The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-22

11lbO q QizAy UCuAd1k1 4OI b1l6 I the desperate desire of many court bill to avoid a show {
 Leaders like Senators Wheeler of Montana, Burke of Nebraska, ON6ahoney of Wyoming and Mo- Carran of Nevada have cut their bridges behind them and are ready to risk their political flu. tures. But many of their fol- lowers are literary in a blue funk over the prospect of putting thenl- selves on record.
 They dislike the court legisla- ton, want to see 1t axed, but are scared to death over having to oppose the President publicly. They are delighted to sabotage be- hind his back, but don't like to come out in the open. This is par- ticularly. true of the boys who come up for election next year. They fear, and with good reason, that their stand will encourage candidates to take the field againstt hem on the issue of fail- ing to support Roosevelt.
 For. despite terrific political hammering, the Presidents name still has ballot-box magic. Not even his most die-hard oppon- ents deny that. Pat McCarran, in his senate speech on the court issue, virtually admitted that his attitude would cost him hts seat next year.
 So, hardly had the news of Senator Robinson's death per- meated the Capital than a furi- ous undercover drive got under way to persuade or bluff the President into dropping the court measure.
 Shelving Drive
 Their first tactic was to scare him into quitting. Burke and Wheeler spread the word that they had enough private assur- ances to send the Logan Con- promise bill back to committee, and that when the Senate re- convened after the Little Rock funeral they would immediately make such a motion,
 IT WAS A BOLD BLUFF AND FOR A FEW HOURS HAD THE WHITE HOUSE IN A SWEAT.
 The lineup before Robinson's death was very close, with the antis certain of between 42 and A votes. With five more re- liable converts, the opposition would be in the saddle. But q frantic administration check dis. closed that despite all their cocky talk the antis did not have those necessary votes, and that the situation, while close, was un- changed.
 With this bluff a flop. the antis turned indirect pressure on Roosevelt. They persuaded 8 group of jlttery freshman senators to call on him and suggest . truce. The Presl- dents answer was:
 "The Senate will, Of course. do as 1t sees fit in this matter. Ssut I am not quitting. Win or lose I shah insist on the record being made clear and unmis- takable. I shall insist on this SO that when the Court next year begins handing down decisions the country will know who Is to blame for the failure of liberal measures t0 obtain validation."
 The delegation emerged with beaded browS. Their worst fears were confirmed. The clear im- plication of Roosevelt's words was that he was prepared to throw the issue into the 1888 congress sional elections. .
 It was the effect which this challenged had on the freshman waverers, plus the furious prop aganda drive being waged by the opposition, that cause Roosevelt to issue the My dear Alben" let- ter to Acting Floor Leader Bark ley. The White House strategists figured that if . little private bogey -booing had such a marked result, a big public dose might be doubly efficacious.
 Anyone's Guess
 THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THIS SUPER HEATED STRUG. GLE IS ANYONE'S GUESS.
 The advantage now definitely lies with the opposition. But one thing is certain. The boys can't duck a showdown. They have got to face the music and 90 on record. That is one thing on which the President has won.
 His letter to Barkley slammed the door on any hope of an amicable settlement. Only time will tell whether Q vote against him on this issue will prove to be the political cyanide he thinks it will. A lot of the boys wish feYvently they didn't have to un- derso the test.
 Merry G0-ROund
 After a brief but exciting career as hostel for Resetlement. Admin. istration, the elaborate Walsh mansion on Massachusetts, avenue is to revert to q private resi- dence. The Tugwell boys are moving out of the 1922 square feet of office space, for which OFF THE RECORD