Montana labor news., 1938-05-26
BOOK REVIEW
Continued from Page q

the why's and Wheretore's OF Bur
ton X. Wheeler's opposition to Presi-
dent Roosevelt's Supreme Court re-
form plan, the chapter on the Con-
stitutional Crisis is well worth read
ing. In this chapter the author deals
with the historic background of the
Supreme Court showing how, in
every critical period it was used as
a bulwark by the r~eactionaries. He
throws light on the recent struggle
over the Supreme Court reform
plan;
THE Supreme Court, by nullify-
ing almost all legislation e~mbodying
Roosevelt's policies, and thus closing
constitutional doors against any
measures of a progressive, demo-
cratic and MISUNDERSTANDING char
acter, has brought the country to an
impasse.
Roosevelt, and all the progressive
and democratic forces which have
gathered around him, must either
surrender to the program of his de-
feated enemies of the Republican
Party, the Liberty League, and the
right-wing of his own Democratic
Party-Or he must take up the battle
to override the Supreme Court, to
bring that institution in line with the
policies which aroused the enthusi-
astic support of the vast majority
of the people.
Roosevelt has chosen to take up
the fight. In his choice of weapons
he has taken that n which prom
ises the least fundamental victory,
but the quickest one-to change the
composition of the Supreme Court.
The Democratic Party, which
Roosevelt heads, has an overwhelm-
ing majority of both houses of Con-
gress. With his program clearly and
indisputably within the constitution
al powers of Congress to enact and
enforce, it would seem that Roose-
velt's victory in this fight should be
quick and overwhelming.
But this is not so clear in the
actual relation of forces. Among the
Democratic Congressman, particular
ly in the Senate, there is a strong
right-wing which on this issue is
combining forces with the Republi-
cans, probably as a prelude to a
more permanent political r%egrouping
in the country at large"
The author clearly shows that, in
the building of an American Peoples
Front, unity in the labor movement
is a necessity. He blames the execu-
tive council of the A. F. of L. for the
split in the trade union movement,
and urges unity between the C. I. o.
the A. F. Of L. and the Railroad
Brotherhoods on the basis of the
c. 1. o. neutrality-suspicious. of
the unorganized into industrial
unions.
Throughout the book the Commu-
mist leader refers to the revolution
airy and progressive traditions of the
American nation. He continuously
points to III American giants
Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine,
Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson.
To prove that the foreign policy of
concerted action" against %aggressors
is an American policy, stepped in
American tradition, Mr.. Browder
quotes Thomas Jefferson's letter to
James Madison written in March,
1898:
'The idea seems to gain credit
that the naval powers combining
against France will prohibit supplies,
even of provisions, to that country.
=. I should hope that Congress
would instantly exclude from our
ports all the manufactures, produce,
vessels and subjects of the nations
committing this aggression, during
the continuance of the aggression,
and till full satisfaction is made for
it,"
All in all the book throws a new
light on Communist policy. It is
well worth reading for students Of
American history, as well as active
trade unionists, and all interested in
current political developments.
LEO GARNET.
"The Peoples Front" published
by International Publishers, Inc.
Price $2.25.