Evening star., 1939-11-18
The Political Mill
LimeIisht Turns Again to Michieon's
Murphy and. coincidentoIIy, Vondenbere

as Attorney General. Mr.. Murphy
made 1t entirely clear that he did
not believe in sit-down strikes when
he appeared before the Senate Ju-
dietary Committee at the time his
appointment to be Attorney General
was under consideration Indeed,
there is every reason to believe that
confirmation of the appointment
would be quickly forthcoming.
President Roosevelt, when Con-
gress convenes in January, will send
to the Senate his fifth appointee
to the Supreme Court. In other
words. a clear majority Of the court
will be Roosevelt selections. And
so, within the space of two years, he
will have revamped the court, max
ing it liberal according to his views.
It is easy but not always profitable
to speculate on what might have
been. For example, had the Presi-
dent been willing to wait for his
opportunities to make appointments
to the Supreme Court, he might
well have withheld his now famous
court bill. Under that bill the
President would have been author
lied to increase the membership
of the court until 1t handed down
decisions in accordance with the
New Deal policies.
Might Have Avoided Break.
Had that bill not gone to Congress
the President would not have found
himself engaged in bitter battle
with the Senate. nor would he have
sustained defeat. Further, the deep
wedge then driven in the Demo-
cratic membership of the Senate
and House might have been avoided.
Nor would there have been the ad-
ministration's attempted purge" of
the Democratic Senators and House
members who refused to go along
with the President in this court
legislation
That, however. Is all water over
the dam The court has been re-
vamped and if Mr.. Murphy is made
the youngest member of it. another
liberal New Dealer will take his
place on the bench.
Out in Grand Rapids the Van.
denberg Movement of Michigan"
has gone into high speed, and the
movement" has spread to a score
or more other States, and in a
short time will be hitting on all four
cyclinders across the country. At
the head of the movement is How
ard C. Lawrence, chairman, and
John w. Blodgett, treasurer. Law
renee is former Republican State
chairman. In the literature now
being distributed by the move
ment," Mr.. Vandenberg is described
as IAN announced candidate to sue
ceed himself in the United States
Senate in 1910; an unannounced
candidate for the Republican presi-
dental nomination by virtue of. the
demands of his fellow citizens"
Declines to Announce.
The "Vandenberg movement" is
described as voluntary organiza-
ton of voters. The Michigan Sena-
tor has steadfastly declined to an
nounce himself a candidate for the
presidential nomination. He has
not, however, thrown any cold water
on the movement for him, and it is
certain that he would accept a nomi-
nation
Just how much value the Repub-
lican presidential nomination will be
next year is a question that is puz-
zling some politicians today The
advent of the European war has
upset a lot of their calculations.
Until war broke out across the At
lantic. the Republican prospects
were undoubtedly bright They may
be bright again. The Democrats.
however, have made the most they
can of the war abroad to divert the
attention of the American people
and with considerable success. Fur
thermore, if business continues to
pick up, the economic picture may
favor the Democrats.
1t is perfectly true, however, that
Republicans have by no means given
up hope of victory next year. And
those candidates who appear to have
a chance for the presidential nomi-
nation are now working like beavers
Or their friends are.