Evening star., 1937-07-22
The New Senate Leader.

Senator Alben w. Barkley of Ken
tucky, new Democratic leader Of the
Senate, enters upon his duties under
difficult conditions. His broad shoulders,
however, are capable. His rise in party
politics has been consistent. He is a
good soldier and should make an excel
lent leader. Like his precedessoq, the
late Senator Robinson of Arkansas, Sen
ator Barkley is strong partisan. He
believes in party rule. The administra-
it can rely. Like Robinson, too, Barley
halls from Southern border territory. He
also made his way upward by the force
Of his own personality and hard work.
Tt devolves upon BarkIey to bring har-
mony into the ranks of the Democratic
Senate, that have been split wide open
in the fierce struggle over President
Roosevelts proposal to increase the
membership of the Supreme Court.
Barkley has been a partisan of the Presi-
dent in this fight. He has been so recog-
ni8ed. Nearly all Of the opponents of
the Presidents court program among the
Democrats voted yesterday for his op-
ponent in the leadership race, Senator
Pat Harrison of Mississippi.
If there is to be harmony, the court
bill must be disposed of without further
delay. 1t must be disposed of IN a way
which will be satisfactory to the opposi-
ton. According to Senator Wheeler of
Montana, leader of the opposition, this
can be accomplished only by the aban-
donment Of any proposal to increase the
membership Of the Supreme Court. This
proposal was the heart of the Presidents
court reform plan. To abandon it will
cause bitter pang to the administra-
ton. The choice must be made however,
between this desire to increase the
Supreme Court membership and an over
powering desire for harmony among the
Democrats not only of the Senate but
also Of the House and the country at
large.
Senator Barkley's position necessarily
Is difficult. 1t can be made much easier
II the President himself agrees to the
harmony drive and is willing to sheIve
his recommendations regarding the
Supreme Court. Should the President
continue his insistence that the highest
court shall be changed in personnel by
action of Congress, the outlook for
Democratic harmony in the Senate would
be exceedingly dark.
The opposition to the court bill is will
Ing, it appears, to give the new party
leader an opportunity to try his hand
at solution of the tangle over the
court bill. 1t is willing to wait several
days. 1t is not willing, however, to yield
on the essentials, as 1t sees it. Nor is it
likely that 1t will yield to such silly
threats as those made by Governor Earle
of Pennsylvania, who is demanding the
political scalp of every Democratic SEN
ator who has opposed the President in
this court bill fight.
Barkley gained his spurs in the DO
iAoioai 1hSCo years ago, lISI Ill MS own
home State and later in the House of
Representatives. He came to the Senate
In March, 1927, little more than
decade ago. He is an effective speaker,
willing at all times to mingle in debate
In 1882 he became the keynote speaker
OF the Democratic National Convention
which nominated President Roosevelt,
and last year he performed the same
service at the national convention which
renominated the President In earlier
days he was strong supporter of ma
tional prohibition. When he became con-
vinced that national prohibition was a
failure he supported repeal.