Grass Roots Grassfire

For a decade in which Washington held the spotlight, the U.S. paid little attention to its State legislatures. But last fall’s election, which shook Washington, filled State Capitols with grassroots, State’s-rights men, up in arms against Government-by-directive.

Last week U.S. legislatures, sitting in 34 states, were mainly taking action against the Government. Nine of them had passed or were considering anti-labor bills. As legislatures they are not antilabor; but they feel the Administration is too much prolabor.

They also struck directly at the President. Illinois and Iowa legislatures adopted resolutions recording their opposition to more than two terms for any President, and implying that Mr. Roosevelt had already served one too many terms.

A political grassfire had been ignited that might spread far beyond the Midwest prairies. If it continued to spread, it could put a serious crimp in the Fourth-Term boom.