The Washington times., 1936-01-31
PR0GRESS|VES
C0URTED BY
ROOSEVELT
BY EARL GOODWIN

Deep thinkers in the higher
Democratic circles here say that
the result of all this political hys.
terra this past week will be to line
up solidly all the progressive and
liberal Republicans behind Roose-
velt; and that means, so the poHt'
ical wiseacreS say, that the Roose-
welt Administration is pointing its
policy to attract just such support.
So if Governor Alfred E. Smiths
"take-a-walk" policy is followed by
others of the Democratic faith, the
outgoing Democratic votes will be
offset by the incoming Republi'
cans from the West. At least,
that's the talk in the Democratic
cloak rooms.
COuzens Sees President
Now there may be something
to it all; because anyone with half
an eye can see that there has been
some pow-wowing going on be.
tween the President and several
of the Western Progressive Repub
licanS. Senator Couzens dropped
into the White House for lunch
and on going out assumed the
puzzled air Of one who wonders
why he is sent for. Senator
Couzens, by the way, once said he
would give a million dollars If
Senator Borah would run for the
Presidency.
Then, a few days prior to the
Michigan Senator's luncheon visit,
Senator Robert La Toilette, Pro
gressive, of Wisconsin, was at
lunch with the President. There
has been a fairly close bond OF
political sympathy there, as every.
one who follows public affairs can
testify.
Norris Supported
Then came Senator George Nor.
ris, the Nebraska Progressive Re.
publican, whom the President has
Endorsed for reelection with more
warmth, affection and vigor than
he has turned loose on any Dem.
ocrat.
These luncheon hours of the
Presidents are too valuable to
give over to chummineSS and
nothing else. They are the mo-
ments when Political Big Stuff is
framed-and Washington looks
for something to break loose in
the Western Progressive field ere
long.
Now, some of this activity that
Is to come is expected to revolve
around the Supreme Court. The
President has kept his own coun-
sci on the power Of the court to
annul legislation and it is ex-
tremely doubtful, to judge by
White House events, that he will
start anything in that direction.
But there is story current that
Senator George Norris himself
may soon make a speech suggest
ing-or perhaps demanding-that
the power of the high court to
knock out the will Of the peo-
pie" shall be an issue in the next
campaign.
Senator Norris, Republican, sup
ported Smith in 1928; supported
Roosevelt in 1882, and called him.
self a Republican! There is a
rumor he is again preparing an
attack on the enemies of this Ad.
ministration.
Farmers worried"
If so, he will probably follow
the lines of Progressive Western
thought of both parties. Senator
Norris is said to have told friends
that Western farmers are worried
about the apparent inability of
Congress to frame a farm policy
after the Supreme Courts annul-
ment of AAA. He is reported as
limiting that a. constitutional
amendment or some other curb
on the court is the thing the
Western farmers want.
Another Progressive who will be
heard of soon is Donald Rich.
berg, former NRA chief, who has
been studying certain social and
economic trends and who is re-
ported to be ready with a blast
at the political foes of the Ad.