COMING FIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 15

COMING FIGHT

AMERICAN POLLS .>•£ FEVERISH ACTIVITY PRESIDENT'S STRENGTH DOMINANT IN PARTY By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright WASHINGTON, June » With the work of Congress this session virtually completed and the adjournment a matter of only a few days, legislators are feverishly working day and night to complete the calendar and return home to prepare for the November elections. The legislative and political situation is probably more complicated than at any time since Mr. lloosevelt assumed the Presidency. It is, from the viewpoint of all observers, Mr. Roosevelt against the field. Is the President still the most dominant figure in the national scene or is he not? That is the most important question of the hour for Americans. Mr. Roosevelt comes out of tho present session of Congress with more accomplished than his enemies predicted after the defeat of the Government reorganisation plan in April, and much less than he or his proponents hoped or expected. President's Achievements The President's achievements include the comprehensive Farm Bill, an extensive naval expansion, an important extension of housing, and large relief and "pump-priming" expenditures. Mr. Roosevelt's defeats include the tax measure with undivided profits and capital gains levies virtually expunged, and the complete reversal of the Government reorganisation plan, while his partial defeats include the Wages and Hours Bill, which is so dead-locked in conference that a compromise seriously reducing the value of the measure may be necessary in order to secure its

approval. So the question may well be asked: What is the real status of the Congressional revolt against President Roosevelt, or has there actually been a revolt ?

There has been a revolt, but- in fact Mr. Roosevelt remains the key entity in his party. He is still the unquestioned "boss." _ t The primary elections within tho Democrat Party to date do not yet indicate any important trend. The candidates he supported in Oregon and Florida were victorious.

There may yet develop indications of a movement against Mr. Roosevelt in the remainder of the primaries, and observers are not yet ready to predict the outcome of these. It is freely predicted, however, that the Democrats may lose 20 to 80 of their c 134 seats in the House of Representatives. Working Majority Forecast This would seriously reflect on Mr. Roosevelt's position, but the best opinion holds that he will retain a sufficient majority in both Houses to carry on successfully. , "Politics will not defeat Mr. Roosevelt, but an intensification of recession until November will." The foregoing seems the consensus of opinion of impartial onlookers. Washington is the scene of straw polls by several ageacies, which indicate a diminution of Mr, Roosevelt's popular strength, I** he still remains the 51 per cent chojf; of Congress. Mr. Roosevelt's chief instrumentality for combating the recession is the 3,700,000,000-dollar relief spending. If it fails it is expected the Democrat Party will bo swept out in 1940. In the meantime, an extraordinary twist has been given to relief expenditure. It is alleged that relief monoys are being spent in large amounts to support Roosevelt Congressional candidates in many States. Allegations ol Purge

It is alleged that Mr. Roosevelt is attempting to purge at least seven from the nine democratic Senators coming up for election in November, because they voted against the Supreme Court enlargement. ? The belief is that it is impossible for the Democrat - } to lose control in tho Senate at the November elections, but political realists insist that it is probably a more serious matter for Mr. Roosevelt if the Democrats in both Houses of Congress -who are against the New Deal remain or grow in numbers, than if he should lose considerable seats to the Republicans.

"HATED BY RICH" BOTH SIDES DETERMINED CONCERN AT WASHINGTON TRADE RECOVERY RETARDED WASHINGTON, June 9 An important aspect of the situation in the United States is the unabated war between business and Mr. Roosevelt..

The noted biographer, Emil Ludwig, ■whoso interesting life of Mr. Roosevelt has just been published, states significantly that the hysterical hatred of Mr. Roosevelt by business and Wall Street groups still persists. He intimates that the rich hate Mr. Roosevelt because they recall „with shamo their passionate surrender to him in 1933, when they appoaled to him to dictate and save their fortunes. This may be a hit of psychological exaggeration. The less inspired student of the American political and economic scene must content himself with the simpler observation that Mi?. Roosevelt and business both uncomprisingly maintain their determination to go their different ways. It is this which unquestionably produces the uncertainty responsible for retarding American recovery. Tina is one of the most unfortunate aspects of the country's situation. Mr. Roosevelt and business not only believe what the other does is wrong, but cannot be made to believe that the other wishes to do right. Thus, Washington observers are forced to adopt a pessimistic attitude regarding the i.mmediate economic and political future of the United States, since widespread confidence, which is considered the most vital missing factor leading to prosperity, seems impossible of attainment, while the administration and business are so bitterly estranged.