The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-18

There is the repeated declaration by those who arc fighting the President that the Judiciary Com mittee's decision is already in the bag and that ten of its eighteen members are slated to cast their votes,-and mayhap their poIit. ical futures = into the scales against the proposal. We will know probably when tomorrow mornings papers arrive with the coffee. f
 The Cats Jump
 While the Judiacjary Committee is making up it's mind MT. Roose- welt upon his return from a short holiday let it be known that he is standing pat on his proposal as is. His mind was made up when he tossed the measure into the con- gressional battle pit and from all present indications he has not changed 1t whit. In all prob- ability he has pretty good idea how the committee members are going to behave when the show down vote is called for. He must be well informed how much of the opposition is based upon scru- pies of conscience, how much of it is just so much blatherskite tub humping, how much of it is founded op motives of political ex- pediency, and how much takes it's rise not SO much in dislike for the proposal as in active animosity for the proposer. He also must have the conviction that, even if the Judiciary Committees report be unfavorablo, eighteen men do not represent the Senate and that when the final count of senatorial noses is taken enough opponents to the bill will have seen the light. And string along with him. It would not be the first instance in which anti-Rooseyelt opposition died aborning.
 Playing Safe
 When the floor debate really gets going whatever it develops the country may have the oppor- tunity of finding out where cer- tain Democrats stand. To date many of them have refused to be smoked out and remain in the po- sition of watching to sec which way the cat is going to jump. These gentlemen, however, may sit in silence while the cratorical big guns are belching and make Up their minds at the last minute or have their minds made up for them. Playing safe Is an old Washington game.
 t
 Nothing New
 It is easy enough to analyze the opposition which comes from cer- tain Democratic senators. Some of them, like Glass of Virginia, are ingrained conservatives and by reason of their Southern back ground may be characterized as traditional Democrats rather than staunch believers in the social and economic philosophy which is the essence Of democracy. To Dc a Democrat in the country south of the Mason Dixon line is sym Onymous with being member of the white race. It is also an abso- lute requirement If one wants to hold political office. But 1t does not mean steadfast attachment to the Democratic party as such. Nor to it's candidate for the presiden- tial office. Nor to its occupant. It should not be forgotten in the heat of this Supreme Court con- troversy that most Southern Democrats act like regular party men only when 1t suits them to do so. The fashion in which the Solid South buried It's bowie knife In the vitals of Alfred E. Smith back in 1928 is a case in point. Tradition then went by the boards and for the first time ill the his- tory of the country Democratic presidential nominee saw the sup porters who were supposed to stick to him when all others fled. flock to the polls to cast their ballots for his Republican opponent. So dis affection amongst Southern Dem ocrats is neither new, nor strange nor startling.
 CNvlfhert1 Re0CtiOnaire
 It would be new, S.rs.iss, and startling if in the ranks of the Presidents oppotents Senator Glass, Senator Josiah Bailey sof North Carolina, and the kind of Southern mind they typify were not to be found. Glass is a bank CT from the top of his head to the soles of his feet and represents the habitual banking viewpoint. Bailey is a corporation lawyer. And so down the line. The Southern die-hards do not want the Su- preme Court touched by the Roosevelt hand for obvious req sons. The Court, as 1t now stands, has held sacred the rights of prop erty as superior to the rights of humanity. That is the Glass Bailey ct al position. President Roosevelt secured the passage Of social and financial. legislation which attacked the foundation oI the Glass Bailey ct al concept of ideal American economic society. The Supreme Court, as 1t now stands found most of that legisla- ton unconstitutional It is only natural therefore that Glass; Bailey ct al should oppose any proposal which might iii any way effect the rcactionary majority on the Supreme Bench.
 Not For Love
 I do not think l. Is because of tlieiF love for siit Court as ari irl-
 u z