The Republican., 1925-11-05
FACTIONAL nIAR In STATE
G. O. P. RICH MEMS ROW
Fat Cats" In Plenty Are Ar
rayed On Both Sides For
The Coming Battle.
FRANK r. KENT
lin the Baltimore SUM

Ter forces in the Republican party
promises the finest Fat Cat fight ever
seen in this State. Primaries of any
sort are the politicians Paradise, but
a primary in which there is a collec-
ton of Fat Cats on each side is al
most too good to be true.
That is what this one looks to be,
and the practical Republican work
ers, particularly those of the darker
hue, find it difficult to disguise their
joy over the prospect.
1t ought perhaps to be explained
that Fat Cat is the significant and re-
vealing name in political circles for
the sleek, rich fellows who enter poll
tics for one reason or another and de-
pend upon the liberality with which
they shell out the dollars.
When one of this type enters the
ring, either as a candidate or hacker,
the magic words Fat Cat" ring
Throughout the wards, precincts and
districts, and the "boys", big and lit
tie, black and white, joyfully prepare
to reap the harvest. At the race track
the men who come out with 5000 and
more in their pockets, determined to
bet but not knowing much about the
horses, are also Fat Cats to the touts,
but the phrase had its origin in poll
ties, and it is there most aptly used.
The thing that so greatly stirs the
enthusiasm Of Republican workers
over the prospective primary is that it
is completely a grudge fight between
the Republican Fat Cats-not between
two of them, but between two groups,
a fight for revenge in which the rich
men are lined up against one another
in a battle for blood. Soon or late ev-
cry Fat Cat in the party will likely be
Hvolved
There isn't a real issue or principle
on either side, nor will there be. Later
there will be platforms and pronunci-
amentos, statements and declarations,
Of course, but these will be one hun
dred per cent humbug (as with the
Democrats), and everybody knows it.
It isn't a fight for principle, it's
fight for possession. On the one side
you have jackson, LoWndes and JOS
eph l. France-all lovely, Fat Cats,
and Humphreys. who, while he may
not be so fat as the others, is at least
darn well fed. These gentlemen are
knit together by the common bond of
hate toward Old Man Weller, who, at
one time or another. has tactlessly
bounced bricks off their individual
beans, leaving large bumps and bruis-
Is extremely sensitive to the touch.
On the other side, you have Sena-
ter Weller, himself q fairly sleek old
cat, backed by various and sundry
oher Fat Cats, including his warm
personal friend, Jacob France, presi-
dent Of the Mid-Contireut Petroleum
Company, and John w. Weeks, former
Secretary of War, both extremely rich
and very fond Of Mr.. Weller. Be
sides, Nj. Weller has standing with
the little Massachusetts group in con-
troll of the National Committee and
close to the White House-this is con-
spicuously lacking in his opponents,
despite the fact that Mr.. Jackson is
the Maryland member Of the commit
zee. Then, too, he is in the Senate
Unquestionably there is heavy fnan-
cial ammunition on both sides. While
the feeling is that there perhaps is
more money, and certainly greater
willingness to spend it, on the anti
Weller side, still the Weller will not
sag for lack Of funds. It does look as
if, in the graphic language of Thomas
PaTan, describing q campaign of long
ago, they will care no more for dol
}ar bill in this fight than they do for
an oak leaf.
Is it any wonder the mouths of the
party workers water at the prospect?
Is it any wonder the outlook particu-
iarly appeals to the colored voter who
constitutes nearly half the total Re
publican vote in general election and
more than three-fourths in any State
wide primary?