Evening star., 1937-03-01
COURT DISPUTE
FLARES IN SENATE
ON PROPAGANDA
Burke Cites Speech Sched-
uled by Hopkins Tonight
in Debate.
ROBINSON DEN0UNCES
'UNTRUTHFUL' LETTER
Talk of Compromise Continues,
With 7.to.2 Decision Law Held
Likely Basis.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Charges of unfair propaganda"
both for and against President Roose-
velt's court plan sounded in the Sen
ate today.
Opponents of the plan cited radio
speech scheduled for tonight by Harry
L. Hopkins, works progress admins
TRAITOR.
Reference was made to Hopkins ad-
dress by Senator Burke, Democrat, of
Nebraska, an opponent of the plan,
after Senator Robinson, Democratic
leader, read to the Senate what he
called "an untruthful, unfair and de-
liberate" piece of propaganda.
Shouting so that his words echoed
challenged Senators to defend the let
ter he read, asking that protests be
sent to Representatives.
Burke arose, and without immedi-
ately answering Robinson, denied he
was influenced by such propaganda.
Mentions Hopkins Talk.
He asked If the Democratic leader
considered the letter ANY more dan
gerous to free expression Of opinion
than the announced radio address to-
night by Works Progress Administra-
tor Hopkins on the other side, appeal
ing to thousands of w P A. workers"
What about that kind of propa-
ganda?" Burke asked.
Il do not know what Mr. Hopkins
Is going to say" Robinson replied,
land SO I must ask to be excused
from commenting. / think works
progress administrator has a right to
speak on the subject. Does the Sena-
tor think he doesn't?"
Il think he does and think the
gentleman who wrote that letter had
a perfect right to write it," Burke
replied.
Dictator Charge.
Addressed to Dear Christian friend"
the letter read by Robinson said Presi-
dent Roosevelt wished to become IAN
absolute dictator"
1T sounds like one of the old ap-
peals of the Ku Klux Klan," Robinson
shouted to the Senate.
Meanwhile, fresh talk Of COM
promise had sprung up, though few
suggestions appeared likely to bring
together the hostile factions.
Congressional friends already had
submitted to the President one compro-
mise proposal, the nature of which was
not disclosed. They had received no
word, however, as to its reception.
Some on both sides held that a
likely basis for compromise would be
a bill requiring 7-to-2 decisions by the
Supreme Court to invalidate acts Of
Congress.
Other proposals most frequently
| discussed were to cut the proposed
expansion of the court down to two
new justices instead of possible six.
or to combine the court reorganization
bill with a constitutional amendment.
7-2 Bill Passage Seen.
Senate liberals said a compromise
on a bill to require a 7-to-2 decision
would pass the Senate. The President
turned this down in early conversa-
tions with congressional leaders on the
theory that it would require consti-
tutional amendment.
Some on both sides insisted the
7-to-2 rule could be enforced on the
| court by a simple act of Congress.
Some of the liberal group most hos
tile to the court reorganization were
ready to accept it. including Senators
Wheeler, Democrat. of Montana;
Johnson, Republican, of California,
and Nye, Republican, of North Dakota.
A similar proposal, to require 8-to-l
verdicts by the court to mvalidate
acts of Congress, has been proposed
by Senator Gillette of Iowa, one of
the Democratic opponents of court
reorganization.
Leading opponents OF the Presidents
program asserted they would not ac-
cept proposal to increase the size
of the court in any form.
Nevertheless, some administration
supporters hoped that compromise
(See JUDICIARY, Page A-3)