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Show SEEN SEENand and HEARaround HEARaround HEAR HEARarounctie around arounc/t/ie arounc t ie arounctieNATIOML / ZheMTIOAL the Zhe theNATIONAL / NATIOML NATIONAL MTIOAL CAPITAL CAPITALBy ; Carter CaCarter FieldFAMOUS Field FieldMMO FieldFAMOUS By By . . . . MMO FAMOUS UA WASHINGTON WASHINGTONLCQRRESPON connESeo.o connESeoo CORRESPONDENT DENT WashmgtonA WashingtonA Washington Washmgton -A A - - A flood good of mail mall pro pro- protests protests protests - of ofwhich ofwhich ofwhich tests , a considerable percentage which criticized crlticlzcd President Prcsldent Roose Roose- Roose"elt's Rooseelt's Roosevelt's - - . " % velt's velts "elt's elts elt's elts ' lack of action acUon sharply . , Is what whatprecipitatcd whatprecipitated whatprecipitated precipitatcd precipitated all the Ule recent talk talkabout talkabout talkabout about a "White White " House conference conference"on conferenceon " on the UIC sit down do\\n do n \ \ strike situation situationMost . * . Most of the senators and nnd represent represent- representh representatives - . begarLtalking about abou bout t t this h is . begarLtalking about abou bout t is atives atlves twho " , v.ho vho who ho began talking talk10g abouconference this"conference this"conference thisconference "conference conference " " knew kncw perfectly v . well wellthat wellthat el1 el1that that there thcre was nothing the federal federalgovernment federalgovernment federalgovernment government could do , within the theConstItution theConstitution theConstitution ConstItution , unless movement mo.ement moement . of ofthe ofthe ofthe the mails malls or interstate commerce commercewere commercewere commercewere were directly affectedBut affected nffected affectedBut But they also knew that some some- something something something - thing should be done for reasons reasonsof reasonsof reasonsof of political pohtlcal expediency expedlCncy . Some 0 o ofthem t f fthem tthem them hoped to wring wrrng from Presi Presi- President President President - - dent Roosevelt a scathing scath10g denuncia denuncia- dcnuncia- dcnuncia denunciatiOn dcnunciation denunciation - - tion of tins this th s method of forcing forc1Og deci deci- deciSions decisions decisions - sions in 10 libor hibor disputes dlsputcs That secmed seemed seemedto secmedto to behat be \ what \\hat hat \ most of the letter writ writ- writers writers writers - ers ers thought he should have doneIon done Ion smce since F-Ihng F Ihng Failing - ; this , at least the idoo Idea that thatthe thatthe thatthe the President Prcsldent was taking takmg an in- in interestwas interestwas in interest - terest-was terest was terest - was holding holdmg a conference on onthe onthe onthe the subject-would subject would subject - would be a partial re- re reply reply re reply - ply to the criticism that was pour pour- pourrng pouring pouring - ing rng in 10 from men and women known knownin knownin 10 in many instances mstances to the senators senatorsand senatorsand senatorsand and representatives as hitherto ar- ar ardent ardent ar ardent - dent Roosevelt supporters . It just so happened , of course course.that coursethat . , that these complaints complarnts from trom Dem Dem- Democrats Dem- Dem Democrats Democrats - - ocrats throughout the country coincided co- co concIded comolded . - ( ncIded incided in 10 many instances with the theviews theviews theviews views of the congressmen gettmg getting gettmgthe gettingthe gettingthe the letters There Therc has been very lit- lit little little lit little - tle sympathy on Capitol Hill with withthe withthe withthe the sit down strike , and many ar- ar ardently ardently ar ardently - - dently pro - Roosevelt legIslators legIslatorsthought legislatorsthought legislatorsthought thought the President would lose losenothIng losenothing losenothing nothIng and gain gam a great deal by bycommg bycoming bycoming commg coming out strongly against agamst thIs thIsnew thisnew thisnew new labor weaponThe weaponThe weapon weaponThe The situation was aggravated by bySecretary bySecretary bySecretary Secretary of Labor Frances Per- Per Perkms Perkins Per-kms Per kms - kms kins . Miss Perklns Perkins AnnoysRightly Annoys AnnoysRightly Rightly or wrongly . , Miss Per- Per Perkms Perkins Per-kins Per kins - kms kins ' "backdown backdown " " m 10 in her letter to toRepresentatIve toRepresentative toRepresentative RepresentatIve John W . McCor- McCor McCormack McCormack McCor-mack McCor mack - - mack of Massachusetts was hailed hailedas as a victory by congressional lead lead- leaders leaders leaders - ers who had been transmitting transmlttmg pro pro- protests protests protests - tests from constituents to the Pres Pres- PresIdent Pres- Pres President President - - ident They believe firmly that thiS thiSletter thisletter thisletter letter was ordered by the chief ex- ex executIve executive ex executive - - ecutive ecutiveIncidentally ecutIveIncldentaUy Incidentally IncldentaUy it gave considerable considerablesatlsfactlon considerablesatisfaction considerablesatisfaction satlsfactlon satisfaction to other cabinet cabmet mem mem- members members members - bers , , and quite qwte a few high adm1O- adm1O admin- admin adm1Oistrahon administration admm.istration admmistration - . - istrahon istration officials , with whom the thefirst thefirst thefirst first lady cabinet cabmet member is none nonetoo nonetoo nonetoo too popular . It seems that Miss Perkuis Perkrns Perkins has hasbeen hasbeen hasbeen i been annoying annoymg some of her feUow fellow feUowNew fellowNew fellowNew New Dealers not only by her ac- ac acbons ac actions - tions bons , but by her lack of term terminal terminalfacilities terminalfacilities mal malfaclhtIes faclhtIes facilities in m con\ersation con ersation comersatlon conversation \ Washing Washmg- Washmg Washing- Washington Washmgton Washington - ton society has heard descriptIons descriptionsof of cabinet cabmet meetings meetmgs atdllCh at \ which \dllCh dllCh cchich the thesecretary thesecretary thesecretary secretary of labor rambled on and andon andon andon on , " ' with 'Ith Ith not a soul present save the thePresIdent thePresident thePresident PresIdent himself who dared m- m in- in interrupt mterrupt in interrupt - terrupt herJust herJust her herJust Just recently a group of Impor Important important important tant personages , about to toisitWashington tiisit tiisitWashington \isitWashington isitWashington \ 151t 151tWashmgton Washmgton Washington , wished a round table tableluncheon tableluncheon tableluncheon luncheon with a group of govern govern- government government government - ment officials . Presence of the gov gov- government gov- gov government government - - ernment officials at the meeting meetmg was wasapproved wasapproved wasapproved approved and arranged for in ad- ad advance advance ad advance - vance by the White House The Theagenda Theagenda Theagenda agenda called loudly for representation representa representa- representabon representation - tion bon of the Department of Labor Laboras Laboras as well as other departmentsSlmultaneoulsy departmentsSimultaneoulsy departments departmentsSimultaneoulsy Simultaneoulsy Slmultaneoulsy came highly un- un unofficial unofficial un unofficial - - official grapevine grOpevme ? suggestions from fromfive fromfive fromfive five of the other agencies to be berepresented berepresented berepresented represented "Couldn't Couldnt " ' this lunch lunch- luncheon luncheon luncheon - eon be held at the MetropolItan MetropolItanclub Metropolitanclub Metropolitanclub club ? " It was we.s wes . The Metropolitan club clubdles clubdoes clubdoes dles does ) not admit womenSnarling women womenSnarling Snarling Question QuestionThe The same question that snarls up upthe upthe upthe the Wagner labor relations act- act actdoes actdoes act actdoes - - does the f federal deral government have havepoer havepower havepower po\\er po er power \ \ to regulate something somethmg wholly whollywlthm whollywithin whollywithin wlthm within a state because the effects effectsof effectsof effectsof of that regulation regulatlOn would be im- im important important im important - - portant in interstate commerce- commerce commerceIS commerce ? ' - proposalfor is of the essence in m every proposal for the federal government to deal dealwith dealwith dealwith with the sit down strike situatIonSome situationSome situation situationSome Some very learned constltuhonal constitutional constltuhonalauthorItles constitutionalauthorities constitutionalauthorities authorItles authorities believe belic.ve belicve behove . that the federal federalgovernment federalgovernment federalgovernment government does have the power- power powerwithout powerwithout power powerwithout - without changing changmg the Constitution ConstItuhon- ConstItuhon Constitution- Constitutionto ConstItuhonto - to regulate a factory in Detroit or ora ora ora a coal mine mme in West Virginia Virgmia or a asteel asteel asteel steel works in Pennsylvania , on the thetheory thetheory thetheory theory that stoppage of anyone any one of ofthem ofthem ofthem them affects immediately and dI- dI dIrectly directly di directly - rectly the flow of interstate mterstate com com- commerce commerce commerce - merce I merceIt It is curious how often the senators sen sen- senators senators - I referto ators discussing discusslOg the situation sltuabon refer 1 to Grover Cleveland When they theyapply theyapply theyapply apply the illustration Illustrabon of his forceful forcefulactIon forcefulaction forcefulaction actIon however , they are citing cltmg ncase acase a n | case where there was never any anyreal anyreal anyreal authority.For authorityFor real question of federal authority . For example , it was the operation operationof involvedThere of railroads that v/as v as was / involved There has been no question for a long along time hme that operation of a rail rail- railroad railroad railroad - andtherefore road was interstate lOterstate commerce , , and therefore directly within wlthm the power powerof powerof powerof of the federal government . , Allthe But there was another point pomt . All the GroverCleveland evidence shows that Grover Cleveland acted tor for one reason , and andone andtine andone one tine reason only That was that the thcn then thethen railroad strike stnhc was WlS ; holding up the upthe movement movcment of the mailsSo marlsSo mails marls mailsSo So that when critics cntlcs of present presentlack present12ck 12ck lack of stamina by officials brmg bring bringup brmgup up Cleveland'they the comparison with Cleveland Clevelandthey , , 'they they ' are within the realms of logi logic it they apply the criticism cr1tlclsm to gov gov- governors gov- gov governors governors - - lif ernors of states , mayors of cIties cItiesor citiesor citiesor or other local officials , but up to todate todate todate date there thcre has been no clear-cut clear cut clearcutcase clearcutcase clear-cutcase clear cutcase - case where application of this com com- coiir- coiir coiirparisou comparison comparison - parison parisou to the federal government governmentseems governmentseems governmentseems seems logicalCan logical logicalCan Can Ask Federal Aid | There has been some loose talk talkabout talkabout talkabout about local governments calling ealling on onthe onthe onthe the federal government for aid but butthi butthi butthi- butthi butthiis thi thi- thi thiis . ' - ' - is scarcely a question callmg calling callmgfor callingfor callingtor for new legislation That power ex- ex exists ex exists - ists today . For instance 1Ostance , if a sit down strike strikeshould strikeshould strikeshould should occur in a condensed milk milkplant milkplant . plant in the state of New York , and andl andif andif l if ! the New York state authorItIes authoritiessought authoritiessought I Isought sought by force to eject the strIkers strIkersI strIkersfrom strikersfrom strikersfrom I from tlie the plant , , precipitating riots riotsWith riotswith riotswith With which the state forces were wereunable wereunable wereunable unable to cope , the governor of ofNew ofNew . New York could appeal to the PresIdent President Pres- Pres Presjdent - | jdent Ident tor for federal troops to o aid him i I I 1 in residing restOlmg restoiing order . There has never been any ques ques- question ques- ques question question - - tion about the po power ' " er of . the state stategovernors stategovernors stategovernors governors to call forsuch for for- : - such help , or orat orof orof at of the power of ot the President to toextend toextend toextend extend it if l ! he considered the re- re request request re request - - quest justified It is purely a ques ques- question question question - tion of policy pollcy with both local and andfederal andfederal andfederal federal executives . No legislatIon legislatIonfor legislationfor for such an act would be necessary necessary.Indeed necessaryIndeed . Indeed , senators studying studymg the situ Situ- Situation situation situation - ation say that no legislation is l1ke- l1ke like- like l1ke1 likeI hke-1 hke 1 - 1- 1 1whIch I " - ' which could add an anything ) thmg to ex- ex exIstmg existing ex existing - - isting Istmg powersOne powersOne powers powersOne One development may be forced forcedhowever , ho\\ ho hoever however \ ever , by the conference on tlus tins tlussituation tinssituation thissituation situation and by subsequent at- at attempts attempts at attempts - tempts to obtain obtam legislation Up untIl untIlnow untilnow untilnow now labor leaders have rather avoid avoid- avoided avoided avoided - ed responsibility for sit - . down downstrikes downstrikes downstrikes strikes They have affected an at- at attItude attitude at attitude - titude of not having planned or or- or ordered ordered or ordered - dered them , and of being bemg slightly slightlyembarrassed slightlyembarrassed slightlyembarrassed embarrassed by hot hotheads heads among amongtheIr amongtheir amongtheir theIr lieutenants . But in any federal move to curb curbthiS curbthis curbthis thiS new weapon it is certain certam that thatJohn thatJohn thatJohn John L Lewis and his heutenants lieutenants lieutenantswill lieutenantswill I IwIll wIll be forced to take a different differentposItIon differentposition differentposition differentpositionSupreme posItIon positionSupreme Supreme CourtMost Court CourtMost Most of the new arguments for forand forand forand and against agamst President Roosevelt's Roosevelts Roosevelt'sSupreme Roosevelt'sSupreme Roosevelt'sSupreme RooseveltsSupreme ' Supreme court enlargement plan plancontmue plancontinue plancontinue contmue continue to be just as beside the thepomt thepoint thepoint pomt point , and not actually applicableto apphcableto apphcable applicable to the controversy , as those ad- ad advanced advanced ad advanced - vanced originally orIgmally . Take , tor for in- in instance instance in instance - stance , the latest attack on "star star "starchamber "starchamber "starchamber starchamber " chamber " methods by the court 10 in indeciding 10decldmg indeciding decldmg deciding on writs of certIorari certiorarimade , imade made by Senator Kenneth D Mc- Mc McKeUar McKellar Me-Kellar Me Kellar - KeUar Kellar of TennesseeSenator TennesseeSenator Tennessee TennesseeSenator Senator McKellar apparently apparentlywould apparentlywould apparentlywould would have the justices hold in m pub- pub publlc pubhe pub-he pub he - llc he their discussion of whether or ornot ornot ornot not they would issue a writ of cer-- cer cer- certIran certirari cer-tiran cer tiran : - - - tIran tirari In short , all the reasons reasonswhy reasonswhy reasonswhy why the individual mdlvldual justices might mighttlunk mightthink mightmink tlunk think a case should be ordered order-ed order ed : - up upfrom |