Evening star., 1937-02-24

Back home is where President RooSe-
velt's Supreme Court fight is going to
be won or lost. On all fronts, from
coast to coast the battle of national dis
cuSslon is now raging. There's been no
problem for generation about which
public opinion has been SO universally
or fervently agitated. Press, platform
and radio are filled with it. The final
decision will be made in House and Sem
ate, especially the Senate. But respon-
sive, as always to popular sentiment out
where the votes come from, Congress
has its collective ear to the ground as
seldom ever before. In Main street
everywhere, in corner groceries, barber
shops. railroad trains, womens clubs.
chambers of commerce, business mems
luncheon meetings, bar associations and
virtually every other form of organized
American life. the Supreme Court issue
absorbs the Nations thought and argu-
mentative capacity. BY the time it
reaches a vote, two or three months
hence or later. dependent on possible
Senate filibuster, Uncle Sans children
will have arrived at conclusions by which
Congress in the last analysis will be gov
erned Meantime, the Republic IS deep
in the throeS of a great and solemn
referendum.
Democratic National Committee
Spokesmen announce that when Presi-
dent Roosevelt addresses the Nation
wide series of anniversary victory din
ners' on March 4, speaking from the
key banquet in Washington. he will dis
cuss what he hopes to. accomplish dur
ing the next four years." This covers
sufficiently wide range of territory to
enable F. D. r. to unseal his lips, if he
chooses, on the Supreme Court contro-
versy. Many expect he will consider it q
fit occasion at least to refer in few
significant and spirited phrases to the
embattled and embittered situation pro-
voked by his proposals.
*%x
AS far as the public is concerned, Chief
Justices Hughes and his Supreme Court
colleagues are maintaining Sphinxlike
silence on their reaction to the conflict
of which they are the central figures.
Widespread opinion, nevertheless, has
taken root that none of the six who are
over 10 Is remotely thinking, or will
think, of reSigning under fire. Reports
are current that some of the justices
are opening their hearts to their init
mate friends and conf1ding that they
are against the administrations plan.
One story in circulation quotes men,
ber of the bench, described as frequently
identified with pro-New Deal decisions.
as saying that I'VE are as one man." To
date, Senior Justice Knox of the United
States Court for the southern district Of
New York is about the only member Of
the Federal bench openly to express
himself. He disapproves the President S
program on the ground that 1t would
impair the authority and dignity" of
the Supreme Court.
Age having become so pre-eminent a
factor in the Supreme Court discussion,
particular interest attaches to Senator
Burton K. Wheelers repeated radio
references to his late fellow -Montanan,
Senator Thomas j. Walsh, who was to
have been Attorney General in the
Roosevelt administration. Walsh was
"A years old when named as head of the
Department of Justice in March, 1888.
Senator Wheeler ventures the opinion
that if the veteran Western liberal were
Attorney General today. the Supreme
Court proposal now rocking the country
would never have been forthcoming.
xk X
Announcement that william Draper
Lewis, director Of the American Law
Institute since 1923, favors the Presi-
dents proposal offsets, in New Dealers
opinion, the opposition of Frederick H
etinchheld. president OF the American