The daily independent., 1937-07-10


As Brains Of Court Plan Oppo-
sition; Quiet Man From Oregon
Conceived Strategy While COL
leagues Shouted; COP Floor
Leader Never Raves Against
New Deal; Didn't Back LandOn;
Entered Politics After Teaching
Law; Earnings His Chief In
tereSt.
Editors Note: The Brass Ring
is good for one free ride on
The Washington Merry-Go-
Round" Winner of this honor
today is Senator Charles L. Nc
Nary of Oregon, Republican
Floor Leader of the U. S. Sen
ate.)
Washington-The voice of the
Senate opposition to the Supreme
Court reform bill is the Strident
and raucous below of Wheeler,
Vanderberg, Burke, ct al.
But the brains of the opposition
rests with a slender, self -effacing
gentleman who, as far as the pub
lie knows, is as remote from the
scene of battle as the North Pole
He is Charles L. McNary, SEN
ior Senator from Oregon, and
floor leader of the Republican
forces in the Senate.
Throughout the five months OF
maneuvering and committee tus-
selling over the Supreme Court,
McNary not once has appeared IN
the forefront. Yet behind the
scenes he has been the master
mind of the fight against the Pre-
sident. The ants never have made
a major move without consulting
him. Senator Wheeler, their tit
ular generalisSimo, holds on to
McNary'S coat-tailS like child to
its mothers aprOn-String.
Friend and Foe
1t was McNary who conceived
the brilliant strategy OF keeping
the Republicans in the back
ground and letting the Demo-
Gratis attack Roosevelt. 1t was
McNary who conceived the mo-
tiun to refer the Logan compro-
mise bill back to committee, thus
giving wObbly Democrats a chance
to vote against the President and
vet have an alibi to Justify theil
action.
And it is McNary who has been
telling the notwithstanding an
tis in blunt. SinglC-Syllable terms
that fools they are to play into
RO0Sevelt'S hands by threatening
a filibuster.
Even Administrationites rueful-
ly admit that the greatest asset
of the opposition in its protract-
ed duel with the President has
been the counsel and leadShip OF
the Senator from Oregon. They
also concede that he is the big
gest asset the Republican Party
has on Capitol Hill.
Strangely enough. G.. O. P. die
hards sometimes indulge in be-
hind-the- hand muttering against
McNary because he doesn't rant
and rave against the New Deal
They can't forgive him for keep
ing his shirts clear of the Lam
don-KnoX ticket and tending hr
own knitting. But what they for
get is that IN an election that saw
Republicans boWled over like ten
pms Charley McNary defeated a
powerful Democratic opponent
and returned 10 washington tc
continue as leader OF MS party
ranks IN congress.
Un-folltical
In appearance and manner
there is nothing OF the politician
ABOUT Charley McNary.
He rarely makes a speech, nev-
er indulges in forensics, has nc
calluseS from breast-thumping
He is one OF the most approach
able, even-tempered and best
liked men in Washington. The
President and Administration
leaders regard his judgment Sc
highly and trust him so complete
ly that on occasion they even &c
to him for advice.
McNary looks like the popular
conception of a Youthful big busi.
ness executive. He is slender tan.
ned and nattilv attired his Ster
has the spring of an outdoor