Evening star., 1937-07-28

Democratic party harmony is not be-
ing promoted by any OF the legislative
controversies which comprise the hang
over Of the Supreme Court contest. Ad-
ministration inSiStence upon pre- lad
journment enactment OF a wages and
hours law, portions OF the Government
reorganization plan. housing and other
pending business finds the Democratic
majority almost as bitterly divided as it
was on the late judiciary measure.
President Roosevelt could hardly do any
thing more likely to unity discordant
New Deal ranks than to invite House
and Senate to stack arms. either recess
ing until October or calling 1t quits until
the regular session in January. There's
abundant opposition to all the bills in
question, no matter whether they're
taken up now or later. If. under White
House lash. immediate action Is de-
manded. resentment over prolongation OF
the session would undoubtedly manifest
itself in intensified antagonism. From
more than one friendly quarter 1t is
being dinned into F. D. RS ear that
it would be advisable and strategic from
every standpoint to let jaded Representa-
tives and Senators call 1t day, return
at once to their more or less loving
constituents and come back to Capitol
Hill like giants refreshed, in less en-
bittered and embattled times.
There must be at least a couple of
dozen barrels of unexploded senatorial
oratory that was ready to be touched off
If the court debate hadn't abruptly
petered out Eloquent big guns like
Borah. Johnson, Vandenberg and Glass,
to name only some of the highest caliber
pieces, had speeches in preparation that
would have taken honored place among
congressional forensics. Now they belong
to the ages without ever having spent
their intended force. On the House
side, too some powerful spellbinding was
in prospect. While the bulk of opinion
is that none of these unfinished SYM
phonies will ever be withdrawn from
cold storage, not few authorities think
the day is coming when Congress will
have to fight again for the cause in
which 1t was recently victorious. Those
who hold this view argue that it is
inconsistent with Mr.. Roosevelt's Dutch
tenacity to take things lying down.
* ~
Stanley F. Reed, solicitor general Of
the United States. Is Dame Rumor's latest
favorite for the Supreme Court vacancy.
His name is trotted out on the heels OF
reports that Bob La Toilette has pranced
into the lead for Justice Van Devanter's
place. Some think the La Toilette story
got it's names mixed-that the Senator s
brother, Governor Phil, is the member
of the Wisconsin dynasty really In the
running, he being the lawyer of the
brilliant fraternal twain. Stanley Reed,
who has always been a logical possibility
for the high bench, won new favor in
exalted quarters after the Supreme
Court, as the President recently claimed,
reversed itself on various New Deal
counts. Reed marshaled the Govern
ment's legal forces on the occasions in
question. The Kentuckian was offered
district judgeship just before being
drafted for the solicitor generalship. Un-
ending speculation over Supreme Court
appointments now includes the name of
Cordell Hull. Besides the fact that the
State Department chief will be 66 In
October. his friends doubt whether, be-
cause of his absorption in the reciprocal
trade program, the Tennesseean could
be persuaded to swap Jobs.
X X X
Reports that Brain Truster Tom Cor
coran may quit the New Deal recall the
not generally known fact that President
Roooevelt's favortte legal h1lainary came