Evening star., 1937-01-07
Member ef the Associated Press.
The Presidents Message.

After an important event, such as the
delivery of the Presidents message on
the state of the Union, the eXigencies of
journalism demand that persons who
can speak with or without authority be
interviewed for the purpose of record
ing their comments and interpretations
for the guidance of their fellow men.
One of those so interviewed yesterday
was Representative Nichols Of Okla.
homa, and he gave his Interpretation OF
the Presidents message as follows:
The President pointed out that he ex-
pected the Supreme Court to be more
liberal in its interpretations of acts OF
Congress. He indicated he was not very
well pleased with its decisions. He held
that it had not co-operated properly to
bring about recovery.
A careful perusal of the Presidents
very readable address discloses no men,
ton of the Supreme Court and a much
more subtle shading of expression than
might be indicated by Mr.. Nichols con-
else and candid summation. But the
headlines indicate that Mr.. Nichols in
terpretatjon Is rather widely held.
The popular picture of the President,
mounting the dais not long after Of
fetal confirmation of the 523 electoral
votes recorded in his favor by the recent
election, shows him shaking an admon-
itory finger in the direction of the judi
ciary and suggesting that while the Con-
stitution is all right, the manner of inter-
preting it must be brought up to date.
That, plainly enough, is the Presidents
attitude, reflected more vividly in that
part of his address which argues that
the accomplishment of certain desirable
ends for the betterment of labor and
agriculture can best come through Fed
eral laws supplementing State laws" and
that the vital need today is mot an
alteration of our fundamental law"-the
Constitution-"but an increasingly en-
Hghtened view with reference to it,"
But what is an "enlightened" view and
how is it to be acquired by the judiciary?
Was the N. r. A. decision of the nine
Justices of the Supreme Court an I'M
enlightened view of the Constitution?
The President mentioned "the statute Of
N. r. A." which has been outlawed.
The problems have not. They are still
with U.S." How is this enlightenment to be
brought about? BY the selection, or the
addition, of Supreme Court justices
whose views of constitutional limitations
do not impede the grant of essential
powers Of free government" to be exer-
cised by Congress and the President?
The President is not clear on this point.
means must be found" he says, ito
adapt our legal forms and our judicial
Interpretation to the actual present ma
tional needs of the largest progressive
democracy in the world" The pursuit
iof the means, in the next four years,
promises to be an important chapter of
Iour history.
In view of the speculation over impor-
,tant items of the coming legislative pro-
gram, the Presidents address was re-
vealing. Housing legislation, possibly
the Wagner bill, occupies high rank.
Tenant farming and it's problems must
receive attention. Amendment, in the
idirection of broadening its service, of the
social security legislation may be ex-
ipected. A relief policy and appropria-
itions for relief, together with govern
mental reorganization, are reserved for
later discussion. Immediate attention is
,directed to neutrality legislation, the
extension of emergency legislation
shortly to expire and deficiency appro-
,priation. And less specific, if even more
emphatic, mention of the problems rep
resented by unemployment and the need
to obtain decent conditions and ade-
tquate pay for labor" suggests the nature
tof what many regard as the most i'm
tportant legislation Of all.