Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-12

"HE seven OLD men OF tne pre-
Roosevelt Supreme Court stand
in debt to Burton x. Wheeler,
Il generalissimo of the Senate
forces that resisted the packing
putsch, but he owes them board bill.
His defense of their sacred inStitu-
ton has transformed the raw-boned.
rangy boy from Butte from an eco
nomic bomb-throWer. in the eyes of
the socially and politically elite, into
the darling of the Capitals most eX-
elusive drawing rooms. DoWagers who
used to hire extra guards for their
silver and linen when he was ram
paging against the railroads. the stock
market and their congressional chums,
now underscore the lines To meet
Senator Wheeler" on their invitations
to teas, receptions musicales and din
ners.
Chambers Of Commerce which once
wrlthed under his iconoclastic eco
Monies now bid for his presence at
their annual banquets. Burt has
gone In for chamber music" At a
recent Rotarian roundup he sat next
to George H. Davis, the high priest
of the Nations business men as presf-
dent of the United States Chamber
of Commerce. Subsequently this arch
conservative paid odd Bob" La Fol-
lette's 1924 running mate and Frank
lin D. Roosevelts original booster on
Capitol Hill dubious compliment.
You know" confided Mr.. Davis,
II didn't realize what a fine fellow
he was before" The trick word is
before"
Achieves Social Triumphs.
Burt" himself has changed. Twelve
months ago he snorted at the sugges-
ton that he might show up at Alice
Iongworth's exclusive and brilliant
salon on Massachusetts, avenue. It
was, he avowed. no place for the likes
of him-and then 1t wasn't. Re.
Gently, on the Senate floor, he ex-
pressed the honor and happiness he
felt at lunching with the daughter
of another Chief Executive named
Roosevelt-Teddy. not Franklin.
At the moment the headstronp
Sherman Minton was berating the
lobby tactics Of Frank Gannett's Com
mittee to Uphold the Constitution.
slumped in his seat in characteristic
poSture-a sardonic grin on his lips,
svelte but dead cigar in his fingers,
his long, slender legs twined beneath
his desk, dabbing at his chin with a
white NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Wheeler
listened to the extravagant statements
OF the Hoosierite. Then slowly he I'M
coiled, bayonetted that bony, daring
finger across the chamber and grinned
out the suggestion that the White
House ventriloquist investigate the
social lobby"
What does the honorable Senator
from Montana mean?" snapped Mr.
Minton, aglow with resentment and
righteousness. He usually Is.
Il mean" draWled Mr.. Wheeler with
that metallic tang in his voice that be-
speaks his Yankee birth and heritage,
the invitations certain Senators have
received for White House dinners dur
ing the fight on this bill"
Well" retorted Mr.. Minton. 1.-The
Senator ought to know lot about the
social lobby Just saw him lunching
with one of its principal members in
the Senate restaurant"
1t was then that the erstwhile rough
neck OF American politics expressed
his deep regard and admiration for
the feminine descendant Of the Oyster
Bay branch of the reigning family.
Neglected by White House.
Some times his friends wonder
whether he senses his present dilemma
They wonder whether. as a poor boy
who fought his way to eminence from
across the social and political tracks,
he will succumb to Wiles and guiles
that have lassoed so many other gusty
liberals. 1t is, of course. only natural
for him to taste the fruits and sip
the cocktails Of his great achievement.