The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-12

RTeSS1OI1als JElIIldIlSS.
 Leaders in the custer drive are Ali Landon, who originally selected Hamilton as national chairman, and Joe Pew, Pennsyl- vania oil magnate and a heavy contributor. Also opposed are several other veteran party chiefs. privately never enthusiastic over Hamilton.
 Secret POW-WOW
 A group of the latter held secret meeting in New York re- gently at which they discussed ways and means of getting rid of John. All were optimistic about the chances of the republi- can party staging a strong come- back in Congress next year, but all agreed 1t could not be done effectively under John Hamilton.
 This sentiment was conveyed to Ali Landon and Colonel Knox. In fact, the Colonel got . report from an old friend who was present and joined in the Hamilton anvil chorus.
 London and Knox have ex- changed several letters and held one conference regarding Hamil- ton since the 1886 campaign, and 1t is safe bet that John will soon feel the thrill of the skids under his keel.
 NOTE-Except for his own vote and that of Ralph Williams, Na- tional Committeeman from Ore- gon, Hamilton cannot count defin- ttely on support from any other members of the National Com mittee. Hamilton receives $25,- 900 a year and expenses, but can be removed at any time.
 Sham Cry
 Illustrative of the holloWness of the congressional clamor for adjournment is the inside story of why 1t took so long to bring the wage-hour bill before the House.
 The fact that John O'Connor was busy taking his son tO camp was one reason. Southern op- position was another.
 The. House Labor Committee re. ported the measure out a week ago Tuesday. It was expected that tho Rules Committee would meet the next day, decide on the number of hours of debate, and begin that debate on Thursday.
 But nothing Of the kind hap pened.
 Instead. full week went by before the Rules Committee met on the question.
 REASON: Of the ten demo- crats on the committee, the five southern members had evinced marked hostility to the bill. Fear ing that they would vote with the republicans to Shelve 1t, Ad- n1inistration leaders wanted to be sure of the presence of Rep. John OConnor, hard-boiled chairman of the committee.
 He, however, had other plans. He was taking his young son to a summer camp and could not be bothered. So the works had tO be shut down until O'ConnOr got back.
 Tough Shedding
 The bill, incidentally. faces just as rough going in the House as 1t experienced in the senate.
 The southern contingent, in- cluding several administration leaders. are planning to assault 1t with important restrictive amend- ments, chiefly one to exempt all plants employing 20, or fewer. workers. The senate rejected two southern amendments of this kind: one to exclude l0-man and an. other 5-man plants.
 Another serious handicap to the bill Is the fact that its floor leader Is Mrs. Mary Norton, chairman of the Labor Commit mittec.
 Unlike Senator Hugo Black, the bills manager in the seante. who is wholeheartedly for the legisla- ton and is an extremely able parliamentarian. Mrs. Norton is neither. The Administration Is leaning heavily on Representative Robert Ramspeck. Georgia liberal and next in rank Is Mrs. Norton on the committee, to push the bill through.
 Understanding
 Senator Hatch of New Mexico and ex.Senator Bratton. of the same stae, are operating a nice little merry -go-round of their own.
 Former law partners, they are firmly sold on the benefits of mutual back scratching.
 When Sam Bratton resigned from the Seante to become . Circuit Court judge, he boosted Hatch. his old law partner. into his Senate seat. Now Hatch has been boosting Bratton for the Supreme Court with the understanding that, if success. ful, Bratton will turn around and boost him for the circuit n-E THE DETnDN