Imperial Valley press., 1939-02-20
Demos Worried
Over Schisn,
By CHARLES p. STEWART


cratic managers are just getting
fairly at the task of assessing the
damage resulting from the recent
controversy between President
Roosevelt and Senators Glass and
Byrd over that Virginia federal
court appointment. While it was
raging the excitement was such that
bystanders could not accurately es-
innate the extent of the incidental
destruction. That there would be
considerable was all they could be
sure of.
The other day, however the dust
having settled little, the bosses
called party caucus to consider
the situation. A major party caucus
is quite an event. When one is called
it means that that party has some
thing on it's mind to think about
super seriously.
A caucus is more or less confiden-
tial Most of the news leaks out, but
it is unofficial. Well, the unofficial
news of that particular caucus was
of nature to make Congressional
Democrats, ever since, wear pretty
glum faces. The fact is, the pros
pect of 1910 is beginning to worry
them. Heretofore they have not
really worried. They have recog-
nized that their political faction
was badly disrupted, but they have
felt tolerably confident of getting
things sufficiently patched up by
next year to get away with at least
another administration. Now they
are no SO sure of it.
At that, though, Capitol Hill is
not such sad place. The Republic
cans are happy enough to counter
act almost any amount of Demo-
cratic dependency.
Bi-lateral Misery
The trouble with the Democrats
is that both wings of them are
wretched.
/. There's the Roosevelt or New
Deal wing, of course.
2. And there's the Democratic
anti-New Deal wing. I think I'd
say that Vice President Garner has
been its leader. Maybe its CO.
leaders today are Senators Glass
and Byrd. Glass, past 80, natur-
ally can not last long, but Byrd
can; maybe he will inherit the
whole Glass-Byrd leadership.
But how much good will it do
him?
On that issue of the Virginia fed
eral judicial appointment Senators
Glass and Byrd unquestionably
made Roman holiday out of Pres
ident Roosevelt.
First they licked his appointee.
That was technical decision in
their favor. Indeed, it was more
than mere decision. A 72-to-9
vote against the White House rated
as knockout.
Then ensued the exchange of COR
reSpondence between Roosevelt,
Glass and Byrd relative to the judi
cial appointment. I do not believe
anyone can dispute that the sena-
tors, on moot court grounds, prop
eily attended to the president. Pos
sibly it was unfair-two senators
versus one president.
The president spoke. Senator
Glass answered. At that point the
president ought to have rebutted
He was no given a chance to do So
Senator Byrd followed up Senator
Glass, without giving the president
a look-in
Having had a modicum of legal
education, I ask of lawyers:
How about this?'
Who Wins?
Thus, who wins?
Senator's Glass, Byrd ct al win, ir
way.
But they do not regain control ol
their party-if it rs their party
lhS ObiiCA lCilOWo lCtdnl COllbIO
of it, if it is THEIR party.
In short, whose party is 1t?
Which party is which?
The Republicans have got cohe-
sion but they are in a minority. The
Democrats are in an overwhelming
majority but are split every which
way.
Republicans Have Party
The nub IS
The Republicans, disorganized as
they are, have got party.
The Democrats have not.
There ought to be two NEW
parties.
They ought to combine and re-
emerge.