NEWS FROM WASHINGTON

The following is the first in a series of four articles written exclusively for the Crimson on conditions in Washington. Mr. Cross was born in Neversink, New York, and educated at the Ellenville High School. He received his degree from the University of Cornell Law School, where he was selected for the All-American Basketball team. He was elected six times to the New York State Assembly, and was personal secretary to President Roosevelt during his term as Governor of New York State. Recently he has been appointed Assistant Solicitor General in the Department of Justice in the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. He resides in Washington.

Washington! There is magic in the name. Borrowing from Hocker's mighty tribute to the law we may truthfully say that all the peoples of the world turn their eyes to Washington, the seat of government of the United States, "the least as feeling in her care; the greatest as not exempt from her power."

I daresay a normal American child has never been born who consciously or unconsciously has not proudly felt himself a part of the City where lives his President and his Government. To those of us constituted with natural inclinations for public service there was added the hope (secretly entertained perhaps) that some day somehow we too would find ourselves in the National Capital close to the great wheels whose motion so controls the lives of our countrymen and directs the destiny of the Nation. As one of the latter class I confess a profound sense of gratitude that the turn of fate finds me in Washington at a time when the Republic is in the midst of one of the most heroic struggles in its history.

If in these few words I can faithfully reflect some of the impressions received here at first hand for the information of Harvard men throughout the world then, I take it, the purpose of this series of articles will have been accomplished.

No one, I believe, will deny that the past few months have seen a crucial test of our Government. Not only has the metal of President Roosevelt as a Chief Executive been sorely tried but the test has gone to the very heart of our form of Government. As day by day saw our economic conditions falling lower into the depths with the untold suffering in its wake, ideas of Government alien to the principles of democracy stalked in the dark overhanging clouds and turned greedy eyes towards the Capitol and the White House.

A reflection of conditions as seen by the Congress perhaps may be had from the poignant words of a Senator on the floor of the Senate discussing the Economy Bill, officially entitled "An Act to maintain the credit of the United States," which, among other things, reduced pensions and allowances to veterans. He said, "Let no one be deceived! This is not a time of peace. We are in the midst of the most disastrous conflict that has ever cursed this continent. Measured in terms of human suffering this panic's war against us has been more asgonizing than all the military conflicts in the Nation's history. * * * Our country has long been invaded by all the minions of industrial and financial destruction and fear. At last we are at Armageddon. All the merciless forces of annihilation are arrayed for the final battle against the American people. If we lose this battle, the Government will be overwhelmed with irretrievable disaster. * * * On the eve of this decisive battle Franklin D. Roosevelt is the Nation's Commander in Chief. * * * His order is not to watch and wait; it is not to retreat; his thunderous, thrilling command is 'Forward, march.'" In the spirit of those words the Congress and the President worked shoulder to shoulder. Perhaps it would be too much to say now that the battle is already won. But undeniably the sunshine is breaking through the clouds. The unprecedented legislation enacted by the last Congress administration of which is but in the formative stage will be discussed next week.