Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-03-25

Washington.-It has always been
said that politics makes strange
bedfellows. Histo-
Strange ry has shown this
Redfel[olus statement to be
true because in
every political battle one can note
unusual combinations, odd types
working together, personal enemies
fighting side by side-in truth, bed
fellows for, the time being.
Never has the truth of this old
adage been better demonstrated,
however, than in the current polltl-
cal fight that was precipitated by
President Roosevelt's demand that
congress pass law which will al
low the Chief Executive to add six
new members to the Supreme court
of the United States. The real con-
gressional fight on the Presidents
bold move has not yet gained full
Roadway. But time enough has
elapsed since Mr.. Roosevelt offered
his history-making demand for
power to add enough judges to the
Supreme court, judges of his own
selection, to give him majority,
that those close to the congressional
scene are now in position to pre-
dict probably the most heated con-
troversy since the days Immediately
preceding the Civil war.
Already, it can be stated, one can
see senators and representatives
who are known for their liberal
views standing side by side with
hard-boiled conservatives in opposi-
ton to the Presidents plan, which
& they describe as move 'to pack
the Supreme court" Likewise one
can see conservative Democrats
from the old South following Presi-
dent Roosevelt and joining hands
secretively with the widest radicals
in the senate. One will see Demo-
Gratis and conservative Republicans
in earnest conversation planning
ways and means to halt the Presi-
dents drive for control of the court
and at the same time one can see
radical Republicans planning with
Democrats in support of the pro-
strange bedfellows, every
one.
While this condition is interesting,
it is by far less striking as watch
the proceedings than the extreme
bitterness that is now developing
While, as I said, the controversy is
hardly under way, there is even
now personal anirnosity evident in
the senate to degree that I never
have seen before. I had the priv.
lege of observing the famous
League of Nations fight at close
range. There was personal bitter
ness in that senate battle. Old
friendships were crushed and close
relationships torn asunder. Yet,
think that the current controversy
is likely to cause the League of Ma.
lions bitterness to pale into insig-
nifcance. In other words, there lies
ahead for the congress raging fire
that is bound to destroy political
lives and political ambitions. Which
lives and which ambitions depend,
think, upon the answer which the
country's citizens give to the now
direct question: y
Are we to have a system of courts
and judges, independent and free O.
politics, or are we to have puppets
that will do the bidding of politica
masters?
l said above that the result of the
Supreme court battle in congress,
will be deter
UP to the mined by the atti
People tude of the coun
try. 1t is vital tina
the citizens realize this fact. Sine
President Roosevelt made no men
ton during the campaign for re
election in 1886 of plans to reform
the Supreme court, there has beel
no public expression on the subject
There will not be another opportu
nifty for the voters to express thei
views until November, 1898. TIL
only way, then, open to those VIII
want to express an opinion for o
against the court change is by senc
ing their views to their congress
men and senators. Conversation
that 1 have had with members {
the house and the senate convince
me that the representatives an
senators will appreciate word as
how their constituents feel. >
Further evidence of the desire {
congressman and senators to kno'
the feelings of the voters is given
the tremendous propaganda that
going on. Friends and foes of tn
Supreme court reform program al
on the air nightly; scarcely da
goes by that some senator and us1
ally several of them and numerol
congressman participate in debat
or issue statements concerning tt
great controversy, and from the tr
mendous source of propaganda SUI
ply at the command of the Pres
dent come countless statements ar
interviews and radio speeches prai
ing the Presidents plan. Even Il
President himself has made one
his famous "fireside chats, tellir
why he should be given the ne
power.
In the meantime-and some mo