The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-21

Washington, July 21-There sim ply isn't any suc.l thing as an Em- fly Post who could draw the line between courteous propriety and shrewd hypocrisy when 1t comes to the White House attitude toward election of Senate majority leader to succeed Joe Robinson.
 Other questions of good taste and hypocrisy arising since the death of the late Joe are easier to solve. For instance, the issue as to which side in the court fight first got busy behind the scenes to capitalize on the new situation.
 The answer there is that each side got busy as soon as 1t heard the news. The court plan opposi- tion leaped into the backstage ma- neuvers no more quickly than ad- ministration forces. One side plot ted attack and the other counter attack. It was obvious to both that Robinson's death and the capital that could be made from 1t offered 8 fine chance t. maneuver the court plan and the rest of Roose- velt's program into the ditch.
 Wheeler Drops His Guard
 Then, take the question of which side has been most gauche and hypocr.tical in its public maneu- verings. For hours after Robinson's s body was found, certain administra- tion strategists-who feared devel- opments would rout their Senate strength-itched and hoped for some assertion from the opposition that Robinson'S death signified di- vine intervention in the court fight.
 They wanted an excuse for the President simultaneously to crack at the exultant opposition and at
 the same time deliver a bolstering
 message to his own wavering lines.
 Senator Burt Wheeler of Mon-
 tana, opposition leader, then
 dropped his guard by beseeching Roosevelt to forget the court plan
 "lest he be defying God"
 And out cracked the Presidents letter to Senator Barkley with its shrewd multiple effort to denounce those who lacked decent respect" for Robinson'S memory, endorse Senator Barkley by implication for the Senate leadership, stiffen Roose- velt's own ranks and check the op- positions attempt to have Congress adjourned at once.
 But then the President assured Senator Pat Harrison of Missis- sippi that he was taking no sides in the fight between Harrison and Sarkley for the leadership. This came at a time when Roosevelt agents were nearly killing them selves In WaShingt0n's prepoSter- ous summer heat, seeking to put Barkley over.
 It Is fantastic to assume that Roosevelt had not told these men he wanted Barkley and wanted him badly. His closest intimates pound- ed home the argument to senators that this leadership selection would decide the future of the New Deal and of the democratic party. Profess to Be Neutral
 The democratic opposition had no illusions. It lined up against Bark ley almost to a man, spreading the word that victory for Harrison would mean the end of the court bill. Everywhere this fight became to be regarded as tho greatest test of the Roosevelt administration to date, and especially a real test for those senators who had kept in- sisting they were liberals but couldn't stomach the court plan. Harrison always has been consid- cred conservative, and Barkley more than mildly liberal)
 And yet, in the face of all this, Roosevelt and Farley professed to take 8 neutral position!
 "The proprieties demand it," explained 8 high-up administra- ton man to your naive corre- spondent, who suggested 8 bit more candor might be acceptable. "The President simply must not appear to be telling the Senate whom to pick for its leader.
 On the other hand, of course, certain republican senators were bringing pressure on certain demo- cratic senatorial friends in behalf of Harrison. You may be sure that these gentlemen were taking an att titude of strict neutrality"
 It's funny how many politicians there are in politics.
 Copyright, 1887, NEA Service, Incl