Evening star., 1938-05-23


pretty much alert ,-
all the time to
the political problems in the various
States and do something about it
long before election day The Florida
result might have been different if
the conservatives had organized there
two or three years ago The same
would have been true of Oregon.
Today there's a situation develop
ing in the State of Indiana which
concerns the believers in constitution
ri government everywhere, constitu-
tlonal Republicans as well as con-
stitutional Democrats, more vitality
than any other situation in national
politics. And what are the constitu-
tionalists doing about it? Very lit
tie. In fact. it looks as if few
scheming Republicans who pretend
10 be interested in the maintenance of
constitutional government may play
into the hands of those who are try
ing to circumvent constitutional gov
ernment in America.
I refer. of course. to the situation
IN Indiana. where President Roosevelt
5 getting ready, with the aid of the
States political machine. to punish
Senator Frederick Van Nuys because
re dared 10 stand up for his convic-
tons and vote against the bill which
Sought to pack the Supreme Court.
Logically. the way to beat such a
same IS for the Republicans not to
70
, i.cke. against Mr.. Van Nuys, who is
planning to run as an independent
s-a.rst a New Deal-selected candidate.
But some of the Republican leaders
are quietly preparing TO make NOM
.aat.or of their own, thinking that
n & three -cornered race a Republican
viii win.
Nominations by Conventions.
Cn6er the Indiana law nominations
are made for United States Senator
no. by primaries but by party con-
ven-ions The Republicans have their
convention on June % and the Dem
ocrats on July IL. Senator Van Nuys,
who was elected as Democrat, is
being vetoed for denomination on his
own party ticket by the national and
State administration political ma
chimes. He would hardly be able to
make the race on the Republican
ticket, as he is not a Republican, and
besides he has an opportunity as an
independent to get many thousands OF
Democratic as well as Republican
votes. If the Republicans in their
State platform Endorsed Mr. Van Nuys
and failed to nominate any one for
Senator themselves. Mr.. Van Nuys
would be in a strong position to get
the Republican vote and large seq
ment of the independent and truly
liberal Democratic vote.
AS matter of fact the Indiana sit
Nstion is perhaps the clearest of all
the examples of administration re-
prisal, as well as one-man govern
ment which could be cited. Anybody
who doubts that the White House plan
is to punish Mr. Van Nuys for his
battle on behalf of the Supreme Court
needs only to examine his record in
behalf of administration measures on
all other subjects.
Thus. Senator Van Nuys voted for
the N R. A., the A. A. A., the Wagner
Labor Relations Act. the death SEN
tence" for utility holding companies,
the housing legislation and the Senate
bill providing for minimum wages and
maximum hours. Is there anything
in that record which should make
Senator Van Nuys the target of attack
L,
against the bill on packing" the Su-
preme Court and against the reor-
ganization bill. 1t is also.true that he
denounced Shutdown" strikes. But
does the administration demand 100
per cent obedience to its dictates so
that men elected to the Senate shall
not represent the people of their re-
s3ctive States but only the commands
Of political boss in Washington?
Mr.. Van Nuys' Record.
Since the record of Mr.. Van Nuys
Is so distinctly in accord with the
major objectives of the New Deal with
the exception of the Presidents effort
to influence judicial decisions of the
highest court in the land, the con-
clusion is inescapable that man who
stands up for the integrity of our judi
cial system is about to be marked for
political slaughter.
It NAV be hard for some of the
Republican leaders in Indiana to over
look some of the Van Nuys votes on
behalf of New Deal measures, but the
maintenance of an independent judi
cary free from political attack-which
barrage by the way has recently been
revived by Secretary Wallace-is more
important than local ambitions and
local feeling about Republican organ
ization regularity or custom.
If the Republicans in Indiana
abandon Senator Van Nuys to the
political wolves, Republicans in other
parts of the United States of the truly
liberal and progressive type might well
consider then the wisdom of joining
forces with constitutional Democrats
in a complete abandonment of the
Republican party as hopeless inStru-
mentality, indeed one that cannot be
relied upon in crisis to subordinate
petty politics to high principle.
Perhaps as a woodrow Wilson DEM
ocrat, this correspondent might be
charged with a leaning toward the
basic principles which used to underlie
the Democratic party and with no
particular affection historically for
the Republicans as party. But the
true test of sincerity in problem OF
this kind is whether if the situation
were reversed and Senator Borah,
Republican, were in danger of being
defeated by radical Democrat, the
same reasoning would apply-all con-
stitutional Democrats would then
logically be urged, if the State laws
permitted, to throw their votes to Mr..
Borah in primary and, of course, to
assist him toward election irrespective