Evening star., 1937-07-27
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


which grew out of the terrific battle
over his Supreme Court program. He
has called in to see him in recent DAYS
some of the leaders who so strongly
opposed his court bill, as, for example,
Senator Burke of Nebraska. Undoubtedly
the President will be met half way or
even more than half way. 1t has not
been the desire of these Democrats to
tear down either the President or the
Democratic party.
Reprisals by the administration against
those Democrats who opposed the court
bill could only lead to a war of wide and
extended scope. In many of the States,
North, South, East and West, Demo-
cratic Senators are found who stood
firm against the court bill and forced its
abandonment-NeW York. New England,
Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Wyoming, Ne
vada, Nebraska, Maryland, Iowa, Vir-
glnia, North and South Carolina-in fact,
the opposing Democratic Senators hailed
from every section of the country If
party warfare grew out Of this contest
1t would tear the Democratic party wide
open. 1t might be more disastrous than
the split in the party growing out Of the
slavery question in 1860 or the sound
money question in 1896
Next year there are tWenty-eipht
Democratic Senators who come up for
reelection and only four Republicans.
In that group of twenty eight Demo-
Gratis are included not only many
OF those who opposed the Presidents
court plans, but also several of the men
who took leading part in that oppo-
Sltlon, among them McCarran of Ne
Vada, Van Nuys of Indiana, Clark of
Missouri and George of Georgia Other
opponents OF the court plan in this list
are TydlngS of Maryland Smith of
South Carolina, and Gillette of Iowa,
and counted against the plan. Lonergan
OF Connecticut and Adams of Colorado
and others. II the Democratic organiza-
ton, dominated by the President and
Chairman James A. Farley of the Demo-
cratic National Committee, undertakes
TO hamStrlng these Senators and to pre-
vent their denomination. the campaign
OF 1888 Is likely to be one Of the most
bitter ever Waged. Republicans will re-
turn to the Senate under conditions of
DIVISION in the Democratic ranks be-
yOnd the per-adVenture of a doubt
Whether the breach in the party is to
be healed effeCtually, however. NAV de-
pend to certain extent upon what is
done with other measures of the Presi-
dents program. The court bill was not
the only item on the list of controversial
nature. The Presidents bill for the re-
organization of the executive depart
mentS has Stirred up another hornets
nest in Congress. 1t may be resisted
and will in certain featureS-as strenu-
ouSly as was the court bill. The wages
and hours bill is another that will bring
a test.
Many of the Southern Democrats IN
Congress look aSkanCe at the wages and
hours bill. They feel that the proposed
labor standards board might, by wave
OF the hand almost, put an end to in
duStues in their home States. Wages
have been lower in Southern mills than
in Northern. If they should be made
the same, while it might be considered
falr in some quarters. it would be con-
sldered distinctly unfair in the South,
not to mention disastrous. The wages
and hours bill is the unfinished business
OF the Senate. And it is the purpose of
the administration leaders to drive it
through that body as quickly as possible
If ever there was legislation which should
have the most careful scrutiny, it is this
measure.
If the Congress quits however. without
passing a labor bill or a farm bill.
number of embarrassing questions may
be asked. Why, for example, was Con-
greSS in session for six or seven months
without acting on such measures? The
answer is that Congress was tied up
waiting for the President and the Senate
to finish their fight over the court bill
The administration could have had early
consideration of farm and labor legiSla-
tion--if 1t had been willing to lay aside
the court bill. Having butted it's head
against stone wall without accomplish
ing the legislation it demanded the ad-
mlnlStratlon is now demanding that
measures of great Importance be rushed
through by a weary and overheated
Congress.
Col. James Roosevelt, son of the Presi-
dent and one of his secretaries. is not
to try for the Democratic nomination
for governor next year. in the opinion
of one of the best political observers and
writer's in Boston. John D. Merrill of the
Boston Globe. Writing in his newspaper.
Mr.. Merrill said after recent visit Of
Col. Roosevelt to Massachusetts,:
James Roosevelt made it plain on his
visit here that he would not be in 1888
candidate for Governor of Massachu-
sets, but would support Governor Cur
ley for reelection. Mr.. Roosevelt had
previously made similar statements, but
perhaps they were not so direct and
unequlvocal as were his answers TO QueS-
tions asked him Thursday.
"It is generally accepted that the Pres
idents son has political ambitions and
believes that this State, where he main
tains his residence, is the most promising
place in which to set out to crafty
them, but it is equally likely that he has
often been accused of doing things for
political effect when, as a matter of
fact, he had no such aim in mind. In
recent weeks stories have been circu-
lated that he would run for Governor,
for Lieutenant Governor or for Congress
in the 1888 primary. He has now taken
himself out of the governorship. for
1888 at least, and there is no real evi-
dence that he intends to try for any
of the other posts with which his name
has been associated.
X X *
"If and when he decides to be
candidate for Office he will have to
make q hard fight. Perhaps his wisest
course would be to give up his place in
Washington, come back to MaSsachu-