Imperial Valley press., 1937-04-16
News Behind the News
Election Was No Worse Than This ;.
Propaganda Machines Going Full
Blast Party Organization at Work.

WASHINGTON-The way this Supreme Court
battle is being fought out especially with respect
to propaganda, bears many resembances to the
election campaign of last summer and fall.
The administration political machine and the
Democratic publicity machine under Charlie
Nicholson, functioning for the President
much they did then. The national committee
staff has been skeletonized and operates, OF
course on a much smaller scale.
The publicity machine, with Nicholson at
its head and Eddie Roddan and Farmer Murphy
at his side, publicizeS the cause under the name
of Public Information Committee. The per-
Sonnel and the Farley organization work in CO.
operation with the local and county Democratic
organizations, the Young Democrats and similar
groups. Instead Of the scores Of political pam
phlets produced last fall they have thus far
issued two The first a series OF questions
and answers on the court issue. The second, en-
titled Who said THAT about the Supreme
Court?" is a compilation of past criticisms OF
the court by big men from whom you might
least expect 1t.
The man who ran the Democratic radio divi-
sion in the campaign is still on the job and the
Good Neighbor League, under Stanley High,
which did good work for Roosevelt among peace,
church and Negro groups last fall, IS at least
partly the job
Also that valuable campaign auxiliary, La
bors Non-Partisan League sends to its key
members every two three days a new Issue OF
the Supreme Court Calendar" which analyzes
court opinions affecting labor, takes shots at
opponents of the Roosevelt plan and supplies
material for labor speakers. Recently the League
sent to each of 900 workers, who were active
in the campaign a handbook for speakers and
writer's on the court plan
Officially, the Republicans are keeping out OF
the fight. No propaganda issues from their
national headquarters here and their l9 sena-
tors and S9 congressman, all solidly against the
Roosevelt plan have kept mum on the theory
it would be a mistake to enable the President
to present the case as a partisan issue.
Actually, anyone with political sense must
know that Chairman John D. M. Hamilton and
his few but capable aides have been busy be-
hind the scenes recently.
One Republican local organization mailed
circulars urging citizens to write to the follow
ing men"-then named 90 undecided" Democra-
tic senator's and George Norris, Nebraska indie
pendent and Henrik Shipstead Minnesota Far
mer-Laborite.
The big source of opposition propaganda
aside from the Wheeler -Burke-Van NuyS junta
which organizes witnesses before the Judiciary
committee and the radio programs with Secre-
tary Ben Stern in Van Nuys office serving as
sort of clearing houSe-is Frank E. Gannetts
National Committee to Uphold Constitutional
Government.
The NCUCG recruits citizens TO telegraph
or write Congress, organize local committees,
distribute literature organize protest meetings
and contribute funds. Early in March Treasurer
Sumner Gerard of Gannett's committee, re-
ported 100000 petitions and 100000 progress
reports" had been mailed out. Petitions mad
been placed in the hands of 10000 clergymen.