Evening star., 1937-06-30
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Gen. Ulysses S. Grants famous dc
tum from Spottsylvania-'I propose to
fight 1t out on this line If it takes all
Summer"-has been formally adopted
by Gen. Burton K. Wheeler, commander
In chief of the Senate army opposed
to the Roosevelt Supreme Court bill.
Senator Wheeler's campaign to smash
compromise proposals has been organ
lied on lines that contemplate battling,
If need be. until snow flies. The fili-
buster program will be carried out by
seven flve-man teams" under designated
captains. whose sworn duty it is to talk
to death Roosevelt-inSpired efforts to
salvage any sort of victory, two justices
or otherwise, from the court-packing
wreckage. Teams and captains are ap-
pointed, instructed and ready for action.
Different quintets will be assigned to
hold the floor for certain days of each
week, talking as far into the night as
required, or all night. The marathon
will be carried on indefinitely, with
plenty of lung power in reserve Eight
Senators are told off to serve as emer-
gency spellbinders. Gen. Wheeler's next
in command is Senator Burke of
Nebraska. Senator Clark OF Missouri
is chief of the parliamentary staff in
charge of tactics.
While the brunt of battle will be
borne by the Democrats. they will not
lack powerful Republican support.
Senator McNary of Oregon, resourceful
and astute minority leader, will from
the outset be an important ally in floor
strategy, while the G. O. P.'s biggest
oratorical guns. Senators Borah, john
son and Vandenberg, will be at the
Democratic opposition's disposal for
duty on the firing line whenever and
as often as necessary. Graphic evi-
dence of the prospective duration Of
the war of words is Vandenberg's an
nouncement that he alone is loaded with
a l6-hour speech, which is "a mere
outline of what he'll have to say later.
All in all, the stage is set for one of
the most continuous performances Capt.
tol Hill has ever put on. The Senate
chamber will ring with more belligerent
eloquence than has shivered its timbers
In many day.
Administration forces are by no
means idle in preparing for the fray.
Senator Robinson, Democratic majority
leader, is busily engaged in perfecting
his own campaign plans and is ex-
pected shortly to indicate their general
nature. According to unperturbed Sem
ator Ashurst, Judiciary Committee
chairman, there's no inclination on the
part OF the proponent forces to interfere
with Legitimate debate" even though
this should assume the unmistakable
guise of fllibuster. Says the Arizonan:
MY own position remains the same as
when the bill first came before our
committee-'no heat no haste no hurry,
no worry Personally, believe that
anywhere from three to four weeks Of
discussion is inevitable. On with the
show!"
No one got a gayer, gladder greeting
from Mr.. Roosevelt at Jefferson Island
than Senator Wheeler, archfoe of the
court bill. 1t was a CHEEKY Hello,
Burt" from the smiling President when
the Montanan hove into view, and an
equally hearty Hello, Mr.. President"
from him. Good-bys were exchanged
between them in the same cordial terms.
But that seems to have been the be-
ginning and the end of their fraterniz-
ing. Other anti-court- t-packers at the
picnic had about the same experience.
How much there is to the theory that
the Chesapeake Bay love feast caused
certain opponents at least to deplore the
ferocity of the Judiciary Committees
adverse report, in its personal refer
ences to F. D. r.. remains to be dem
onstrated. Impending Senate debate
will show to what extent, If any, they
have recanted.
X +
Our Army and Navy aviation people
are convinced that the recent Polar