The daily independent., 1937-07-22

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Was Attempt To Scare Waver-
ers Back Into Fold; Opposition
Now Has Advantage, But FDR
Wins In Forcing A Showdown.
Washington-Behind all the
maneuvering, jockeying and tur-.
moil that has cnurned the Capt.
tai into dizzy bedham for the
last week lies just one thing-the
desperate desire Of many oppon-
ents of the Presidents court bill to
avoid a show of hands on the is
sue.
Leaders like Senators Wheeler
of Montana, Burke of Nebraska,
O'Mahoney of Wyoming and Nc
Carran Of Nevada have cut their
bridges behind them and are
ready to risk their political fu-
lures. But many of their follow
ers are literally in a blue funk
over the prospect of putting them
selves on record.
They dislike the court legiSla-
ton, want to see it aXed, but are
scared to death over having to op-
pose the President publicly. They
are delighted to sabotage behind
his back, but don't like to come
out in the open. This is particu-
larly true Of the boys who come up
for election next year. They fear,
and with good reason, that their
stand will encourage candidates
to take the field against them on
the issue of failing to support
Roosevelt.
For, despite terrific political
hammering, the Presidents name
still has ballot-boX magic. Not
even his most die-hard opponents
deny that. Pat McCarran, in his
Senate speech on the court issue,
virtually admitted that his atti-
tude would cost him his seat next
year.
So, hardly had the news of
Senator RobinSonS death per-
meated the Capital than a furious
undercover drive got under way
to persuade or bluff the President
into dropping the court measure.
Shelving Drive
Their first tactic was to scare
him into quitting. Burke and
Wheeler spread the word that
they had enough private aSSur-
ances to send the Logan Com
promise bill back to committee,
and that when the Senate recon-
vened after the Little Rock fun
eral they would Immediately
make such a motion.
It was a bold bluff and for a
few hours had the White House
in a sweat.
The lineup before Robinson S
death was very close, with the
ants certain of between AZ and
"A votes. With five more reliable
converts, the opposition would be
in the saddle. But a frantic ad-
ministration check disclosed that
despite all their coCky talk the
ants did not have those neceS-
Sary few votes, and that the Situ-
alton, while close, was unchanged.
With this bluff a flop, the an
tiS turned indirect pressure on
Roosevelt. They persuaded a
group of jittery freshman Sena-
tors to call on him and suggest a
truce. The Presidents answer
was:
The Senate will. Of course, do
as it sees fit in this matter. But
I am not quitting. Win or lose
shall insist on the record being
made clear and unmistakable. !
shall insist on this so that when
the Court next year begins hand
ing down decisions the country
will know who is to blame for the
failure of liberal measures to OBJ
tain valuation
The delegation emerged with
beaded broWs. Their worst fears
were confirmed. The clear impli-
cation of Roosevelt's words was
that he was prepared to throw
the issue into the 1888 congress
Sional elections.
1t was the effect which this
challenge had on the freshman
waverers, Plus the furious propa-
ganda drive being Waged by the
opposition, that caused Roosevelt
to issue the My dear Alben" let
ter to Acting Floor Leader Bark
ley. The White House stratcbiSts
figured that if a little private
bogey-boOing had such a marked
result, a big public dose might be
doubly efficacioUS.
AnyOnc's Guess
The final outcome of this sup
er-hcated struggle is anyonc's
guess.
The advantage now definitely
lies with the opposition. But one
thing is certain. The boys can't
duck a showdown. They have got
to face the music and go on re-
cord. That is one thing on which
the President has won.
His letter to Barkley slammed
the door on any hope Of an ami
cable settlement. Only time will
tell whether a vote against him
on this issue will prove to be the
political cyanide he thinks it will.
A lot of the boys wish fervently