Evening star., 1937-04-26

When President Roosevelt reaches
New Orleans this week, he is assured of
a cordial welcome in the former realm
Of Huey Long. Although Louisiana
cherishes the Kingfish in fond memory,
all traces Of enmity between his organi-
zation and the New Deal have vanished.
Today all Of Longs one-time close polit-
ical aSsociates-men like Gov. Leche and
Senators Overton and Ellender-are ar
dent Roosevelt supporters. In token OF
the love-feast that now prevails, in place
of one of the f1ercest political feuds in
American history, all three Long lieu
tenants aforementioned are active
boosters of F. D. RS judiciary scheme
What might have happened in 1896 and
after, had Huey lived-that's another
story.
Antitrust action against the Aluminium
Company of America is the belated after
math Of proceedings against the big Mel
lon combine, that hark back to the
Coolidge administration. The Federal
Trade Commission had conducted an in
vestigation Of the industry and submitted
a report. The Department of Justice,
then headed by Attorney General Sar-
gent, found no cause for prosecution. The
next phase was Senate action instigated
by Senator Thomas j. Walsh, Democrat,
of Montana and which sought to upset
the Justice Departments decision. The
proposal did not prevail. Agitation for
prosecution was renewed during the
Hoover administration and second De-
partment of Justice survey of aluminium
ensued. 1t was about completed when
Mr.. Hoover left Office, but the impression
had taken root that the department
would again probably determine there
was no cause for anti-monopoly pro-
ceedings. This was the situation when
the New Deal came in, whereupon At
torney General Cummings ordered a
third and exhaustive aluminium inquiry
with the result that antitrust action of
the greatest magnitude since the smash
ing of the Standard Oil and radio COM
bines is now in sight. The aluminium
company's troubles with the Government
originated In the humble field of kitchen
utensils.
Senate judiciary committee hearings
on the Supreme Court program wound
up in blaze Of dullness and apathy.
Begun amid unparalleled political tensity
and public excitement, they ended with
senators themselves, as well as specta-
tors and newspaper men, dignifying
them with nothing but bored attention.
Soon after proponents and opponents
exhausted their rival arrays of headline
witnesses q month ago, interest steadily
waned. It was expected that Adnlinis-
tration forces might finally attempt to
pump fresh life into the proposition by
playing trump card to Offset the op-
POSITIONS star performance in introduce
ing letter from Chief Justice Hughes.
But all concerned decided that the coun-
try was drenched with weariness by the
Niagara of words that had fallen from
the lips of 100 witnesses and heckling
committeeman, and so determined to
call it day. Strong doubt exists as to
whether the exhaustive (and exhausting)
hearings changed a single congressional
vote.
In 400 page Supreme Court edition"
of its quarterly publication, Talks" the
Columbia Broadcasting System has just
compiled the 40 addresses delivered over
its network, pro and con, since the ju-
dietary issue first began to burden the
wave-lengths. They include the two
broadcasts Of President Roosevelt, At
torney General Cummings opening plea
in defense of the bill and airings OF the
issue by Senators Wheeler, Burke, Rob-
inson and Glass, Representative Ray
burn, Judge Pecora, Professor Moley,
State 1overnora And oklrpv r,rnsofnent Al =.