Evening star., 1938-01-18
THE POLITICAL
MILL
ny C. GOULD LINCOLN,

The nomination OF Solicitor General
Stanley r. Reed to be an associate JUS
tice Of the Supreme Court has been
generally acclaimed. It Is expected that
the Senate will confirm the appointment
without delay. although the Senate Judi
ciary Committee has arranged for hear
ings on the nomination Thursday A
subcommittee, headed by Senator Logan
Of Kentucky, home State of Mr.. Reed,
will conduct the hearings. The order
for hearings is In line with sentiment in
the Senate-not because Of any OppOsi-
ton to Mr.. Reed. The sentiment grew out
of the uproar which followed disclosure
last summer that Associate Justice BLACK
had once been member Of the Ku Klux
Khan.
The Senate at that time declined to
hold hearings on the Black appoint
ment. although Senator H. Styles Bridges
OF New Hampshire and others strongly
urged that course be followed. Justice
Black was then a member of the Senate.
The old unwritten rule was for the i'm
mediate confirmation of q Senator ap-
pointed to office. a part of the much
discussed senatorial courtesy. Since then
Senator Bridges has introduced q reso-
luton to amend the rules-the written
rules-Of the Senate so as to make man
datory investigation and hearings on all
Judicial ppOintmentS-Whether the ap-
pointee happens to be Senator or not
Senator Bridges has been promised
hearing on his resolution by Senator
Nicely, chairman of the Rules Committee
The promptneSs with which the Presi-
dent has filled the vacancy in the Su-
preme Court caused by the retirement of
Associate Justice George Sutherland was
expected. Also his selection of Mr.. Reed
Tor the place caused little surprise, al
though there was much speculation re-
garding the appointment and many
"posslbilities' were discussed in the
newspapers. Mr.. Reed, it has been re-
ported was under serious consideration
Tor appointment to the court last sum-
mer. at the time the President finally
decided to send the name of Justice
Black to the Senate
q ~
John L. Lewis. chairman of the C. 10.
was one of group of advisers who called
to confer with President Roosevelt on
the industrial and business situation last
week. 1t Is understood that Mr.. Lewis
rather biuntly told the President that
attacks upon industry and its leaders
from administration sources were tend
ing to make the situation worse, rather
than better; that there was real danger
OF further business recession If better
spirit OF understanding between the Gov
ernment and business was not forth
coming
There is good deal of pulling and
hawling right now to affect if possible
the attitude OF the administration. and
particularly of the President, in the
situation in which business finds itself.
one group-the more determined New
Dealers who would have the Government
control buSlness-are intent upon more
drastic regulation. Others insist that
what is necessary is for announcement
to business and industry. rather than
more brow-beating. The President is
hearing all sides. and conferences with
leaders of both industry and labor will
continue. The Presidents Business Ad-
vlsory Council. recruited through the
United States Chamber of Commerce, Is
to call at the White House tomorrow
for confab. The Chief Executive will
get considerable variety OF advice. The
report that Mr.. Lewis told the President
that the country was looking for some
thing different from Washington. that
LABOR itself was worried about the fu-
ture, Is OF considerable significance.
Mr. Lewis. himself. however has met
win 1ew checks in recent weeks He
has been charged with responsibility for
a breakdown in the peace negotia tions
between the A. F. L. and the C. I O
hV nf hi nh -
SKY. head OF the garment workers The
PRESIDENT has been particularly anxious
that the breach in the ranks of organ
lzed labor-due to the split of the C. I.
O. unions with those of the A. F.. L.
be healed. The administration seeks the
support OF labor. 1t would prefer a
united support rather than by one fac
ton.
The leader of the c. I. o. is by no
means daunted, notwithstanding these
criticisms. He probably realizes. as do
others. that a period of business recess
sion-or depreSSion-is not the time
when workers think so much about
Joining labor unions as when things are
on the up and up. They are more
anxious to hold on to their Jobs. or to
get what jobs they can. Lewis never
theless. Is going right ahead with his
plans for wider organization under the
c. /. O. His latest proposal is the
formation of farmers C. I. o. This
is something. Lewis does not believe
that the farmers organizations now
existing are at all adequate. He points
out that only about one fourth of the
farmers belong to any organiza ton and
that these organizations do not see eve
to eye with one another.
- Xxx
Writing in the Country Home Maya
zine, Lewis says:
Labor wants strong, unified agricul-
ture. And agriculture, on the basis of
labors clear record as a friend of the
farmer. should want and help the Gre
alton OF a strong. unified labor. If we
are strong, we will be the better able
10 cooperate. A numerically powerful
and prosperous labor movement is some
thing farmers would do we'll to fight for.
Should farmers perfect a central
organization, and should the C. I. O.
succeed in its objectives-as it will
these two organizations, standing to-
gether, would exert an enormous 1nflu-
ence. You can see what would happen
II they decided to do something.
THE white-collar groups, taught BY
distress and dangers of not being or
ganized, are rapidly unionizing. Indus
try already Is strongly organized. It
remains only for the farmers to form a
solid front and stand shoulder tn