The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-14

Washington, May i4--Ali dur. ing this session of congress 1t has been as plain as the Wash- ington monument that Roosc- velt's chief trouble was with his own party on Capitol Hill. Time after time 1t has been the old. line democrats who. united with tory republicans to knife admin istratIon measures.
 Some Of these old-line democrats dislike Roosevelt only n few degrees less than they hated Hoover, but never dare say so.
 Now they are extremely happy. They think they have Roosevelt and his brain trust on the run.
 It happend this way.
 HAPPY CHOICE
 Last August, Roosevelt ap- pointed Willard l.. Thorp ag director of the bureau of for- cIgn and domestic commerce Thorp was professor of cconom- les nt Amherst college, young, brilliant, author Of several not- able economic studies. The ap- polntment was widely acclaimed.
 Despite this, confirmation was held up in the senate commerce committee. For months it rec mnIned there, until 1t became one of the mysteries Of Wash ington.
 No one knew tie exact reason for the opposition. Some said it wns because TliOrp had been rude tO democrats IR thc cOm- mcrcc department, aD accusis. iIon true of mnny bpaIn trnstcrs --bccausc of their classroom trnIniDg--but still nO real req. son for blocking A good man. OUT AT LAST
 Finally it leaked out that dour Senator Stephens wns the stumbling block. stephens comes from MiBsissippi, faces n hard reelection fight, is considered IL moss back in the senate and got the commerce committee chairmnnship through the pure luck Of seniority. Stephens claimed that Thorp was Il repub- lIcnn, hnd registered as such in a local election.
 Because Of thls hclnous of- fenso, Stephens, the senator from MIBslgslppi, roB0rted to every possible strategy to block the appointment. When other com mIttec members proposed Bub- committee to investigate, he ap- pointed himself chairman of the sub committee. When rcpub- llenn members of the sub committee champiOned ThOrp, Stephens rushed iO tbe White IIouse 10 urge withdrawal of hls name.
 Instead. the president gent tho committee Il letter urging np. prOval of the appointment. PARITY ISSUE
 Fly this time. it had become n definite party issue, nil tho dem OCrpts on the committee lining llp against Th0rp, nil the rcpub- lirnns for him. Again Stephens hc urged Thorp's withdra wal, IlIb lITnt UU NUU UubIb VI ONtTS whoImIng democratic opposition in committee.
 If the namo ever had reached the senate floor, tho opposition would have eyaDoratcd. But des- plto this, I.ooBeyelt got cold feet He withdrew Thorp's name.
 Many foes nDd some friends of tho president think hiB siir- ronder hns m important triple significance.
 |. If ltooseycjt wil. bhck down on n man who has served nine months nnd served bril- linntly, he will yield on other things.
 2. Future nppointoos will be 0ut.nnd-Ont democrats; no more IckeB, W00dins and Wal lnccs.
 |. Tho brain trust. once BncrOsnnct. will be sacrificed to political cxpcdIcncy when nnd If necessary.
 Whether or not these deduc- tons nre correct will be tested BoOn. Somewhat the same caso is that of Professor Hex Tug well, whose appointment as under secretary of agriculture hns been stalled fin the agrIcul- turnl committee by Senator "COtt0n Ed" Smith Of South Car 0linn. "COitOn Ed" tx determined to run Tugwell out of Washing ton. Other old.lIno democrnts feel the same wny.