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Show WASHINGTON DIGEST": WULIAM BRUCKART NATIONAL PRE55 BLDG. WAbmr. Washington. The dictionary says the word confusion means mixed Indiscriminately; Confusion disordered, de-Is de-Is the Word ranged; per-plexed; per-plexed; bewl 1-dered, 1-dered, or disconcerted. There probably Is no better word to describe the situation In Washington Wash-ington over tlie past three weeks than the word confusion. If one keeps an eye half open, one cannot can-not help seeing all of the things mentioned in the dictionary definition defini-tion of the word. There might be an addition. If I were to expand the definition and make It just a little more applicable to the circumstances cir-cumstances in the national Capital, I would add "running around in circles." The reconvening of congress always al-ways Is a signal for commotion, and confusion and taut nerves. The opening sessions, nevertheless, usually usu-ally have been mild for a few days. The climax was reached by a gradual grad-ual building up of excitement to the moment of the annual'message of the President on the state of the Union. This time, however, the climax cli-max came quickly and Instead of a subsidence, as we usually have seen, the crest of the wave of excitement ex-citement continued. If this Is a barometric bar-ometric prediction of what we may see In the forthcoming political campaign, there will be, Indeed, a battle. That the picture of Washington confusion may be pieced together, let us review in briefest form some of the. things that happened: Congress reconvenes at noon on a Friday orders go from the White House to the Capitol that the President Pres-ident desires to deliver his annual speech on the state of the Union Immediately arrangements are made promptly for a night session (the second of Its kind In history) President Roosevelt delivers a masterful mas-terful discourse on international affairs, af-fairs, virtually naming names of autocratic au-tocratic rulers throughout the world and demanding that they cease arbitrary ar-bitrary programs leading to war, and follows that with a plain political po-litical speech regarding domestic affairs, challenging New Deal opponents op-ponents to undo what the New Deal administration had done Republican Republi-can National Chairman Fletcher bltingly attacks the political phases of the Roosevelt speech on the state of the Union and demands that radio broadcasting companies give New Deal opponents the same time and the same stations for broadcasting a political answer broadcasting company replies show a desire to be fair with radio time and toss back to Mr. Fletcher the difficult task of selecting individuals individu-als to answer Mr. Roosevelt. The Supreme court In a momentous momen-tous decision Invalidates the Agri- cultural A d -Rail at justment act, Supreme Court ke.v measure of New Deal reform Mr. Roosevelt declines comment on this decision but New Deal spokesmen otherwise settle down around the ears of the nine justices with vitriolic comment New Deal critics of the court and the institution move swiftly to revise re-vise the Constitution to fit New Deal theories and to curb the power pow-er of the judiciary, preventing It from interfering in their determination determina-tion to remake America Agriculture Agricul-ture Secretary Wallace and Agricultural Agri-cultural Administrator Davis call farm leaders to consider ways and means for reviving or superseding the "gentle rain of checks" that was AAA the annual budget of estimates es-timates for expenditures from July 1, 193G,' to June 30, 1937, carrying $6,752,G06,000, Is sent to congress-relief congress-relief appropriations are omitted ; result, no one can tell yet how large the next year's expenditures will be house and senate agriculture agricul-ture leaders scurry hither and yon, hold conferences, discuss political repercussions from tlie Invalidation of AAA and get nowhere very rapidly. rap-idly. Wheelhorses of the Democratic party rush through plans for and hold the annual At S50 Jackson day din-Per din-Per Plate ner on the anniversary anni-versary of the battle of New Orleans. Word leaks out that Postmaster General Farley, Far-ley, who is also chairman of the Democratic National committee and chairman of the New York State Democratic committee, has fixed a price of fifty dollars per plate to those Joining In the No. Jackson day dinner at which the President spoke the American Liberty Lib-erty league charges Mr. Farley j with violating tlie corrupt practices act which says In effect that no I government official may solicit or cause to be solicited funds from ; government jobholders the answer of the Democratic National commlt-' commlt-' tee Is that Mr. Farley has no part in ticket sales Liberty league otli-1 otli-1 cials cite the committee's own press statement quoting Mr. Farley's enn-j enn-j versation with -IS state presidents of Young Democrat clubs that they I should charge enough per plate to help defray the deficit of the Democratic Dem-ocratic National committee besides the cost of their dinners In the various va-rious sections of the country Democratic Dem-ocratic National committee meets and selects Philadelphia as the site of the Democratic National convention, conven-tion, fixing June 23 as the date after Philadelphia, with a certified check of $200,000, outbids all others oth-ers to be host Republican Chair-, man Fletcher issues denial that the Republican National committee had anything to do with the use of stamp stickers ridiculing the New Deal. Lobbyists for the ex-service men reach an agreement on the type of legislation for immediate cash payment pay-ment of the bonus and the legislation legisla-tion passes the house Senator Nye and his publicity seeking Senate Sen-ate Munitions Investigating committee com-mittee take the partners .of the house of Morgan over the grill In an attempt to show that this great financial Institution led the 'United States into the World war Morgan's Mor-gan's answer links officials of President Pres-ident Wilson's administration with the development of sentiment fa-' vorable to American participation on the side of the Allies Senator Nye gains much publicity for himself him-self and the' neutrality bill- which he sponsors in the senater-many new representatives of business arrive ar-rive in Washington, open offices, prepare to fight against further New Deal encroachment upon private pri-vate business. At the outset-or this, discussion. I suggested that if events of the last several Looks Like weeks form a Rough Battle proper criterion, the political campaign cam-paign that Is now. under way Is going go-ing to be rough. I base that prediction pre-diction upon the view taken of it by Postmaster General Farley, the king-pin Democratic politician and the reactions that have come editorially edi-torially and In news columns to the President's Jackson day dinner speech and tlie political phases of his message on the state of the Union. Mr. Farley made no bones about the prospect. He foresees all kinds of mud slinging, misrepresentation misrepresen-tation and personal attacks. Aside from his statesmanlike discussion dis-cussion of International problems, Mr. Roosevelt's message to congress con-gress descended to tlie point where he was definitely cataloging all opposition op-position to tlie New Deal as "greedy and selfish" men and women. Every Ev-ery one of them. In the President's opinion, has a personal ax of avarice ava-rice to grind. Whether his conclusions are right or wrong is not in question here. The point is that since Mr. Roosevelt Roose-velt has opened the fire in that manner, he can naturally expect the same type of fire to be returned. re-turned. In- the language, of the twelve-year-old ruffian: "He asked for it." There .was another striking strik-ing tiling about tlie Roosevelt speeches to congress and to the Jackson day diners. For the first time since he has occupied the White House, he gave every evidence evi-dence of being nettled and nervous. He spoke in a voice that appeared to be tired; there was lacking that buoyancy, that smile, .when- he spoke that used to characterize his expressions. Referring again to the two speeches, I have heard any number . . of observers com- Laying ment, first, on His Lines his almost tearful tear-ful appeal at tlie conclusion of his speech to congress, con-gress, and secondly, to his thinly veiled comparison between himself and President Jackson when he spoke to tlie Jackson day diners. I am not making any predictions as to where this trend will lead. It is important to note, however, that it is an old political trick to Impugn Im-pugn the motives of the opposition. Such was tlie mood into which former for-mer President Herbert Hoover fell when In 1931 it became apparent tliat his political life was on the skids and slipping fast When he was "on his way out" Mr. Hoover became so picayunish that even his own associates found it difficult to do the things he wanted done In the way he desired. This condition continued to develop until he began be-gan to complain personally about the "hair shirts" that he had to wear. The "hair' shirts" Incident probably was the best tip-off to the sinking feeling that had begun to permeate Mr. Hoover's outlook at that time. The rest is history. As to the course which Mr. Roosevelt Roose-velt Is following in Impugning tlie mot.ves of his opposition, one can hardly take objection because It has been done so often and for the further reason that neither Mr Roosevelt nor Mr. Farley is a ,v lltical novice. I believe that Wash-lngton Wash-lngton observers generally cvo each of these men credit for belli-thoroughly belli-thoroughly versed In politics and since Mr. Roosevelt Is -dimly 0OI1. seious that a campaign Is under w ay and an election Is scheduled " he naturally Ia lnyl.,K ilia Hues. 4l WuHtai-n New,ml)nr Union. |