction proj-
ects. Scheduled to expire in 1940,
ects on file and would like to become
a permanent agency to combat un-
employment and centralize federal
relief projects. Soon to be offered is
an administration bill embodying
this program. No special annual
appropriation will be asked but con-
gress will get data to show the ne-
cessity of creating a ‘‘permanent
financial reservoir’ of $1,000,000,-
Transportation
With fairs on both east and west
coasts this summer, U. S. railroads
figured most vacationists would take
in one or the other, might-even take
in both with a little incentive. Just
announced by the Association of
American Railroads is a ‘grand cir-
cle” fare plan which bids fair to
boom 1839 passenger travel. The
scheme: Beginning April 28, a per-
son in any point in the country can
travel to both New York and San
Francisco expositions and back
home at a total coach fare of $90.
First class fare is $135, plus space
charges.
Trend
How the wind is blowing . . .
TEMPTATION—To lure 4,000
hunger strikers “back home”
from’ their protest against corn
beef hash, California's San Quen-
tin prison set out coffee—with
cream and sugar.
REFUGEES-—New York's Rep.
Samuel Dickstein is drafting leg-
islation to open Alaska to Euro-
pean refugees, a move recently
suggested by German Jew-bait-
ers,
MANGANESE-—The price of
Arkansas manganese, ‘starch
for steel,” has reached its high-
est point in years, thanks to Eu-
ropean rearmament,
DRILL’ right” is be-
ing omitted tentatively from new
U. 8. army drill regulations.
WASHINGTON .—President Roose-
velt’s followers in the senate of the
United States are finding it increas-
ingly difficult these days to stay off
of a hot seat. Indeed, if I read the
signs rightly, they are getting rath-
er restive and there is a genuine
strain being placed upon the ad-
ministration control in that body of
congress. Whereas, it appeared a
month ago that the anti-administra-
tion senators would break out of
control only on major issues, it
now seems that there is a real
threat of danger to the President on
minor, as well as major, questions.
The new developments have come,
and are continuing to come, from
what some believe to be an unwise
course on the President's part in
the matter of nominations to public
office—appointments that must have
approval of the senate. Whether the
President is to blame, personally,
for placing these distasteful names
in the mouths of or wheth-
er, as heretofore, the condition re-
sults from the activities of the “‘in-
ner circle,” the effect is the same,
It is a very real problem for the
administration advisors ponder,
and it is entirely possible that Mr.
Roosevelt will get a slap in the face
by senate rejection of some of the
nominees for judgeships and other
public offices. It is just poss
. ot o
Senalors,
to
lowing several of the
that happens, what will be left Mr.
Roosevelt's mastery of the
thereafter will be meaningless.
Observers here in
heard many private remarks of a
very uncomplimentary character
last fall when Mr. Roosevelt named
Gov, James V. Allred of Texas to a
federal judgeship. It was so plainly
political that some individuals who
are very close to Mr. Roosevelt were
disgusted. They did not speak out
then, but they are bolder now.
Shortly thereafter, Mr. Roosevelt
named Floyd Roberts to a federal
judgeship in Virginia. Now, appar-
ently, Mr. Roberts is about as well
equipped to be a judge as I would
be—if we are to believe the public
statements of Senators Carter Glass
and Harry Byrd, both Democrats
and both acquainted with the life
and record of Judge Roberts.
Roper Virtually Forced Out
As Secretary of Commerce
Subsequently, Daniel C.
was virtually forced out
tary of
room
Washington
for removal of Professional
job. Hopkins thereby was
of the line of red hot fire
his spending policies Homer 8.
Cummings quit as attorney general
and Frank Murphy, Mict
lame duck governor, was given the
post.
primaries was named to the direc-
torate of the Tennessee Valley au.
thority from which Dr. Arthur Mor-
gan was so unceremoniously dis-
missed. Rumor has it that former
Sen. Fred H. Brown, lame duck
New Hampshire Democrat, is to be
given the juicy job of comptroller
general of the United States as soon
as it is evident that congress will
not vote abolition of the general ac-
counting office.
Rep. T. Alan
lumbia. It will be recalled that it
was Mr, Goldsborough who invited
In fact, it was at
Denton, Md., Mr. Goldsborough's
home town, that the President made
his most vicious attack on Tydings
and delivered his eulogy of praise
for David J. Lewis in the senatorial
primaries.
There have been other appoint.
ments mixed in here and there,
some important, some just run-of-
the-mine jobs, and they have not
met unanimity. Even the selection
of Professor Felix Frankfurter as a
justice of the Supreme court of the
United States did not arouse en-
thusiasm among the senators who
voted approval of the nomination.
I, personally, heard several sena-
tors remark that the Frankfurter
appointment was s0 much better
than that of Hugo Black, a year
ago, that it was refreshing to vote
for him, Yet, they added a qualifi-
cation. Justice Frankfurter has
brains, a fine mind—but he is looked
upon as the father of so much of the
New Deal that his presence on the
highest court appeared none too
pleasing.
Nomination of Amlie of
Wisconsin Creates Fuss
But all of these appointments now
seem to have been only a build up
to a climax. They were to be fol-
lowed by an appointment that
caught the senators in the ribs. It
was the nomination of former Rep.
Thomas F. Amlie, Wisconsin pro-
gressive and also a lame duck, to be
a member of the interstate com-
merce commission, That nomina-
tion went to the senate without even
the great progressive, Senator La-
Follette, knowing about it, and there
are those in the senate who believe
that Senator LaFollette would have
advised against it, had he been
consulted,
There is a very real possibility—
although not conclusive—that the
senate will reject the Amlie appoint-
ment, The pressure against him is
quite unusual. Even the legislature
of his home state adopted a resolu-
tion, memoralizing the senate in op-
position to confirmation,
Whatever virtues Mr. Amlie may
have, his qualifications to be a mem-
ber of the interstate commerce com-
mission cannot be numbered in that
list. He knows nothing about trans-
portation; he is not an economist,
and if his record as a member of
the house of representatives here
is a proper criterion, he is as lack-
ing in judicial characteristics—well,
] does not have them. His
guished
headed a con-
3
simply
work in
by the fact that he
glomerate group which was at-
tempting to ‘co-ordinate liberal
thought’ in the nation. But appar-
in Wisconsin rather
ne
doomed
November election
Appointments Upsetting to
Followers of President
One never can tell what trades
may be made within the great club
known as the senate, but surely Mr.
Amlie will be discussed fully befo
he is confirmed. And as 1 sai
above, he may not be approved a
all. The app may be th
straw that breaks the camel's back.
When Mr. Roosevelt began mak-
ing appointments three or four
months ago that were up to
some of his followers,
pointment
decide between their loyalty
and their convictions
them stood by hi
head of the Democr:
unity was, and , ai
justified the votes in confirma-
yarious ways. The Hopkins
ointments were con-
always has been
senators that
oh .
hey
4 3
von I
and Murphy ¢
cab-
associations
is entitled,
m he desires
5€8-
he
: Was an
accept Murphy,
ise it was known he want-
ed to crush the sit-down strikes at
was confronted
with White House refusal of sup-
port. There were fewer votes
against him for that reason than
against Secretary Hopkins. On the
other hand, Senator Vandenberg, the
Michigan Republican, said he voted
against the nomination because ‘‘the
issues were the same as in Michi-
gan's election last fall when Mr.
Murphy was repudiated.”
When it gets to cases like the All-
red appointment for Texas judge
and the Roberts appointment in Vir- |
ginia, there simply is no explana-
tion available—unless as I said, the
“inner circle" is leading Mr. Roose-
Senators Glass
and Byrd are going to fight the Rob-
Senators Sheppard
and Connally were not consulted
about the judgeship in their state.
As far as it has leaked out, nobody |
was asked whether the Amlie ap- |
pointment would arouse enthusiasm |
or hatred.
Congress Shows Disposition
To Assert Independence
The proposition thus settles down
to only one possible answer. Since
the last election removed the rub-
ber stamp from the hands of the
New Dealers and the congress has
shown a disposition to assert its in-
dependence of the unelected “inner
circle,” they are resorting to a new
strategy. They can not always con-
trol congress but they have access
to the appointive power vested in
the hands of the President. They
have this because they have the
President's ear and they take pains
to see that none of the practical pol-
iticians, like Vice President Garner,
or Sen. Pat Harrison, or Speaker
Bankhead, wield any influence.
The strategy may work. It may
put into numerous governmental
posts and judicial positions men who
will continue to execute New Deal
plans. That, of course, is a brilliant
move if it works. There is, how-
ever, more to think about than that.
The trend toward the middle of the
road, emphasized in last fall's vot-
ing, can be given greater momen-
tum by the tactics of forcing upon
the country policies against which
electorate expressed themselves.
that event, the Democratic party
be the victim,
< Newspaper Union,
» cabinet
im when
to
Ww Mr.
i
CLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT
PHOTOGRAPHY
ANY EIGHT NEGATIVE KODAK ROLL
Finished in double sized prints, Send 2%e,
HOLLYWOOD £11 Dio
Owensbore - - - . a
Kentucky
POULTRY
BRED FOR FRODUCTION:
RAISED FOR PROFIT:
BOLD BY QUALITY
MILFORD HATCHERY
Pikesville FP. 0, . Hockdale
Ducks
Chicks
Turkeys
(Sar ETY TALKS )
Rural Traffic Accidents Increase
Traffic
districts are mounting b;
and bounds. Since 1824,
tional Safety council says
VIC:
vehicle
in the rural
ieaps
J
iNd~
widente
accicents
notor
assed
10,000
but 30
fatalities
172 per cent. In
population they
per cent.
Of course, the council points ¢
a large part of this
be the result of
rural travel. But most
thorities believe, however, that
the favorable city ord
can be traced to the more effec-
tive traffic c« in
municipalities
In 1937, the |}
BC
cities under 10.[(
27,400
were
cities ove
went up
t
it,
may
h-increased
increase
mu
mu
traffic
Wie au-
more rec
measures
idents
12 1
d&, AN
Tale of Two Brothers
“Luden’s, like hot lem-
onade, contain a factor
that helps contribute to
your alkaline reserve.”
ARTHUR BARTELS,
Athletic Divector, New York
LUDEN’S
MENTHOL COUGH DROPS 5¢
Vital Partisans
Moderators of of 3 are often
useful but the glory or the shame
belong to partisans.—Harper.
GAS SO BAD
CROWDS HEART
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#omach 80 bad I was just miserable. Sone)
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The first dose worked lke magic. Adleriks
removed the gas and waste matter and my
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If gas in your stomach and bowels blosts
I up until you gasp for bresth, take a
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stomach GAS is relieved almost st onos,
Adierika often moves the bowels in loss than
two hours, Adierika is BOTH carminative
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the stomach and expel GAS, eathartios to
clear the bowels and relieve intestinal nerve
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In Due Time
Everything comes if a man will
only wait.—Benjamin Disraeli.
due to Colds
, TABLETS
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WNU-—4
Without Progress
Leisure without books is death,
burial alive.—Seneca.
8-39
Watch Your
SLA