The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-02-12

LINES VI OtT0tCky OI0WM AZ
ready for Battle of Cen
tury'' Over ROOsevelt's
Court Reform Idea.
Washington, Feb. 12-Lines Of
strategy In what may prove this
country's most historic battle now
begin to take form.
"A Struggle-at least comparable
In bitter intensity and probably Of
more far reaching importance than
that over the league Of nations
Is in prospect over Roosevelt's
program for judicial reform. The
opposition, with such old-tirne IRE
concilables" as Senator William E.
Borah and Hiram johnson among
its leaders, will seek to employ tao
tics used In the league fight.
Arid Franklin ID. Roosevelt, as
his chief Woodrow Wilson once
did, will take his cause TO the
country-this time through the
ether from the fireside at the
White house to the firesides Of the
nation.
The, senate will be the battle
ground again, as a Roosevelt VIC
tory In the house Is commonly con-
coded. When the attack on the
league began'in 1919 hardly anyone
thought Wilson coulC be beaten. The
late Senator Brandegee has assured
Borah 1t was hopeless and Borah
had said. well, let's 60 ahead;
today Borah Is saying, well, we've
got chance to beat It," Borah and
johnson, like six justices who would
quit the supreme court II Roosevelt
had his way, are over 70 years old
now. -
Will Broadcast Warnings
The successful idea Borah, john
son, Lodge, Brandegee and others
had IS years ago, was to prolong
hearing and debate until they could
din into the nations ears what they
conSidered the dangers of entry In
| to the league. Today the idea Is to
bring on parade Of nationally
known figures who will broadcast
warnings as to the Roosevelt plan
while republicans and conserva-
tive democrats keep raising hue and
cry on the senate floor.
Republicans are remaining mute
for the present, as a matter Of con-
certed policy, explaining privately
that democrats must win this
fight" Reduced to impotent minori-
ties at November's election, they
realize they cannot now provide
leadership, but will throw their force
behind democrats who will take
the lead.
Just Rubber Stamp
Chief among opposition charges
will be that Roosevelt has made
congress rubber, stamp and now |
hopes to bring the supreme court
completely under. his thumb, max
ing himself an absolute dictator"
Lobbyists and lawyers for special
interests are on the job, fearing that
If Roosevelt gets more appointees
In the court, their last refuge from
new deal laws passed by congress
will be gone.
The Roosevelt plan may be
harder to beat than the league
Of nations because republicans
had a senate majority In 1919 and
isoIa tionists needed only to pre-
vent two thirds majority rattfi-
cation vote. 1t Is also uncertain
how influential will be the criti-
cisms of nationally known men
who were conspicuous In the CAM
paign against Roosevelt.
The administration campaign TO
popularize the program began with
a national broadcast THURSDAY
night by Congressman Maury Nav
erick, who introduced the bill, to be
followed by an all-important radio
speech from Roosevelt.
They Had $4,000
It will be continued with public
assertions that the judicial power
has been outrageously abused. that
reforms which Roosevelt has prom
ised and presumably were endorsed
In the election can be had IN no
other way. Speakers will say that
disposition justices who lived
lived comfortably through the de-
preston on 10000 year should not
be allowed to threaten agricultural
prosperity, minimum wages, collec-
tive bargaining. relief, anti-sweat-
shop and anti-child labor measures
or public works and that the coun-
try should not be kept In turmoil
two or three years or the welfare OF
120,000,000 persons gambled with
while a constitutional amendment
Is sought.
Ten States Needed
The county will be reminded. as
Mrs. Roosevelt already has begun
to remind 1t, that although every
one professec publicity to abhor child
labor, the child labor amendment Is
now 10 year old, with 10 more states
still needed for ratification. This
amendment merely permits congress
to regulate or prohibit" labor OF
persons under 10. The North Caro-
lima house and Governor Hurley Of
Massachusetts, recently have turned
down Roosevelt's plea for ratifca-
ton.
A primary administration argu-
ment will be that In this govern
ment of checks and balances the
executive has q check ON congress
through the veto and congress a
check ON the executive through
power Of the purse and power to
override the veto.
However, the judiciary has q
complete check over both and
,,a;tI,ar uvreaa s.nr axecut}ve any |