Evening star., 1939-03-25
The Political Mill
AmIie Nomination for !. c. C. Post Heads
For Showdown on Confirmation Vote

annie is not Wiling to Withdraw.
he would rather take q licking by
the Senate, if he must. Indeed, ac-
cordtng to reports, he rather be-
lieves that such licking would help
to restore him politically in his old
Wisconsin district, where he is ex-
pected to seek reelection to the
House next year President Roese-
velt has, by singing him out for i'm
portant appointment, already gone
long way toward rehabilitating him.
Amlie was a candidate for the Pro-
gressive senatorial nomination last
year, but was defeated by the La
Follette-backed Herman Eckern
His present appointment was not
sought by the La Follettes-although
they have been willing to 60 along
with it.
All this may be very we'll for Mr..
Amlie, but his defeat at the hands
of the Senate would be advertised
as another blow at the Presidents s
prestige. Unless there is a decided
change in the feelings of a number
of the Senators Mr.. Amlies nomina-
ton will not be confirmed. With
Senator Wheeler agreeing to vote
for Amlie, there might be enough
votes in the full committee TO re-
verse all adverse report bv the SUBJ
committee which held hearings on
the nomination. In the Senate it.
self, however, sentiment runs
strongly against confirmation.
Only an eleventh. hour change of
heart on the part of Mr.. Amlie or
the President will prevent this fight
going TO finish in the Senate. The
opposition to Amlie has nothing to
do with senatorial courtesy" 1t is
based on Amlie's record and the
bllls and resolutions which he Of
tered IN the House while a member
OF that body.
One of Three Nominations,
The Alldredge nomination and a
thlra nomination to the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. that
OF William E. Lee of Idaho. are
before the subcommittee headed by
Senator johnson of Colorado. It
IS Senator Johnson's hope that all
three nominations may be disposed
OF without further delay. The Lee
nomination is reappointment.
Senator Reed of Kansas, a Re-
publican member of the subcon-
mittee, during the hearing on ALL
dredge. sought to show that
Alldredge had something to do with
the case brought by several of the
Southern States to obtain better
freight rates for the South, and that
Alldredge therefore would be pref
udlced as member of the l. C. C..
IN favor OF amended rates favorine
the South. Alldredge denied that
ne had been active in this matter.
Certainly. all the Democratic men,
bers OF the subcommittee will sup
port his nomination and it is ey-
pecteC to be confirmed without
much difficulty.
The Amlie nomination has been
regarded in some quarters as lust
another evidence that the President
has no real intention of "appeasing"
business and industry. Aubrey VIII
hams, former deputy administrator
OF the w. P. A. and now head of
the National Youth Administra-
ton, is credited with having sold
the the President the idea of ap-
pointing the former Wisconsin
member to the I. C. C.
The railroad brotherhoods in
slst that some one with real rail-
road experience. who knows the
problems of the railroad workers.
should be given a place on the COM
mission, If McManamy is to 20 off.
They were utterly amazed when the
President made his present appoint
ments to the I. C. c.