Evening star., 1929-12-18
Politics at Large
BY C. Could Lincoln.

Democratic politicians from Southern
States, including Alabama, including
members of Congress, are by no means
overjoyed at the action of the Alabama
State executive committee which pre-
vents Senator TON" Heflin from be-
coming candidate for nomination to
succeed himself in the Democratic
primary next August.
Instead of. holding out the olive
branch to the anti-Smith Democrats, as
the regular Democratic organization did
in Virginia with signal success during
the gubernatorial campaign last Fall,
the majority Of the Alabama executive
committee has determined to run rough
shod over Mr.. Heflin and all others who
voted against or openly opposed AL
Smith in the presidential campaign last
year. 1t gives Hef1in an opportunity to
raise again the issues of 1928 which lost
four States of the Solid South" to the
Democratic national ticket and all OF
the border States. And Mr.. Heflin Is
likely to raise these issues to the queens
taste. The rumor already Is being
spread that it was the "wets" who have
mittee and forced Heflin out of the
primary. Alabama is Overwhelmingly
dry when it comes to an election, 1t
has been proved in the past. And on
this issue, Mr.. Hef1in, running on a
dry, anti-Smith- -Raskob ticket will
sweep the State in the November elec-
ton, it is predicted by Alabama poll
ticians. He is likely to have whole
State ticket running along with him
1t is even predicted that before the fight
is over he will have Senator Hugo Black
and most of the members of the House
from Alabama lined up with him.
X x X
The one chance of beating Heflin, it
is said, was to tackle him in the Demo-
cratic primary: let him come in and
disarm him as far as possible. But the
Democratic State committee declined
to listen to the advice of Democratic
leaders of their own State or of other
States. Jouett Shouse, chairman of the
executive committee of the Democratic
national committee, sent a message
down to Alabama urging that the bars
be not raised in the Democratic primary
against any former Democrats. But the
committee went right ahead and by
vote of 28 to 81 raised the bars, keeping
Hef1in out. The chairman of the State
executive committee, E. w. Pettus OF
Selma, son of the late Senator Pettus
is now expected to get into the primary
campaign. Up to now, Bankhead had
been the sole entry against Heflin.
Pettus, 1t is suggested, may defeat Bank
head, who was one of those who urged
the committee not to exclude Hef1in
from the primary, for it looks now as
though the wet element in the party
would control the primary.
X x
The same threat to exclude anti
Smith Democrats from participation as
candidates for nomination in the Demo-
cratic primary in Texas has been made
by members Of the regular organization
In the Lone Star State. Senator Morris
Sheppard, who IL up for denomination
next year. has strongly opposed such a
step. There has been talk, too, in some
North Carolina quarters of an effort to
exclude Senator Simmons, who opposed
Smiths election, and to give the Demo-
cratic nomination to a Democrat who
remained regular last year. Fear is ex-
pressed here that the action taken In
Alabama may cause i'll feeling in neigh
boring Southern States and have a bad
erect generally on the Democratic party,
which is seeking harmony-as IL has
sought 1t In vain for almost decade.
X X X X
There seems no doubt that the regu-
lars In Alabama were greatly encour-
aged to take the step they have taken
by the election of the regular Demo-
cratic nominee for governor in Vir-
glnla, John G. Pollard, over the anti
Smith and Republican coalition candi-
date-William Mosely Brown. But
Virginia Democratic leaders are point
ing out that they adopted tactics Just
the reverse of these now announced
by the Alabama executive committee
There are some 10000 Republicans in
Alabama. and some of the congression-
al districts are close If there is
bad split among the Democrats, the
Republicans might squeeze in a Con-
gresham or two from Alabama, which
would be sad blow to the Democratic
national organization, bent on making
as many gains In Congress in the elec-
lions next year as 1t possibly can.
x X x x
Up in Massachusetts,, Senator Fred
erick H. Gillett and former Gov. Alvan
T. Fuller are having a little feud all
their own, which is being aired in the
newspapers. Fuller has attacked SEN
ator Gillett because of his vote to seat
Ware, and because he opposed the reso-
luton censuring Senator Bingham of
Connecticut because of his employment
OF Charles L. Eyanson of the Connecti-
SuI N1dIAu4dCbuISIS ASSOCldtIOn, III I11S
work on the tariff bill. Senator Gillett
today comes back at Mr.. Fuller with a
broadside in which he charges Fuller
with personal spite.
1T is not the first time Mr.. Fuller
has gone out Of the way to attack me-"
said Senator Gillett. "I suppose his
hostility dates from the Inflated attempt
last year to make him Fuller) the
Massachusetts, candidate for the presi-
NIFftl 80 E@ll
Coolldge precedent and securing the
vice presidency. The difference in
caliber of the two men explains the
difference in results. did not approve
the scheme, for I did not believe he
was fit for either Office, but I did not
wish to seem unfriendly and kept my
disapproval to myself. 1 was confident
that his pitiful record in Congress and
his incapacity to cooperate with others
was remembered by enough public men
of influence to prevent his candidacy
making any headway. And so 1t proved"
X X y
Senator Gillett has announced he will
not be q candidate to succeed himself
IN the Senate next year. Fuller has
been regarded as a probable candidate
ton. With Gillett hammering him,
however, Fuller may find himself up
against stiff opposition, if he finally
goes into the race. Furthermore, the
Democrats may be expected to make
use of the differences in the Republican
ranks when 1t comes to the actual cleo
ton of a Senator next November.
Representative Robert Luce of Massa-
chusetts, a former lieutenant governor,
has been put forward by Representative
Treadway, dean of the Republican dele
cation in the House, as the logical man
for the RaYnIlhlicana ranraiKa q tim for the