THE ELEPHANT SLEEPS

Part of the audience is frankly scared as the second act of the Washington drama begins to take on the atmosphere of a professor's bad dream. With one man in every six on the government relief rolls, with an avowed Socialist about to become the Democratic Governor of California; with capital slowly beginning a flight out of the country, the conventional happy ending seems a bit doubtful. Of course there is still time to work around to the usual solution, but indications point to a collapse of government credit before the final curtain. In addition, the playwright has placed a broad interpretation on the laws of the drama and has placed their enforcement in unlooked for hands.

Yet none of those harried gentlemen join the ranks of the opposition, the Republican Party. Why? The answer lies in the boarded stuffed shirts who ride the elephant. Taking refuge in the Constitution, they have failed to present an effective or intelligent plan of opposition. For instance, Chairman Fletcher has not discovered anything faintly resembling a program, while at the same time he assails the administration for aimless wandering. None of his aides of the grandfather vintage, such as Mr. Ames in Maine, have faced issues squarely, not to speak of presenting them humanly. No wonder the party has been unable to raise money or supporters, and has so far shored a dismal failure.

In its present condition of squabbling decadence no intelligent young man wishes to join it even if he feels that the new deal violates principles for which he stands. The party must do three things. It must throw overboard the mass of deadwood is the G.O.P. It must face the new deal, not only admitting what is good in this deal but explaining why the wrong is wrong. Most important, it must bring home in simple words the evils of the system to the country. As Brisbane has said, no politician should speak in terms of more than $87.

This would place vigor in the ranks of the opposition. A definite program is more difficult to suggest, for when a man is taking drugs, the first thing is to break him of the habit. It also demands a leader which so far has seemed impossible. The best that the Republican Party can do today is to keep its form of organization and act with intelligence. However, if it retains its present characteristics, it must justly give way to a third party which will represent the vigorous opposition of youth and intelligence.