Evening star., 1938-07-06
Van Nuys Scores.

One Senator of the United States, at
least, has apparently lost nothing by
courageous opposition to President
Roosevelt's court bill-Senator Freder-
lex Van Nuys Of Indiana. His further
courage in declaring that he would not be
cast aside and into the discard seems
to have brought home the bacon. The
signs now point to his denomination by
the Democratic State convention when
1t meets July IL.
whether the hand of the Democratic
State organization-headed by Governor
M. C!ldord Townsend-has been forced or
whether he has not, the present decision
to give Senator Van Nuys denomination is
in the interest of good government. A
Senator who votes his own convictions,
even against the titular head of his
party. on an issue involving the integrity
and independence Of the courts, is worth
retaining in the United States Senate.
Indiana politics, however, is one Of
the marvels. A year ago Governor Town
send announced as he left the White
House that the official days of Sen
ator Van Nuys were numbered. The
Senator's fight against the Presidents
court bill, the public was given to under
stand, was the last straw. The Demo-
Gratis Of Indiana would have no more of
Van Nuys. Today this same Governor
Townsend has sent telegram to Senator
Van Nuys, inviting him to participate in
the Democratic State convention as a
candidate for denomination.
The invitation Of Governor Townsend
might, on the surface, appear merely
as the old tale of the spider and the fly.
That, however. scarcely seems probable.
Senator Van Nuys would never agree to
enter the Democratic convention as a
candidate If he were not first given an
iron-bound agreement of support for re-
nomination. Further than that, what
could Governor Townsend and the State
organization hope to win in the event
that Senator Van Nuys accepted the in
vitation and the Governor permitted the
convention to turn Van Nuys down?
That would not prevent Van Nuys from
carrying out his original threat OF
running as an independent candidate for
the Senate. And the supporters of Van
Nuys would be all the more disgruntled
and dangerous.
Apparently Governor Townsend and
the rest of the organization Democrats
have reached the conclusion that the
party risked defeat at the polls In No.
vember unless Senator Van Nuys would
agree to stay within the party fold. The
only way to retain him was to renominate
him. His independent candidacy would
merely serve to split the Democratic
party. leaving the Republicans a real
chance Of victory.
To Governor Townsend, Senator Min
ton and other leaders Of Hoosier democ-
cracy, the political fate of Paul v. Nc
Mutt, former Governor and now United
States Commissioner in the Philippines,
is OF paramount Importance They see
him as q presidential nominee in 1910 and
President in 1941. Republican VIC
tory in Indiana this year would be a
poor jumping off place for Mr.. McNutt
in 1910.
So whether President Roosevelt and
the inner circle Of New Dealers in
Washington like it or not, Senator Van
Nuys Is to be renominated-unless the
Governor-and Mr.. McNutt-have an
other change Of heart. The renomina-
tion Of Van Nuys, with united Demo-
cratic party back of him, is regarded as
nearly equivalent to reelection. In the
first place, Van Nuys has been built up
as a model Senator. courageous, inde-
pendent, faithful to the Constitution, by
several of the largest Republican news
papers in the State. There was even
talk of Republican coalition with the
independent Van Nuys to defeat the
Democratic nominee. It will be difficult,
under these circumstances, for the Re
publicans now to turn on Van Nuys and
fay him, If he becomes the Democratic
andldate-without having yielded an
inch of his independence.
Senator Van Nuys must thank the Re-
publicans for the new spirit Of toler-'
ance which has come over the McNutt-
Townsend-Minton organization in In
diana. For the g. o. p, instead Of
nominating old guard former Senator
Jim" Watson at their recent State con-
vention, picked new man. without any
ofhcial record, a man to whom all Re-
publican factions could 20.
Yet when all is said and done, Senator