The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-04-01
SEEN and HEARQ>
around the a@N
NATIONAL CAPITALA< /
By Carter Field -
FAMOUS WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
INGTON CORRESPONDENT

Washington. -- More pure hokum
is being dispensed in the fight on
President Roosevelt's proposal to
enlarge the Supreme court, and
more is expected as the debate
grows hotter, than is usual even In
q senate debate.
The principal cry against 1t is
that it is a long step toward die
tatorship: that Mr.. Roosevelt is
grasping for more power than
good man should want, or bad
man should have"
Some OF the very men making
this charge are supporting con-
stitutional amendment - to per-
NIT congress to override Supreme
court decisions by two-thirds vote
of both houses-which would lend
itself much more effectively to the
use OF dictator.
Advocates OF the plan make much
of the point that 1t is necessary to
keep the high court in touch with
the times-that the mine old men"
are living in the past. But those
making this point do not mention
that the new blood" they scream
for would be only temporary; that
the Roosevelt plan, il successful,
might easily lead to court OF Is
justices, at some future day, all OF
whom might be IS years old and
utterly out of sympathy with what
ever administration might then be
in power.
Opponents OF the President say
that this action would destroy pub
lie confidence in the Supreme court.
But it is rather interesting that the
net effect of the proposal has been to
bring forth q tremendous demon
stration of popular approval for the
high nine-certainly amazing in view
of the election results of last Novem-
Der. Nor do they talk much, in max
ing this point. about the many in
stances In the past where the num-
Der OF justices has been changed.
Extends OF the President insist
that the step is absolutely necessary
In carrying out the mandate" of
the people in the 46 to victory OF
the President last year. But they
do not mention that there was no
reference to any tinkering with the
court in the campaign-that ON the
contrary both sides talked about
clarifying amendments.
Blames High Court
The President In his victory din
ner speech would have the people
believe that the high court stands In
the way OF flood prevention and dust
bowl remedying. Which surprised
even government lawyers, who had
been priding themselves on their
victory" in the T. v. A. decision,
which permitted building dams for
flood and navigation purposes, and
even permitted sale of incidentally
produced" electricity.
Friends of the plan talk of the diff
culty-almost impossibility-of get
ting through an amendment to the
constitution. Whereas the old docu-
ment has been amended beyond
recognition in the lifetime OF those
speaking amendments permitting
income taxes, direct election of SEN
ators, compelling woman suffrage,
imposing prohibition and then re-
pealing it, all despite highly militant
minorities in opposition.
Much of the difficulty OF the child
labor amendment, incidentally, or
which friends of the proposal lay
such stress, has been due to two
things a religious angle, which
seemed to some to open the door
To federal interference with religious
| schools and sectional unwilling
nesy~ 40 surrender what was re
garded as an economic advantage
But senator after senator, who il
desperately opposed to the very
things that MIR. Roosevelt wants IL
open the door for by his cour
change, has suddenly become louG
in his insistence that 1t is con
stitutional amendment giving thu
federal government power to regu
late wages and hours and working
conditions, rather than packing
Of the Supreme court, which i
desirable.
All this Is natural and logica
political sequence, of course. fol
these same senators, and those WIKI
agree with them, are much NOR,
confident OF beating the Presjden
in fight for constitutional amend
ment than by majority vote Ii
either house or senate. ~
1t has been long time since an.
President has turned on so mucl
heat in fight. Every ounce of pres
sure Mr.. Roosevelt can bring t.
bear lis turned on.
Causes Surprise
There is much surprise in Wash
ington that the country should hav
so completely accepted, at full fac
value, President Roosevelt's deci
sion to retire from the White Hous
in January, l94l. 1t was first printe'
in the authorized and Roosevelt ed
tied article of Arthur Krock, in tn