Evening star., 1939-02-04
Congress Developing
Rapidly Into Fight
For Party Control
Defense and Foreign
Policy Overshodow
Other Issues
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Congress began the second month
of the session today amid indications
that Democratic factionalism was
developing rapidly into fight for
party control.
Some politicians predicted events
of the next feWeweeks would sharpen
the lines of this struggle, with Presi-
dent Roosevelt carrying on his bat
tie for New Deal liberalism" Vice
President Garner working quietly as
chieftain of conservative" forces,
and both sides thinking of the presi-
Dental nomination in 1910 as the
prize to be captured
There were some signs that the
Democratic split had placed the ball
ance of power in both Senate and
House in the hands of the conserva-
tives, a situation made possible
chiefly by Republican gains in the
November elections.
Republican members, keenly aware
of their own possibilities in 1910,
have become more active than in any
other Congress of the Roosevelt ad-
ministration, but it is only through
the support of revolving Democrats
that they may upset the Presidents
proposals on specific issues.
Two Nominations Fought.
The twin issues of foreign policy
and national defense are overshad-
owing all other questions before
Congress, but the nature and extent
of the Democratic split may be re-
f1ected more quickly in congressional
action on other questions.
Two nominations made by the
President already have occasioned
bitter protests by some Senators.
One administration leader has pre-
dicted that at least one OF the
nominations would be turned down
by the Senate.
That is Mr.. Roosevelt's selection
of Judge Floyd H. Roberts of Bristol
to be a Federal district judge in
Virginia. The appointment has been
opposed vigorously by Senators
Glass and Byrd of Virginia, both
anti administration Democrats, and
the Judiciary Committee voted over
whelmingly this week against con-
firmation.
Senator Harrison, Democrat. of
Mississippi predicted today that
more than 80 per cent of the men,
bers may vote against Judge Roberts.
If the nomination is defeated, Mr..
p0ncnunlt
those voting against it, He said
yesterday he would write letter
to Judge Roberts in event of its re-
lection.
Amlie Rejection Seen.
Senator Harrison also said he saw
little chance for confirmation Of
Thomas r. Amlie, former Progress
sive Representative from Wisconsin,
whom the President nominated to
be member of the Interstate Com
merce Commission Mr. Amlie's
critics accuse him of having "radi-
CAL economic views. The Inter-
state Commerce Committee will be-
gin hearings on the nomination
Monday.
MY present mood is to vote
against Mr.. Amlie," Senator Harri-
son said. Il made the decision on
the basis of what I had read about
him in the newspapers and on the
bills he introduced and the speeches
he made in the House. Ny views are
not conclusive at this time, Of
course, but my mind would have to
be changed if I voted for him"
Mr.. Roosevelt told his press con-
ference yesterday he would not
withdraw either the Roberts or
Amlie nominations.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
took cognizance of reports he might
urge withdrawal by saying no one
had asked him to do so and he had
no intention of making such rec
ommendation to the President.