Evening star., 1939-02-07
The Political Mill
Roosevelt Invites Showdown by Batting
Conservatives With Appointments

the moment and as head Of the
Democratic party" to oust Tydings,
Smith and George from their places
in the Upper House.
Invitation to Trouble.
Perhaps the President welcomes
this antagonism-but why. it is not
so clear. Senators regard themselves
as ambassadors Of their sovereign
States. What touches one Of them
touches them all, and when the Chief
Executive steps out Of character as
President of the United States and
seeks to use his influence to defeat
individual Senators, he Is likely to
have the whole pack on his back.
Even the so-called liberals" in the
Senate look askance at such doings.
The President, however, seems to
have 1t firmly fixed In his mind that
the people, the voters generally, are
moving to the cleft" in this country.
He does not believe that the con-
gressional and gubernatorial elec-
tions of 1888, in which a number of
outstanding New Dealers bit the
dust, mean that the country is
swinging away from the New Deal
and toward the conservatives.
Nothing, apparently, can convince
him that such is the case-although
plenty Of Democrats are sure that
the pendulum has begun a definite
swing against the radicals.
So the President continues to bait
the conservatives In his own party.
He continues to disregard them In
making Federal appointments, and
he Is sending to the Senate for
confirmation radicals selected for
high office. He got away with his
two appointments to the cabinet,
Attorney General Murphy and Sec
retary Of Commerce Hopkins. And
his selection of Associate Justice
Frankfurter to flll vacancy on the
Supreme Court was so much better
than had been expected that the
conservatives were really rather
pleased, despite the liberality of
Justice Frankfurter. At least, they
argued. he is learned in the law, a
man of ability and character.
Amlie Choice Shocks Many.
The nomination Of Thomas r.
Amlie Of Wisconsin to be a member
OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission really shocked some of the
Democratic Senators. Amlie, who
was formerly member OF the House,
elected by the Wisconsin Progressive
party, has long been regarded as a
radical Of radicals. Democrats as
we'll as Republicans in Wisconsin
have protested the appointment.
Amlie, while admitting his belief in
Government ownership of railroads
ard other businesses. has denied to
the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee that he is or has been
member Of the Communist party.
Opposition to the Amlie appoint
ment has been increasing There
Is strong possibility that it may
be turned down by the Senate. If
that happens, the blow to Mr. Roose-
welt and his 100 per cent New Deal
ers will be more severe by far than
the rejection of the appointment of
CuuSc ItOOCI 10 VI VII gina. Lie lc.
lection Of Judge Roberts followed a
time-honored custom whereby Sen
ators are able to defeat appoint
ments to Office In their State by
declaring them personally obnox-
ious." The defeat of Amlie would
be clear indication that the Presi-
dent has lost all control In the
Senate; that his leadership has def
nitely been flouted. Scanning the
roll call on the nomination of Judge
Roberts, the melancholy fact de-
velops that only eight Democrats
out Of 69-and one independent,
Norris, supported the President.
The Democrats quite naturally are
Growing about the recent election of
Representative Sasscer in the 5th
Maryland district. In a light vote
Mr.. Sasscer received SO per cent of
the total vote. In November the
late Representative Gambrill was
reelected with IS per cent of the
vote, and in 1894 he received only