Evening star., 1937-08-06
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY C.. GOULD LINCOLN.

preme Court program still shoulders.
The President is reported to be bitter
and resentful, although outWardly show
ing no signs Of such sentiments Demo-
Gratis in the Senate who voted against
the court bill and worked against it
prior to the vote are taking the peace"
talks OF Postmaster General James A,
Farley, chairman of the Democratic Ma
tlonal Committee, with more than a
grain of salt
The announcement of Senator Van
NuyS OF Indiana, court bill foe, that
ne will seek denomination next year
despite the statement made few weeks
ago by Governor Townsend, brought
from Senator Wheeler Of Montana a
warning that II any reprisal is attempted
by the administration against Van Nuys,
ne, Wheeler, will campaign for Van
Nuys, even II he runs as an independent
candidate for the Senate. Furthermore
Wheeler declared that if the admins
tratlon seeks to kill off other Democratic
Senators who voted against the Presi-
dents court program the anti-court pro-
gram Democrats will seek to eliminate
Democratic Senators who supported the
court Dill. That would be pretty kettle
OF flsh. Nevertheless, strong feeling
continues that the President and his
packers will not only be glad to see his
opponents defeated, but that they will
do what they can to bring this about.
X
The Democrats of the Senate are
staging a get-together party next Tues
day night in honor of Senator Barkley
OF Kentucky, their newly elected leader.
They are not going to jefferson Island,
where the President and the late SEN
ator Joe" Robinson of Arkansas put on
a mammoth party for all Democratic
members Of the Senate and of the House.
They are sticking closer to home and will
give dinner for Barkley in the Raleigh
Hotel. Senator Pat Harrison of Mis-
sissippi, who was defeated by one vote
for leader, is slated to be guest of honor
President Roosevelt has been invited and
will either attend or send letter to be
read. So the effort for party harmony
goes on.
President Roosevelt has handed the
Democrats from the South and West who
opposed his court bill a jolt He has
declared that there will be no more crop
loans until farm bill has been passed
for the control Of crops. Since many
OF these Democratic Senators not only
voted against his court bill but also
had declared that this was no time to
pass new farm bill, the Presidents
present declaration has given them
something new to think about. They
nave argued that 1t was unWiSe to jam
haH-baked farm bill through this
Summer, that more time should be given
for study, and that the measure should
be taken up in the Fall. Some of them
are beginning to feel that turning the
purse over to the President is a great
mistake; that Congress should say when
and where money is to be expended or
loaned.
If Congress adjourns without passing
new farm BILL and if the President
goes through with his threat not to
permit any further crop loans before
such legislation is enacted, who will
get the blame, the Congress or the
President? 1t is not a situation that
either can look upon with entire equa-
nimity. Should the President put his
foot down on crop loans-while he was
still In . position to make them-after
the adjournment of Congress, he might
have lot OF explaining to do.
X
The adjournment situation, so far as
Congress is concerned, seems to be more
and more complicated, despite the de-
sire of many members of both houses to
get away. The fight over the wages and
hours bill holds possibilities of delay.
The House apparently is intent upon
passing substitute. in large part, for
the Senate bill. The House Labor Com
mittee has agreed to number of amend
ments offered by William Green. pres-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor. One Of them would, in effect
maintain the differentials between the
North and the South in the matter of
wages and working conditions This
may be entirely pleasant for Southern
members. It will not sit so well with
those from the North. particularly the
New England States Some Of the SEN
ators from New England who voted
against recommitting the wages and
hours bill last week have a lingering
regret.
Chairman Farley of the Democratic
National Committee is prophesying again.
This time it is in connection with the
Republican presidential nomination of
1910. Farley picks Senator Arthur H.
Vandenburg of Michigan for the part.
1t may be good bet, for Vandenberg,
had he permitted himself to be a can
didate last year, might have won the
nomination. He kept himself. however,
not only clear of the presidential nomi-
nation, but also avoided the nomination
for Vice President. His refusal to 60
on the ticket as running mate for
former Governor Landon of Kansas
caused some bitterness among Repub-
licans at that time. 1t is possible that
some of the Landon people-and others
will remember this against him IN
1910, If Vandenberg is candidate.
Vandenberg. however, has stood out in
Congress as the Republican with ability
to suggest constructive measures as well
as to stick pins in the administration.
He may have a great many supporters
for the presidential nomination three
years hence, unless he does not choose
to run. A great deal will depend upon
what happens in the next couple of
years.
Mr. Farley, willing enough to pick
Republican candidate, is silent upon the
probable choice of the Democrats for
the nomination. That's horse of a
different color There is still Mr.. Roose-
velt as a third term possibility If the
President insists he will not run, the
field NAV be wide open for the Demo-