Evening star., 1937-07-12

From now on, the Senate struggle
over the Supreme Court bill, while pub
licly waged in the chamber, will in re-
ality be fought behind the scenes. 1t
RACES around the group Of Senators not
yet openly committed for or against the
compromise measure. AS the battle
enters its second week. the rival forces
appear almost evenly divided. The
latest authoritative count of noses shows
that Senator Robinson can rely upon
at least 39 administration supporters,
while the Wheeler Burke phalanx is as
signed almost exactly the same mini
mum. If these figures are founded on
facts rather than hopes, II or l8 Demo-
cratic Senators hold the balance OF
power. Both the Robinsonians and the
Wheelerites henceforth will leave no
stone unturned to win Wavering mem
bers to their respective sides. Private
persuasion and negotiations are likely to
prove far more potent than oratorical
arguments on the floor. Seldom in mod
ern legislative history have log rolling.
gumshoe work and the other tricks Of
the congressional trade been more in
evidence. Rooseveltians, with the Presi-
dents prestige at stake as never before
during the New Deal, are putting forth
Herculean efforts to save the day for
him. Their zeal and resourcefulness
are fully matched by the determination
of the opposition to defeat court pack
ing by SLOW notion as Senator
wheeler pillories the compromise
scheme.
II appearances count for anything,
compromise proponents are serenely
confident that victory is going TO perch
on their banners. These emotions are
conspicuously reflected by Joe Robin
sons demeanor. Throughout the heat
of debate, atmospheric and vocal, the
Arkansan remains as cool as the pro-
verbal cucumber, or, to vary the simlle,
as contented as the cat that just SWal-
lowed the canary. longtime observers
of the Democratic majority leader under
war conditions say his bearing is always
a reliable barometer of how things are
going. While last weeks turbulence
was at its peak, he was imperturbability
incarnate At intervals he would cross
the aisle for merry heart-to-heart con-
fab with Charlie McNary, Republican
minority leader, who receives credit for
much of the strategy of the Democratic
court insurgents. Robinson smiled be-
nevoently at some of Senator Wheeler's
caustic sallies and registered amused un-
concern even when the Democratic
brethren were squabbling over points OF
order yielding privileges and other
snarls caused by the ruse to call July
legislative day without end.
Senator Wheeler's eloquent 3-hour
speech against the compromise bill is
the most powerful attack on dictator
ship yet leveled at the New Deal in
Congress The Montanan did not mince
words in warning that the administra-
tion's Supreme Court proposal heads the
United States in the direction which
events have taken in Russia, Germany
and Italy. Into his impressive perora-
ton Wheeler poured all the fervor and
fire he had left. Having recited the un-
precedented authority granted to F. D.
r., Wheeler closed with these words: Il
am not complaining about the way he
has used this power. But with a sub
servient Congress, with such tremendous
power in the executive, has not the time
come when we should say there is line
behind which no man should pass? Has
not the time come when we should say
to the President: No matter how be-
loved you may be, no matter how pro-
found and wonderful you may be. no
matter how much your sympathies are
with the masses Of Tie people Of the