Evening star., 1939-01-19
The Political Mill
Half Dozen Democrats Expected to Vote
With G. O. P. Against Hopkins Confirmation

mittee composed of Senators Pitt
man of Nevada, Van Nuys of In
diana and Borah of Idaho. ONLY
yesterday Senator Pittman called
for the file in regard to the Roberts
appointment-so the wheels may be-
gin to turn at last.
Mr.. Roberts was appointed by the
President last summer. He has
been serving under a recess ap-
pointment ever since, although SEN
ator Carter Glass of Virginia has
denounced the appointment, and
SO has Senator Byrd of the same
State. There has been no evidence
that either Senator Glass and Sena-
tor Byrd has had change of heart.
Knock Down Fight Looms.
AS the Virginia Senators see It,
the appointment was a deliberate
effort on the part of some of the
New Dealers to insult them. AS
the story goes, both Senator Glass
and Senator Byrd were invited to
recommend candidates for the
judgeship-and then the President
gave the appointment to Mr.. Rob-
erts, who had been recommended
for appointment by Representative
John w. Flanagan, jr., of the
9th congressional district. Mr..
Flanagan is described as a political
enemy of both Virginia Senators
neither one of whom has been
enamored of the New Deal. In
fact, the Roberts appointment was
considered an offshoot of the
purge" popular in White House
circles at that time There are
other congressional districts in the
Western district Of Virginia, but 1t
is pointed out the appointment was
not given to the choice Of any of
the other Representatives, went
to Mr.. Flanagan.
If the New Dealers win In this
fight to confirm Mr.. Roberts it will
only be after knock-down, drag
out affair. The Virginia Senators
have many friends in the upper
house-and also there has been an
unwritten rule that when an ap-
pointee is declared to be personally
obnoxious to Senator he is not
confirmed. This rule has been
broken in recent years, it Is true,
but there is no assurance it will
not be sustained in this case. There
is no real assurance that the nomi-
nation will be reported to the Sen
ate from the Judiciary Committee
or if it is reported the report may
be adverse. Meanwhile Judge Rob-
erts is serving without pay-for he
may not be paid until his nomina-
ton has been confirmed by the
Senate. 1t is chance he takes.
} Frank McHale, genial spearhead
OF the McNutt-for President drive,
has been in Washington talking
over Federal patronage matters for
Indiana. At the same time the
talk has veered to former Gov.
Paul V. McNutt, now United States
High Commissioner in the Philip
pines, and his chances for the
Democratic nomination in 1910. Mr..
McHale has already opened Nc
Mutt headquarters in Indianapolis.
The Hoosier Democrats do not in
tend to let the grass grow under
their feet. A year ago they gave
a mammoth reception in Washing
ton for Mr.. McNutt when he was
here for conference with the
President.
Eyes Cast on Kentucky.
The McNutt supporters are cast
ing sleeps eyes at Kentucky and
Gov. Happy Chandler. They figure
that Mr.. McNutt should have all
or the bulk of the Kentucky dele
cation. They realize, however, that
Senator Barkley, who was re-elect-
ed last November after beating
Happy" Chandler in the primary
race, may be favorite-son candi-
date for the presidential nomina-
tion-that the Kentucky Senator
has even been mentioned as a pos
sible choice of the Roosevelt ad-
ministration. However. the McNutt
people figure that the fight in Ken