The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-12-14
BY RODNEY BUTCHER Democrat Washington
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l OCIuUCE&b Vv1SAAAAAk S0A Correspondent.
 Washington, Dec. 14 = Some of the insiders who are up to their neckS in the neutrality problem think they have the explanation of Canada's remarkable action in repudiating the proposal of her League of Nations delegate to ex- tend sanctions to oil.
 According to these insiders, it wasn' remarkable at all that Cam ada should announce it didn't recognize any commitment bind- ing Canada to adopt military sanc- tions"-an announcement widely regarded as indicating the domin- ion didn't consider itself bound to help England in any Italo-British war. .G
 Canada has never indicated any change from the policy which sent her troops to help England fight Germany. Furthermore, she hasn't any oil that anyone ever heard of. Officials who have more informa- tion than the rest of us and are close followers of the international chess game are convinced that Canada simply wanted to impress upon the United States the idea that she mustn't be treated as 8 belligerent in case of warfare in- volving Britain or the league.
 Because, they insist, Canada wants no interference with trade with this country such as might result from application of our neu- trality laws if she were considered a belligerent.
 Preserving her status as 8 neu- tral, Canada could proceed to buy any munitions or war materials she pleased from the United States She has no neutrality laws to pre- vent her from-and on the con- trary every incentive to go ahead -shipping such products right along to England.
 Drive on to Save" Norris
 The campaign of the friends and admirers of Senator George w Norris of Nebraska to dissuade him from his intention of retiring in- stead of running for reelection next year has assumed rather huge proportions and there is now some hope that it will have effect.
 Letters are pouring in from over the nation, including scores from people the senator never heard ot before-even some from high school boys and girls. The other day there was one from a Nebraska banker who had opposed Norris all his life, but said he had just come to the conclusion the senator was largely right and urged him to stay in Congress.
 The executives of the 21 stand- ard railroad labor unlons met re- gently and instructed their chair man to lobby with Norris against his retirement.
 Roosevelt Leads Pleas At the top of the list of pleaders stands President Roosevelt, who said publicly that Morris is neces- sary not only to Nebraska, but to the United States, as long as he lives" and has since written per- sonal assurance to Norris that he meant every word of that and asked as a favor that the senator make no decision until the two have talked it over.
 The real secret of the Nebrasks progressive's desire to retire is the fear that he may be too old to serve another six-year term. He is "A.
 He really is in excellent health But he has confided to intimates that he has seen so many old men go into dotage and decline from their peak of usefulness while holding public office that he has a horror of following in that path and disappointing himself and his friends. He will be 81 at the end of another six-year term if he serves.
 Friends ScOff at Idea
 So his personal friends are busy scoffing at him and branding his idea as ridiculous. They remind him of the late Supreme Court Jus tice Oliver Wendell Holmes, who served on the bench until he was 90 years old and still preserved his intellectual might.
 They tell him Gas very likely is true) that Comptroller General John R. McCarl, whom he regards as foe of his beloved IVA, will ] run for his seat if he quits. And suggest that his retirement might mean that Arthur Mullen, Demo cratic lobbyist and political boss, whom Norris regards as 8 perni- cious influence, might gain control of Nebraska.
 They further assure him that he mustn't quit his lifelong battle against the power trust" at time when he and his cohorts are be- ginning to win victories.
 In fact, they use every argument and sentimental appeal they can think of. Few men in recent dec- ades have been subjected to such pressure.