The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-17
JUSTICE JAMESC.
 M'REYNOLDS TALKS
toontinued rum rage D

prominent alumni or bne fraternity called upon to speak extemporane- ously. Less than hundred persons heard his remarks.
 ITO be a judge is not agreeable work in many ways" he said.
 Were in a troublesome world. There is a strange common unrest, a strange disposition to forget that great injunction to prove all things.
 There Is strange restlessness. a strange desire to break away from that which is proved--to rule or ruin.
 Tt is difficult to understand this wilful opportunism."
 McReynolds said that he had al. ways tried not to forget the oath taken by all officers of the United States to support the constitution.
 Protects Everybody
 He told what he said he has had fin mind during his many years on the bench--"to protect the poorest darkey in the Georgia Backwoods as well as the man in the mansion on fifth avenue, and I have the same obligation to the man in the mansion on Fifth Avenue as to the humblest person fin any walk of life" The American people, Me- Reynolds said, have a great desire that their government shall not go to pieces and that i've shall come together to answer to the applause of all right-thinking men. They have determined that our success in history shall not be thrown to the winds. The constitution has succeeded beyond expectations of the fathers. We have seen rights to life, liberty and property pre- served.
 Troublesome Decrees
 Every man in public life has troublesome decree to fulfill" Then he turned to Sen. Tom Connally, D.. Tex, a staunch opponent of the presidents judiciery program who was seated beside him. Brother Connally," he said, "llas followed the dictates of his own reason" Me- Reynolds started to sit down. He said he wanted to talk more, but that 1t would take too long. Mem- bers urged him to continue. Me- Reynolds agreed.
 Complicated Government
 You have the most complicated government since the beginning of time," he said. "It is a piece of machinery 50 difficult to operate that unless 1t can have the constant attention of upright and intelligent citizens, its continuation is not pos- sible. ITO manage all its divergent interests and do 1t intelligently from Washington is impossible. The man who can do it has not been born" Local interest, McReynolds said, must be adjusted.
 Commenting on the duty of U, s, citizens, McReynolds said: "The cit- izen has enormous obligations. He needs to be reminded that no two men think exactly alike. We need to understand that all minor diff culties must be subordinated to the major purpose. The citizen needs a constant awakening as to the ob- ligations as well as to his rights"
 Aids Roosevelt Attack
 Foes of the Roosevelt judiciary program hailed his remarks as aid ing their attack. Supporters of the president privately were inclined to reply by referring to McReynolds' record as a so-called conservative" justice.
 T have been more than compen- sated for getting off Q red- stove to be here," Sen. Tom Connally, D., Tex, opponent of the court plan, said of McReynolds remarks. Con nally attended the fraternity ban- quet.
 Sen. Frederick Van Nuys, D., Ind, opposed to the court change, de- clared that McRenolds' speech would aid the fight against enlarge ment of the court.
 Tt Is rather unusual" he said. "but it Is indicative of the feeling that has been aroused by this court | controversy"
 Recall His Decisions
 Administration supporters, less inclined to view McIseynolds' re- marks as affecting the court battle, recalled privately that the justice once handed down a dissenting de- cision in which no other members of the court joined.
 They recalled that, during the gold clause decision, McReynolds unexpectedly delivered extempora- neous remarks during the course of reading his opinion. In those re- marks he said that the constitution lis gone." The power to devaluate money he compared to the power Nero undertook to exercise in Rome"
 That never was the law" he said," and the shame and llu- initiation of 1t all no one of us can foresee."
 Sen. Edward R. Burke, D., Neb., another active leader against the presidents plan said, Justice Mo- Reynolds expresses the thought that lies in my mind. Every word he said is freighted with truth"
 "The people should give his re- marks very serious thought" he asserted. "The court members are handicapped but I believe they should go as far as they can in dis. polling the unfounded and unwor- thy charges levelled at our great court and at some of It's members" approval of Gov. Wilbur L. Cross. Despite this, democratic leaders sought to delay action. 4 bitter de- bate, 1t was understood, broke out between republicans and democrats in the reorganization committee exe- cutive session yesterday over whether to report the bill at once.