Evening star., 1935-06-03
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Contend as he may that he has not
raised a partisan" issue in demand
ing q showdown between federalism
and States rights. President Roose-
welt undoubtedly has thrown into the
political arena a bone Of contention
on which there is bound to be prompt
and sharp division of opinion. The
controversy will rage not only between
Republicans ana Democrats. but with
In the respective ranks Of those par
ties. Senator Vsndenberg Of Michi-
gan, a top-notch G. o. P. aspirant for
the presidency. promptly affirms that
r. D. r. has made the issue for
1896" and that it is "a good one, y
IL Mr.. Roosevelt persists in his atti-
tude. Some politicians think the
Issue" may reach a point At which
the long projected formation of Re-
publican-Democratic coalition Con
stitution party" will become feasible,
with revisionists who 60 along with
the Presidents newly proclaimed views
flocking into the opposition. Impend-
ing debate in Congress over lesisla-
ton to meet the situation created by
discontinuanee of N. r. A. should give
an early indication OF political senti-
ment toward the constitutional ques-
tion Mr.. Roosevelt has stirred up. 1t
10 safe to predict that debate will show
party lines crossed and broken In all
directions.
Except for his annual ''off the
record seances with the press on the
budget, President Roosevelt's recent
White House press conference, lasting
exactly one hour and a half, was the
longest he has yet held. 1t was vir-
tslally q mon0i0gue, with the Presi-
dent taking up the Supreme Courts
N. R. A. decision section by section
and discussing it with a wealth Of
circumstantial detail as he rammed
home his successive points. At the
end of the address, which had the
pithy quality Of one Of his f1reside
broadcasts, Mr.. Roosevelt was pre-
pared to answer questions from the
assembled throng of Toundly zoo news
paper folk, but Secretary Stephen
Early reminded him that it was lis
o'clock pm. daylight saving time, and
LIEU dlC uCduIlItE vi
newspapers was close ut hand. The
President thereupon indicated that
the story would be continued in our
next" In every respect the confab
was the most notable press conference
In New Deal annals and may earn q
place in American constitutional his
| tory.
- r
Along with Mrs. Roosevelt, two
guest attendants at the epochal pow
vow were Joe Robinson, Senate DEM
ocratic leader, and Charles Michel
son, publicity ace of the Democratic
National Committee. Senator Rob-
fnson was afforded a closeup Of the
Presidents views in exactly the form
in which the White House desires
| them to soak into the national con-
sciousness and will thus be able,
when the time comes, faithfully to
reflect them In Senate debate. One
Of these DAYS the Arkansan NAV be
on the Supreme Court bench himself.
| and he will have q vivid memory OF
| the Chief Executives heart-to-h heart
condolences anent that august body.
halCIiciSOl, Ou HS pAit, hao sHic du-
| vantage of hearing in chapter-and-
verse terms the doctrine Roosevelt
evidently espouses along the lines of
constitutional reform and can be
guided accordingly If and when the
time comes to educate the country
In the masterful Michelson style.
II \ n \
June finds the home coming diplo-
matte pilgrims increasing in numbers
from day to day. Ambassador Dave
Hennen Morris, from Belgium, and
Ambassador Claude G. Bowers. from
Spain, are the latest additions to the
| group. The diplomats are in Amer
lea on leave and for private purposes.
but are expected to spend enougn
time m washington b bring vfe