Evening star., 1937-03-10
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Any doubts that Democratic members
OF Congress will invite punishment at
the hands Of the New Deal high COM
mand by opposing the Roosevelt Su-
preme Court plan would seem to be re-
moved by Postmaster General Farley's
plain speaking in North Carolina yester-
day. His address contains no direct
threat OF reprisals, but between the
lines is pretty plainly to be read that
SHINING brethren up for reelection next
year and after can hope for no SUPPORT
from the administration political ma
chine. II they were tempting fate today,
Sunny Jim predicts In so many words
that they would find themselves as
lonesome as did the others who cast
their lot with the Liberty League last
November" 1t remains to be seen
whether this implied threat of future
retribution will cause Senators or Repre-
sentatives aligned against the judiciary
program to repent. At one point 1t
looked as If Mr.. Farley were even sug-
gesting that Democrats should build
backflreS behind men now ranged against
the President. This at least is the
deduction made by some observers from
the national chairmans advice that you
60 out and talk to your own neighbors
and learn from them how much atten-
ton they are paying to the charge that
Mr.. Roosevelt is trying to make q dc
tator out Of himself"
~ +
One passage in the Farley speech
which attracts widespread attention Is
the assertion that If President Roosevelt
receives authority to enlarge the Su-
preme Court, "the judges he appoints
If confirmed by the Senate-will be
lawyers Of known ability and standing. !"
This fiat and presumably authoritative
declaration appears to dispose Of the
theory prevalent among certain ad-
vanced liberals that additions to the
bench might include "laymen," as well as
professional jurtsts, especially economists
or social reformers with avowed par
tiality to New Deal plans and speciflca-
tions for the more abundant life.
4
Much Of the speculation as to the
ultimate effect Of the widening rift in
Democratic ranks over the judiciary
controversy revolves around the fact that
In three Of the four Southern States
which broke away from traditional party
moorings in 1928-Virginia, North Caro-
lima and Texas-present senatorial dele
cations reveal definite hostility to the
President. Virginias pair-Glass and
Byrd-are both against the Roosevelt
plan. One Of North Carolina,s twain,
Bailey, Is in opposition, rs is one Of
Texas couple-Connally. All OF which
suggests to politicians that q grave party
division, such as rent the solid South
nine years ago, when Al Smith and pro-
hibition were the causes, might easily
come to pass again should q Roosevelt
packed Supreme Court be the paramount
issue In 1910.
Mobilization Of the Non-Partisan
Labor Leagues cohorts for lobbying pres
sure on Congress In favor Of judiciary
reform stirs interest in the question Of
organized labor's favorite candidate for
the presidency in 1940-always provided
that F. D. r. himself isn't in the field.
Judging by the ovstions rendered them
In Washington this week, either Senator
Bob La Toilette Of Wisconsin or G. I. O. q
laurel-crowned chief, John L. Lewis,
would prove acceptable. Young Bob
scored heavily with his onslaughts on
the lame ducks Of the Supreme Court.
His references to his late fathers long
light against judicial autocracy" also
evoked fervid enthusiasm. Maj. George
L. Berry stressed the possibility Of new