Evening star., 1937-02-16

&ple 10 SClll the neckleIS SO ,lndC SPEAK.
erS could proceed.
Modification Moves Killed.
Overriding efforts to kill or modify
o resolution introduced at the begin
ming of the session by George P.
Hoover, lifelong Democrat and for
mer president of the association, the
great ma jority of the assembled law
yers flnaly pushed 1t through with q
vote which needed no counting. Some
900 were present and filled the United
States Chamber Of Commerce audi
torium.
I'VE are convinced that the prime
purpose Of the proposed legislation u
the resolution read in part. "is to
bring the judicial department of the
Government under the domination Of
the President, and thereby make the
Judges Of the (Supreme) court SUBJ
servient to his will ="
1t was to this paragraph that e
Hilton jackson, one of the most re-
spected members of the association
voiced an impassioned but futile OBJ
lection.
Sees Impeachment Tinge.
"As the resolution stands" he de-
elared, sit makes a bold and undis-
guised attack upon the President of
the United States by impugning his
integrity. I believe this association
can better proceed to express itself
without impugning the integrity of the
President. believe this resolution is
tantamount to an indictment of the
President. believe this resolution is
tantamount to a motion to impeach
the President"
Here Jackson was interrupted by
shouts of Good, good-what of it,
from the audience.
IF this association wants to i'm
peach the President of the United
States, let it have the manhood and
courage to appear before the Judiciary
Committees of Congress and not at
tach red rider to this resolution, "
jackson continued despite his heck
lers.
After lengthy debate, an amend
ment by Jackson to delete the para
graph was defeated.
Judiciary Held Jeopardized.
Other sections of the resolution
read:
I'VE are convinced that the pro-
posed legislation is ininical to the best
interests of the people of the United
States, will undermine the judicial
system of the United States, cause the
people to lose faith in our institutions
Of government, and lessen their re-
spect for the judiciary. g that we
are unalterably opposed to any legiS-
lation Of the character disclosed by
said bill, in so far as it affects the
Supreme Court of the United States,
for the reason that it is unwise and
inexpedient, is not in keeping with
the system of checks and balances
established by the Constitution Of the
United States, and we urge upon the
Congress the rejection of the pro-
posed legislation"
H. Winship Wheatley, past presi-
dent of the association, was the first
to speak in defense of President Roose-
velt's plan.
MY words will fall on deaf ears II
rightly judge the temper of this
meeting" he began. But I plead
with you for moderation for the good
of this organization. Passage of this
resolution will close the doors of this
administration to every officer of our
association"
At that point he was howled down
and Quinn had to resort to his gavel
to restore order.
THE American Bar Association and
bar associations all over this country
have taken a position hostile to the
New Deal" he continued. "The law
yers are ultra conservative. but they
are in the minority. Although they
may be belligerent majority, still
the people have right to rule, and
If you have any doubt that they will
rule, look at last November.
The President is proceeding within
the Constitution, not without it, and
It was the younger liberal element
which elected him and elected the
Congress.
There is younger and stronger
element in this country that is de-
manding the right to rule and rule
within the Constitution"
The only others who spoke in favor
Of the Presidents plan were William
A. Roberts, former peoples counsel for
the District; Robert I. Miller, who
tIIfa
ing the judiciary reorganization, and
Philip Austin.
Repeated demands for a vote, made
while anti-resolution speakers were
addressing the meeting, caused Chair
man Quinn to warn: This associa-
ton cannot afford to have 1t said that
the meeting was packed, that gag
rule was applied, or that any one was
denied the right to speak"
Time Limit Imposed.
Early the speakers were limited to
i've minutes, with the exception of
Hoover and Wheatley.
As Hoover read his resolution he
was greeted with vigorous applause.
The bill clearly shows a design and
plan to drive six honorable men from
the BENCH" he declared, cor put
rider on the back of each of them to
act as a check on their decision on
every case brought before them"
Hoover attributed the desire for a
court reorganization to three Supreme
Court decisions handed down May AZ,
l935-the Schechter decision invali-
dating N. r. A., the declaration that
the Frazier-Lemke act was unconsti-
tutional and the decision in Hum
phrey's executor against the United
States, in which the power Of the
President to remove Federal trade
commissioner was denied.
He then quoted the President on his
now famous remark about the N. r. A.
decision taking the country back to