TLS, one page, 8 x 10.5, United States Senate letterhead, July 29, 1937. Letter to John W. Snyder, manager of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and later his Secretary of the Treasury, in part: "Appreciate most highly yours of the Twenty Seventh, sending me the clippings from the Star-Times about O'Malley and the Fort Myer Horse Troop. I am glad a compromise was reached between the Governor and Mr. Pendergast because I didn't want to see them fall out. I think you are right that the Governor could very easily review the Command and Staff Course on Tactics. There is no doubt in my mind but what he is using Navy tactics all the way through. I thought yesterday we were going to get an early adjournment, but Barkley, Sam Rayburn and Bankhead called on the President yesterday, and Barkley told the Press we were going to stay here until we were through. Of course I think we are going to have a new Court fight and it looks now as if we will be here all the rest of the summer. However, if I can get away I had hoped that you and Eddie McKim could call on Harry Vaughn at Fort Riley one of the week-ends while there and probably do a little studying in probabilities. That is absolutely essential you know for a Field Artilleryman's education." In fine condition. Accompanied by a carbon copy of Snyder's reply dated August 2, 1937.
Truman makes reference to Missouri's new Democratic Governor Lloyd Stark, who had the support of Kansas City Boss Tom Pendergast when he ran for governor in 1936. As investigations into corrupt Missouri state politics began, Stark turned against Pendergast, leading to a domino-effect of state and federal decisions that led to Pendergast's fall from power. Although Truman tells Snyder that he is "glad a compromise was reached between the Governor and Mr. Pendergast," such a deal was short-lived as Pendergast was convicted of income tax evasion in 1939.
Also noteworthy is Truman's prediction of "a new Court fight," which alludes to President Roosevelt's proposed Judiciary Reorganization Bill of 1937. Commonly referred to as FDR's Court-Packing plan, it was designed to load the high court with justices favorable to his New Deal policies, but the president's failure to consult leaders in the House of Representatives first led to prolonged political wrangling. On August 26, 1937, an amended version of the Judiciary Reorganization Bill which, among other items, did not include a provision to increase the number of Supreme Court members was reluctantly signed into law by President Roosevelt.
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