Evening star., 1937-05-12

been making trips to various States
and has kept in touch with the men
who are most influential with the
Democratic Senators in Washington.
BY various devices national polit-
ical machine which has done favors
for the local political bosses through
the allotment of Government funds
can bring to bear pressure on legisla-
tors here.
McReynolds Due for Post.
Perhaps the most interesting evl-
denoe of the alertness OF the New
Deal machine to the importance Of
getting votes for the court bill spon-
sored by the President was the
appointment of Maj. Berry to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Sena-
tor Bachman of Tennessee. Logically
the position should have gone to Rep
resentative McReynolds of Tennessee,
who is chairman of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee. Gov. Gordon
Browning of Tennessee visited Wash
ington and talked with President
Roosevelt before he announced the
appointment of Maj. Berry.
Mr.. Bachman was one of those who
leaned toward the opposition side Of
the court debate while Mr.. Berry is
outspoken for the Presidents plan.
Thus the New Deal has gained one
VOTE
Under other circumstances, in the
wicked old days when State Legisla-
lures used to elect United States Sem
ators and when improper influences
were brought to bear to elect them,
there would have been hue and cry
II the President of the United States
or any member Of his cabinet had
taken the liberty of even discussing
the selection by State of its United
States Senator
Today the intervention by the Chief
Executive in Washington can, with
out exciting more than ripple Of
criticism, extend not only to discus
sion OF prospective appointees with
Governors but actually to the opera
ttons Of the Farley machines, which
today are arranging to put up candi-
dates IN the Democratic primaries
next year to battle against those Dem
ocratic Senators who have the temer-
tty to vote against the proposal to
pack the Supreme Court.
Prepare to Pack "Senate."
What is happening before the eyes
Of the country is the activity of polit-
ical machines preparing to pack" the
Senate of the United States next year,
especially in those States where the
results of Democratic primaries are
equivalent to an election. The big
Rest weapon, of course, of these polit-
tcal machines is the support they get
from the National Government in the
ALLEGATION Of public funds to be spent
In their respective districts.
Almost without exception the polit-
ical bosses in the big cities which
dominate the electoral vote of a given
State and likewise who hold the bal
ance Of power in State primaries are
on excellent terms with the Farley
management of the Democratic party.
These working alliances have made
II possible for the chairman of the
Democratic National Committee to
make another prophecy - namely,
that he has the votes to put through
the Presidents proposal. On the
surface it has seemed that the oppo-
sition to the packing of the court
was making real headWay and that it
might have margin OF five or six
votes, but when Mr. Farley says he
'has the votes" most everybody who
b familiar with the practical politics
Of the situation is inclined to believe
that Mr.. Farley knows whereof he
speaks.
Political Lobby Powerful.
It is not surprising that Mr.. Farley
has the votes, but what is surprising
is that few people in America care
enough about the way the Farley ma
chimes get the votes to insist that the
Congress of the United States find
out how number of its members are
being influenced, if not coerced, in the
exercise OF their legislative functions.