, 1935-05-12
"
BY Ray Tucker


Fletcher opposed the idea OF regional
republican conferences when II was
first preached. He feared they
might provoke rivalries among anx-
ious presidential candidates and diff
ferences over principles. But now
his rosy face Is wreathed In smiles.
The Boston meeting was no howl
ing success Tn itself - but 1t brought
q million dollars worth OF news
paper publicity. The resulting en-
thusiasm was reflected In every ham,
let. Small but steady contributions
are trickling into a hitherto empty
treasury. Now MI. Fletcher Is afire
with excitement over the eleven
state meeting to be staged at
Springfield, Illinois, next month.
q. o. p. headquarters at Wash
ington, a gloomy place for two years,
Is perking up. It has established q
1 clipping bureau. II will soon resume
distribution Of party handouts. IL
means to capitalize on the apparent
growth OF anti-New Deal sentiment.
Roberts With a few exceptions,
even q. o. p. presidential candi-
dates are behaving themselves.
Ham" Fish Of New York - q very
dark horse - is the only avowed and
active aSpirant. Senator Vanden-
berg declines all invitations to make
speeches and has little to say in
the senate. The others wisely re-
fuse to take their chances seriously.
In their private chats republican
wisecracks predict the nomination
OF a dark horse. Representative
James w. Wadsworth and Justice
Owen J. Roberts OF the supreme
court are in this class. High-up
democrats seem to fear q man like
Justice Roberts more than any 9TH
ers mentioned. The Teapot Dome
prosecution and baby jurist might
be the ideal candidate on the issue
Of Constitution versus the New
Deal"
In 1915 - q year which produced
issues strikingly like those which
may loom up in 1896 - the q. o. p.
turned to the supreme court for
its presidential candidate. There
VIII be more discussion OF Mr.. Justice
Roberts as the months roll BY. His
leadership Of the majority which de-
clared the Railway Retirement Act
invalid won't hurt his cause any.
Dissent = Justice Roberts break
with Chief Justice Hughes over the
constitutionality Of the Railway
Retirement act Is the biggest news
In many a day. 1t makes Mr.. Rob-
eTts the key and questionable man
In future decisions which may de-
stroy or enthrone the New Deal.
He has been aligned with Justice
Hughes. Stone. Brandeis and Cardo-
20 in all the famous 5-to-4 decisions
upholding advanced state and feder-
nj legislation. He has been -
though the jurists fiercely resent
such hard-and-fast classification
a liberal" New Dealers had come
TO depend upon him.
The Roberts Hughes split Is pack
ed with human drama aside from its
legal implications. Mr.. Roberts al
most worships Mr.. Hughes legal
mind and rates him "our greatest
Chief Justice" - not excepting John
Marshall. But rarely have there
been two more violently dissenting
opinions than those OF Mr.. Hughes
and Mr.. Roberts In this case.
Spot - Organized labor NAV try
direct political action next year =
although IL prefers to avoid that en-
tangling policy. Disappointment
over congressional delay in clarifying
section Ia and In passing other mea-
sures - the Wagner bin and the 30
hour-week bill 49, may drag IL into
the political arena by the scruff Of
the neck
Executive council members won't
admit II. but they plan to tahulate
their organizations voting strength
between nov and 1886. They claim
70 be strongest in politically doubt
full states with large electoral votes
New York. Illinois and Ohio. They
may do some collective bargaining
of their own.
Council members left their Wash
ington conference with plans to
stage a Geographic demonstration
for the Wagner bill. The same wires
which carry the protest Of Big Bust
ness against this measure viii convey
heir endorsement. Presidents
Roosevelt and Green are in a tough
spot.
Harmony - Senator TydinRs' res
olution aimed at compulsory bal
anctng OF the budget is 'most high
~ recommended" by members Of
10th houses, but their enthusiasm
stops there. Tydings proposes to
tie the hands Of the president and
future congresses by providing that
the budget shall be the first business
at every session; that income and
appropriations shall balance; that
no appropriation shall be made out
side Of the budget estimates: and
that when congress exceeds any item
IL shall take the funds from some
other item within the budget.
Tho Joker Of this plan Is that anv
subsequent congress could set Il
aside In five minutes. Developments
during q session always force con-
gress to depart from budget figures.
even In normal years.
The Tydings resolution can be
made the vehicle OF speeches criti-
Ching Roosevelt for ignoring the
budget = and that's probably the
main object. Coming from a regular
democrat. doesn't promote harmony
In the ranks at all.
p. NJ. G. Despite supposedly
authoritative hints to the contrary,
jim Farley may not resign his cab
met post 10 handle the job Of reflect
inc Mr.. Roosevelt.
Some cabinet members insist that
u would be indelicate - 70 say the
| least - for Tim In rim hnfh tha po~t