The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-10-02

In the role of Goliath is Sena- tor Burton K. Wheeler, generalis- simo of the fight against tho Presidents court bill. In the role of David Is 0 27-year old congress- man, Jerry O'Connell.
 Up to Q few months ago the suggestion that they would soon be engaged in mortal combat would have seemed fantastic to both. Wheeler was the famed left-wing crusader, the nemesis of the "Ohio Gang" the running-mate of the elder Senator LaIollette, 0 potent chieftain in the councils of the Democratic party. O'Connell was an unknown freshman In congress.
 Then, out of the blue, Roose- welt sprang his Supreme Court reform plan. Wheeler, whom he had counted on as e certain sup- porter, recoiled -- first in indigna- ton, then in fury. And as the fight intensified, this rift became increasingly bitter and personal, until finally Wheeler openly allied himself with the conservative ele- ments he had battled for two decades, and led them to Q sting ing defeat of the New Deal stand ard-bearer.
 Changed Wheeler
 A faVorite expression of "old Bob" LaFollette was !: "A liberal can't go wrong on one funda. mental issue and keep his hands clean"
 WheeIers hostility to the court bill seemed to effect Q prO- found change In his entire view point. Once on aggressive friend of labor, he now sat silent dur- ing the grllllng senate attacks on the National Labor Relations Board. During the close fight over the wage-hour bill he an- nounced that unless It's child labor provisions were revised to suit him he would vote against 1t. And when the l0w-c0st housing measure was under consideration, he voted for the
 Byrd amendment drnstlCally curtaillng its effectiveness.
 Tn Montana evidence of Wheel CTS change of position was even more dramatic.
 AnacOnda Copper
 For two decades he had fought the Anaconda Copper company, the dominant business interest In the state. And 1t had fought him. On both sides the ennlity was fierce and vengeful.
 But last spring . strange thing occurred. In the news- papers AnacOnda owns, Wheeler began to be acclaimed . great statesman. Ills anti-adminis. tratlon speeches were printed at length, his picture frequent- ly displayed, and when he re- turned In June to make Q conn mencement day speech whole editions of the papers were de- voted to him.
 PREVIOUSLY, THE CON- PANY PAPERS WOULD NOT EVEN REPORT ANNOUNCE MENTs or HIS MEETINGS.
 Like most of the other liberal leaders in Montana, O'Connell at first did not take seriously Whee- ler's break with the White House. But when the Anaconda publi- cations started hailing him aS 0 hero, O'Connell SOW red.
 Personal Enmity
 O'Connell's enmity of ""Thc- Company" is fierce and personal. His father was an Anaconda miner killed in c strike when Jerry was e boy. Anything the company stands for, or anyone 1t approves is anathema 10 him.
 From the moment the company began .pufiing Wheeler, O'Connell declared war on him. He also de- clared war on Wheeler's right- hand lieutenant, Governor Roy Ayres. Between Ayres and O'Con-' nell there has long been bad blood. Ayres as c state judge had busted 6 pro-labor sheriff and broken the strike in which O'Con. nell's father was slain. Young O'ConneM has always held AyreS partially responsible for bis fath- CTS death.
 David Challenges Goliath
 With Wheeler of the reserva- ton, O'Connell lost no time in opening fire on both him and Ayres. At first, Wheeler paid no attention to the attacks. But when a big political rally during his June visit proved dud, and he heard that O'Conpell was planning @ statewide speaking tour after Congress adjourned, the Senator sat up and took notice.
 David was making S1HenacinR,