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the Sumners' bill. There would then be two resignations, or perhaps more. It was not impossible that McReynolds would retire, although it might be harder to make him do so. There had then been a possible change of attitude on the part of Hughes. They had Stone with them.

Homer, however, had given him a long talk about how this was a constitutional crisis, about how it was important from the point of view of the constitutional development of the United States to see to it that in one way or another the possibility of the Supreme Court becoming a super-government was headed off right then. Stephens saw that he was up against someone very stubborn. He once asked Cummings if he had discussed this matter with the President, and Cummings said, “Oh, in a general way.” That sounds exactly like Homer Cummings. On several occasions Stephens asked him to what extent the President was aware of this. He always replied, “Oh, in a general way.”

“Is the President certain that this is what he wishes to do?” Stephens would ask. Stephens didn't know exactly what “it” was because he wasn't in Cummings' confidence. My understanding is that only Cummings knew about it, that Roosevelt didn't know about it. That's what I have been alarmed about. It's also





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