Evening star., 1937-07-09
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Supreme Court are enough to convince
any one Of one thing. There is more
bitterness and more dynamite wrapped
up IN this prize package than any other
measure the President has sought to
have Congress enact. The charge,
made by Senator Logan of Kentucky
and others against Democrats who are
opposing the court bill, that these Demo-
cratic Senators are ungrateful to Roose-
welt, and unfaithful to the party, got
under the skins of these Democrats
without delay.
The immediate response was made by
Senator Wheeler Of Montana. leader of
the opposition, who said in effect that
II there was any ingratitude going
around 1t was on the part of the admin
istration. He pointed out that had 1t
not been for some of the Democrats who
are now assailed by the Presidents lieu
tenants, the President never would have
been nominated in 1892 There is lot
more truth than jest in that statement.
Mr.. Wheeler might have commented
upon the services he himself rendered
the President during the early stages OF
the fight for the Democratic presidential
nomination, even before l932-but he
did not
X X ~
Senator Wheeler also brought up the
case of the late Senator Cutting of New
Mexico. Cutting was not a Democrat
He was progressive Republican who
broke with his party to support Roose-
welt in 1882. But because Cutting op-
posed the President and voted to over
ride his veto of the veterans bonus bill,
the President cut Cutting off the list
One break with the President and it
was enough. The administration sought
to defeat Cutting in his fight for re-elec-
ton in 1884.
The Montana Senator with consider
able reason, told Senator Logan and the
Senate that there is no such thing as
gratitude in politics. The only satisfac-
ton. he said comes to man in political
Office from doing what he thinks is
right.
Whether the President is going gun
ming for the Democratic Senators now
opposed to his court bill, who come up
for reelection next year, has not been
disclosed. But certainly speeches like
Logan's would seem to lay the ground
work for such action. Wheeler himself
does not come up for reelection until
will either be running for reelection
himself-as some of his friends are
| already urging him to door will be
| seeking to name his successor.
| X
Joseph Lieb, who was president and
organizer of the 1st Roosevelt for Presi-
| dent Club but who has more recently
| become sharp critic of the Roosevelt
administration, recently addressed a let
| ter to Senator Logan asking whether
| Logan. who is favoring the court bill
had been promised place on the
Supreme Court. Senator Logan replied
under date of July g. with considerable
resentment that no one connected with
the administration had ever suggested
to him such a thing as appointment to
the Supreme Bench Logan also an
sWered another question propounded by
Lieb. Would you favor or support
President Roosevelt for a third term if
he desires to run?" Logan's answer
was: Il am not for the President for
third term
This statement of the Kentucky Sena-
tor is quite clear as to his position on a
third term He differs in this from the
position taken by Gov. Earle of Penn
sylvania, who insists that the President
should be renominated and reelected
Both Logan and Earle are supporting
the Presidents court bill. Three years
hence the Democrats will have nom
mated their candidate for President 1t
remains to be seen which is the better
guesser. Earle or Logan, on this impor-
tant question.
M ~, ,;.tr y1o- Il l.
| doned the Presidents S original court bill
and have taken up with the Logan
| Hatch compromise 1t has already been
| demonstrated from the debate, however.
| that the administration leaders expect
| to obtain the same ends from the COM
! promise as they did from the original
bill. Senator Minton of Indiana, while
| admitting as much added that the COM
| promise would be SLOW motion"
That is the only regret of the admin
| iStration leaders. The President will not
be able to appoint six new justices of the
Supreme Court forthwith. He WILL under
the compromise, be able to appoint only
one new additional justice each calendar
year, If any justices rs years of age or
more remain upon the bench. This
admission that the administration ex-
pcCtS W ODIdl1l 1JS ellQS from lne COM
| promise bill may be something of blow
| to the mild reservationists" like Senator
| Hatch of New Mexico, who could not
stomach the original bill but who are
shouting for the compromise.
With the thermometer on the up and
| up in Washington, the debate over the
| court bill in the Senate is not likely to
become more and more mild The admin
| istration leaders are frankly laying plans
| to check prolonged filibuster If they
| can by interpretations of the Senate
rules. One plan is to have the chair rule
| that Senator may speak only twice in
| one day on given subject, and that a
Legislative day" in the Senate is "one
| day." although it may run over long
| list Of calendar days. Then by not per-
| mitting the Senate to adjourn, but to
| have it recess from calendar day to CAL
| endar day, the same legislative day is to
be kept going.
Senator Pittman, the President pro
| tempore, has indicated that he will hold
| that the rule applies to the Legislative
| day." If he does an appeal will be taken
from his ruling and that question will be
| debatable and will be debated, probably
| at length. If his ruling is upheld, the
| opponents of the bill will still be able to
! offer innumerable amendments, upon
which they may speak twice, no matter
how long the Legislative day. is contin-
| ued. Several amendments are already