Evening star., 1937-03-05
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

| BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The Democratic victory dinners, held
last night in all the great cities Of the
country, we're used in many instances to
press the campaign for the passage Of
President RooSevelt'S bill authorizing an
increase in the membership of the Su-
preme Court. This may have been a bit
tough on the digestion of some Of the
Democrats who paid anywhere from IS
to 500 a plate for their dinners, par
ticularly those Democrats who have
failed to fall into line with the Presi-
dents plan to get new interpretations
Of the Constitution. The President him.
self took this occasion to start his per-
sonal campaign for the court bill, cam
paign which will continue in q radio
"flreside" talk to the people on March
8, few days hence. Gen. Hugh
johnson Of N. r. A. fame, the first head
Of the governmental agency which the
Supreme Court unanimously took to
pieces and then threw out of the win
dow, had . lot to say about the court
and what should be done.
4 4
Gen. johnson predicted that the Pres
ident's court plan would be adopted.
There is no great doubt in Washington
tonight" he said, that the Presidents
proposal in practically its original form
will be enacted by the Senate and the
House and will become the law of the
land" Gen. johnson was addressing a
victory dinner" crowd in Newark, N. j.
when that is done, some able and dis
tinguiShed citizens will be nominated to
the Senate and doubtless by it will be
confirmed. The suggestion that they will
have been bribed by their appointments
to give their decisions in advance Of
their taking their places on the bench Is
hateful" OF course, 1t Is hateful, as
Gen. johnson says. It seems to be
fact, however, that If anything is to be
accomplished by this maneuver by the
President with regard to the Supreme
Court the new justices will not be picked
because they are opposed to the New
Deal Interpretation of the Constitution.
They will be picked for the reason that
they believe in this Interpretation. 9th
erwise futile thing will have been done.
Gen. johnson insisted that the fourth
and final victory of the New Dealers
will have been accomplished when the
SOll6A Coo HOO WAACOCll AAloO 40" Vic L ASoA-
dents court bill, and the President shall
have appointed the new justices. "The
New Deal will then at last be tri-
umphant," he said. 1.-THE United States
will have adapted itself to the necessi-
ties Of great constitutional crisis"
This was the kind of speech which was
made from one end Of the land to the
other at the Democratic victory dinners
last night It was the kind of speech
which President Roosevelt delivered at
the $100-a-plate dinner in Washington.
The Chief Executive heaped upon the
Supreme Court responsibility for the
failure of many New Deal acts-acts
which had been held unconstitutional by
the court but which the President in
sisted were essential to the welfare OF
the people. In none of his past utter
ances about the Supreme Court has the
President been so severe, although he did
not mention the court by name. He gave
promise, however, to keep up his cam
paign for the remaking OF the court
until 1t was accomplished-and he
stressed the need Of quick action If de-
mocracy Is to continue to advance, or
even to exist, in this country.
What the President had to say about
his own future plans carried great deal
Of interest He said about as clearly as
he could, without making any definite
commitment, that he had no idea Of
being q candidate to succeed himself in
the campaign of 1940 He spoke par
ticularly of his ambition to turn over
his successor "on January 20, 1941," with
his place in the White House, country
that is at peace, that is prosperous, and
that has proved that democratic form
Of government can endure and succeed.
The President did not say that he would
not be a candidate under any circum-
stances for third term in the White
House. But he made it as plain as pos
sible that he does not desire to be a
candidate. This, no doubt, will have
pleasant sound in the ears Of those DEM
ocrats who already are casting longing
eyes at the presidential nomination OF
1910.
Twenty-seven Democratic Senators
are up for denomination and reelection
next year. Nevertheless a half dozen or
more OF these Senators who are due to
undergo the trial by fire in a compare
lively short time have had the courage
to declare themselves, or will soon de-
clare themselves, in opposition to the
President on his court plan. Among
those who have already said no" to the
President in this matter are Clark of
Missouri, George of Georgia, Tydings OF
Maryland and Van Nuys of Indiana. 1t
is because of this Democratic opposition
in the Senate that the President has
felt himself compelled to get into action
and to make the speech he made last
night and to plan for other speeches.
He is enlisted, he made it clear, for the
duration of the war; He hopes to turn
so great a tide of public sentiment in
favor of his court plan that his oppo-
nents will be completely washed away
and submerged.
In q dozen States, each Of which has
two Democratic Senators. there Is
division in the senatorial delegations over
the court plan. Here is list OF them:
Indiana, for the court plan, Senator
Minton, and against the court plan, Sen
ator Van Nuys; Iowa, Herring for, Gil
lette against; New Jersey, Smathers for,
Moore against; Missouri Truman for,
Clark against; Ohio, Bulkley for, DON
ahey against; Rhode Island, Green for,
Gerry against; South Carolina, Byrnes
for, Smith against; Tennessee, McKellar
for, Bachman against; Texas, Sheppard
for, Connally against; Utah, Thomas for,
King against; Washington, Schwellen-
Loob Coo popo oooipct. Mast Viroinio