Evening star., 1937-07-15
Member of the Associated Press,
Handwriting on the Wall.

Handwriting on the Wall.
When President Roosevelt last Feb
ruary sent to the Congress his bill for
the enlargement of the Supreme Court
the country stood aghast. Resentment
against this attempt to pack the high
, est court in the land has mounted as the
months have passed. Finally, convinced
that this measure could not receive
favorable action at the hands of Sem
ate Overwhelmingly Democratic, the ad-
ministration consented to "compro-
mise" the substitute now pending be-
fore the Senate. The ediflce is the same.
Only the front is changed.
Is the President to insist further that
this measure be passed? The Demo-
cratic leader of the Senate, Joseph T.
Robinson of Arkansas, greatly beloved
and respected by his colleagues, died
suddenly yesterday as the battle over the
substitute was going into its second week.
The administration leaders have indi-
Gated that the contest is to go forward
Notwithstanding the death of Robinson.
Under whip and spur the measure is to
be driven forward to passage.
The handwriting is upon the wall,
however A victory by the administra-
ton, If it is obtained, is likely to cost
more than a defeat. No one, not even
Franklin D. Roosevelt can create such
division, with its accompanying bitter
ness, in the ranks of any political party
and benefit thereby. The President has
been warned, not only by the Democrats
In the Senate opposing this measure but
by the chairman Of the Judiciary Com
mittee of the House, Representative
Summers of Texas.
The time has come, if wiser counsel
prevails, to drop this measure which has
offended millions of Americans There
is no assurance today that it can be put
? through the Senate. Even before the
( death Of Senator Robinson it was be-
9 coming increasingly clear that the op-
J position to the bill was gaining strength.
The debate in the Senate has demon
strated that the compromise is merely
the original proposal in another guise.
, Its purpose is to make the Supreme Court
= subsefvient to the executive and to the
, legislative branches of the Government.
The administration has wrongly gagged
the sentiment of the country. 1t has
wrongly estimated its strength to compel
the action OF the Senate. There seems
no graceful manner in which it can with
draw from the untenable position into
which 1t has forced itself. Yet there
avoided.
From the mere physical attributes of
the situation, the task of the admins
tration has become more difficult. With
the passing OF Senator Robinson, the
Senate took an adjournment. This
ended the Legislative day" of July s, a
fiction of the Senate whereby it was
hoped by the administration leaders to
curtal debate on the compromise court
bill and bring comparatively early vote.
For under the rules, as interpreted by the
administration leaders, Senator may
speak only twice on the same subject in
the same legislative day.
When the Senate resumes business
next Tuesday following the funeral of
Senator Robinson in Arkansas, a new
legislative day will begin Is it to be in
terrupted by the death of another Sena-
tor, and the plans of the administration
steam roller to be interfered with? Which
of the Senators is to offer himself as
sacrifice?
There is principle involved in this
struggle-a principle for which oppo-
nents of the Presidents court program
have announced themselves as willing to
60 down fighting. On the other side is
no principle, merely desire. If the ad-
ministration is wise, it will endeavor to
read the handwriting on the wall.