The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-17
{. BEHIND T THE SCENIESI .ASFIING ON .M RODNEY DUTcHER-h -h
 Democrat Washington
 Correspondent)
m R0pNkY pUrchER-A

Correspondent)
 Startling Consequences May
 Follow the Death of Sena-
 tor Robinson, and They All
 Depend on Possibilities
 That Aren't Often Related for the Public Ear.
 Washington, July 17-The death of Senator Joe Robinson has been the signal for great cry that con- tinuance of congress on It's job would be flying in the face of Ale mighty God and a fool-hardy risk of the precious lives of its members.
 It certainly seems to make . fllibuster impossible, and that pre- Sumably is why the court plan op- position forces are piously plead ing for . long adjournment. Such an adjournment may be taken, but at the moment there is a curious unanimlty on each side-the one holding that the Roosevelt pro- gram must now be dropped while all hands go home, and the other insisting that 1t be driven through.
 If Roosevelt sticks to what he told his strategists and lieutenants 6 few hours after Joe Robinson was found dead, the compromise court plan which the senate had been debating, a government re- organization act and wage-hour law are still on the must" list. Sutherland to Go Next?
 The one thing most likely to block supreme court and other legislation this summer Is e process which in- siders in each camp speak of as throwing Justice Sutherland to the wolves" This means that Justice George Sutherland, his fellow jus tices and their congressional defenders may decide that It's worthwhile for Sutherland to resign. Because If Sutherland did quit, fol- lowing in the wake of Justice Van Devanter, congress almost certainly would insist on going home for keeps.
 Wives and daughters of sena- tors are a potent factor In the demand for quick adjournment. They're worried about husbands and daddies, and Roblnson's death has thrown . scare Into the heavy. drinking crowd In the sem ate, some of whom Gnd it easier to climb aboard band wagon than water wagon. But the White House is send ing private threats that 1t will hold congress up to scorn If 1t tries to run out without passing the final triple-pointed must" program.
 Although Joe Robinson did work his head of and presumably would be alive today If he had kept away from his job - the plain fact is that most members get paid $l0,- 900 a year for doing little but sit In a comfortable air-cooled cham Der and listen to other members talk. Most members at the present time are afraid of both themselves and Roosevelt.
 What Was to Blame?
 The game of politics begins to be played Just as soon as the news of a prominent politicians death gets around, and candor compels the ad- mission that few of those who de- livered splendid eulogies to Robin son failed to have both ears and both eyes cooked at the changed political situation caused by his death.
 The argument as to what was to blame for Joe's death?" rages all over town, although few are willing to speak for publication on the subject. The oppositionlsts are wailIng and weeping over the fact that Robinson was kept In harness until he dropped, forced to make his last valiant fight for a court bill he really didn't like and an appointment to the supreme court for which he passionately yearned.
 The administration crowd re- piles that the filibustering tactics of It's opponents threw terrific and needless strain on Robinson, and point out that the most sen- sational development In the court fight occurred just few hours before Robinson died, when Chair man Hatton Summers of the ju- dietary committee broke loose with scorching denunciation of attempts to jam the court bill through.
 Wheeler's Friends Worry
 Senator Burton K. Wheelers friends are worrying about him since he called on Roosevelt to withdraw the court plan Hest he seems to be defying God" Wheel CTS bitter dislike of Robinson has been common talk here for years, and although the White House gangs feeling that he has been guilty of unusually bad taste may not be valid, that statement and other signs indicate that Wheeler is not standing the strain any too well.
 senator copeland, speaking as the only physician in the senate, issues grave warnings of immi- nent collapses among senators. He would get more attention if he were not an outstanding cpposi- ton leader, and if it were not cus- tomary here to smile at Copeland utterances. Everybody knows, of course, that congress has been loafing for six months. Neverthe- less, a majority in eacl house would promptly vote to quit If it were not for White House pres sure. It is not impossible that this pressure will relax. Whether con- gress stays or goes now depends | entirely on whether congress or the White House sets its. teeth hardest.