The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-16
Publisher Directing
 Constitutional Fight
Frank E. Gannett Circuates Nationwide Petition, Op-
 posing Presidents Changes in Supreme Court

Rochester, N. r., Feb. 14.-Ffom E. Gannett, publisher of the 0annett newspapers and an ardent supporter of some of President Roosevelt's policies, announcing the organiza- ton of a National Committee to Uphold Constitutional Government" ]" made public today the committees form of petition to congress and Q statement of its purposes.
 MT. Gannett flew from his winter home in Miami Beach for confer- ences in Washington and New York and thence will return to Rochester to give his time to the work of the committee, of which he IS temporary chairman and treasurer.
 Leads Fight
 The committees petition to con- gress Is being distributed to iadi- viduals and organizations from coast to coast, to whom MT. Gam nett has written personally. Follow ing is MT. Gannett's announcement:
 "Since I commented on President Roosevelt's proposal for startling changes in our supreme court, I have received commendation and asSur- arce of support from various parts of the country. So many have urged me. to lead & fight to preserve and protect the supreme court and our constitution that have been per- suaded to join with others in the organization of national commit tee to iiphold constitutional govern ment.
 "The object of this committee will be to help mobilize and coordinate individual and mass protest against the proposed undermining of an tia- de. .,endent judiciary.
 ''Never in our history have the American people been, 50 deeply stirred. It is not an issue for par- tisan politics. It transcends party. overshadows religious, racial, and all other dividing lines.
 "Our form of government was set IL, ..s a protection against tyranny and autocracy. Our forefathers saw the necessity of having the three departments, legislative. executive and judicial, kept separate and in- d .i,endent.
 One-Man Master
 If we permit one man to become the master of all three branches of the government and of the funda- mental law, then we shall throw away our most precious heritage and shall have sounded the death knell of democracy.
 If all those who believe in our form of government will rise up and make their protest heard in Wash- ington, the constitutional balance among legislative. executive and judicial department of the govern. men1 can be preserved.
 "The national committee will In. clude outstanding democrats and republicans, liberals and conserva. tives. It will be representative of agriculture, business and labor, the rich and the poor alike--f0r one has as much at stake as the other. It will include leaders in education and religion, and representative men and women of ali professions.
 "A petitiJn has been drafted. uni- versai in its appeal, which will be distributed through the nation for use by cooperating committee sand organizaticns ia every state and congressional district Copies of this petition have been sent to every daily newspaper in the country.
 ~The national committee encour. ages immediate action of all pa. triotic and civic organizations al. ready in existence. Its purpose is solely to coordinate and assist other activities and to supply a medium of expression for all unorganized ili- dividuals.
 No Quarrel
 "We have no quarrel with the president personally. but VIC shudder to think what would happen to q nerica if the unlimited powers Y 1t ne would gain for himself by getting control of the supreme court. should fall Into the hands of an ui1.