Evening star., 1937-07-17

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dents faction and #
the opposition n-:.,..
within his own
party are saying that Mr.. Roosevelt
has committed blunder Of far reach
ing proportions and that he has taken
4 leap into the dark.
The letter to Senator Barkley is in
elumsily written, as il dashed of in
anger or irritation. and lacks coher-
ence or perSuaSiveness 1t is in style
wholly unlike the smooth flowing
sentences of Mr.. Roosevelt's carefully
prepared radio addresses.
Next. the letter is in just about as
bad taste as a President Of the United
States could possibly display When
he saws that advantage is being taken
of the mourning period by opposition
Senators, it is tantamount to a declar-
alton that he thinks when a group Of
Senators use bad taste, he is justified
IN following their lead The philosophy
that two wrongs never make 4 right
Is as vital today as it ever was.
uOvernOf Splue0 DS4nS.
But what are the facts? Who really
violated the spirit of the mourning
period occasioned by the death OF
Senator Robinson? Within a few
hours after the news was flashed
throughout the Capitol, that the ma
1ori1y leader was dead, the Governor OF
Indiana, Clifford Townsend, unset the
applicant. He came out Of the White
House and uttered a death sentence
To the political career of Senator Van
Nuys of Indiana, Democrat. who has
been opposing the Presidents bill to
destroy the independence of the
Supreme Court. The Indiana Cover
nor told the correspondents that the
Democratic oreanizat ton in his State
wouldn't renominate Mr.. Van Nuys.
This was like a declaration OF war
m Capitol Hill. Having been said on
the doorstep of the White House. the
ntterance was taken TO mean that the
White House had begun its campaign
of revenge and that A candidate would
he entered in the Democratic primaries
with White House support in order TO
defeat Mr.. Van NuVS.
There is only one answer to such
q challenge and that is to fight. II
the Democrats in Indiana who be-
lieve in constitutional government
happen to be outnumbered at the
primaries next year by voters who
call themselves Democrats but who
favor one-man government OF the
fascist type, then the Republicans
Of Indiana on the same day will be
able to checkmate such tactics by
giving their party nomination to Mr..
Van Nuys 40 that he will be on the
ballot anyway and so that the con-
stitutional Democrats plus the Re-
p,blicans can return him to the
United States Senate.
A Principle At Stake.
The situation has gone far beyond
party lines. There may be men in
Indiana ambitious for the Republican
nomina ton for Senator. but with the
eyes OF the Nation on the Hoosier
State, it is doubtful if any mans am
bition should be allowed to stand in
"
against White House dictation to the
people in their own party primaries.
The principle of home rule and
self government will be at stake What
may happen in the Indiana primaries
also may happen elsewhere. The
President wants Senator Barkley to
become majority leader. Senator
Byrnes Of South Carolina. one OF the
ablest Of the Senators, says he doesn't
want the leadership at this time"
which in itself is significant. It may
mean that he thinks a leaders task
IN trying to reconcile the opposing
factions is hopeless Certainly the
veteran Pat Harrison might help Mr..
Roosevelt out of hole, but he, too,
il reported reluctant to undertake the
Job.
II Senator Harrison does become
leader, he might possibly succeed in
carrying on the truce which Senator
Robinson managed with dificulty but
nevertheless with some degree of ef-
fectiveness. He had hoped to limit
the cleavage in the party to the court
night alone.
Sign of Weakness.
But with Mr.. Bsrkley chosen leader.
the battle will BE- on without quarter.
The determination OF the group who
oppose the Presidents effort to control
the Supreme Court is 40 great that
they will gain converts If the fight
n prolonged.
Developments are coming rapidly.
The President has been aware OF the
fact that his lines have been slipping
and his letter to Mr.. Barkley was q
desperate effort to hold his forces in
tact during the mourning period He
found an excuse to issue the letter by
charging that his opponents were vio-
lating the mourning truce. but the
reason WAS regarded AZ so transparent
IN Capitol Hill as to be accepted As 4
sign OF weakness
At the moment it looks as il 4
resolution 10 adjourn Congress by Au-
gust would have the best chance Of
passage by both houses This would
mean that the court bill would be
laid aside. 1t would stay on the eal-
sndar until next January unless re-
ferred back to committee for further
consideration. There are more votes
available in the Senate for an ad-
journment resolution than for 4 mo-
ton to send the court bill back to
committee. The adjournment resolu-
tion Is expected to originate in the
House.
The President would look with
euusnimity on the adjournment idea.
He will probably say this is . chal-
lenge by Congress to his leadership
ana he would then carry the issue to
the country. We may yet see between
now and January = situation not un-
IKE . political campaign with or
eanisations at work, mass meetings
and nj other agencies of public opin-
ION operating A. campaign momentunts
tCspyrisht. 1872 x