Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-13
Politics at Large
By C.. Could Lincoln.

day.
H. was announced that Ernest l..
is hncke of New Orleans would succeed
Theodore Douglas Robinson of New
York as Assistant Secretary of the Navy
and Patrick Jay Hurley OF Tulsa, Okla,
luld fill the Office of Assistant Secre-
tary OF War; post which has been
held by Assistant Secretary of War Rob-
bins. When the President announced
the appointment of his cabinet and in
Guided no Southern man in it, despite
the fact that four of the traditionally
Democratic States of that section and
all of the border States had gone for
him, there was much shaking of heads.
But there are many important posts
in the Government outside OF the cabi-
net, and two of them have just gone
TO Southern men, including Oklahoma
in the South. though it may more
properly be classed as border State.
Building up the Republican party in
the South is really more of a problem
than the problem of who shall control
Southern patronage, though the two
overlap. The old regime in the Repub-
lican party in some of these Southern
States has been under fire for months.
Particularly has the Senate post office
subcommittee headed by Senator Brook
hart, which has been investigating the
alleged sale of public office. been re-
sponsible for agitation against these
organizations. especially in Georgia,
Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas.
And involved in the attacks upon these
organizations Is the race question, and
whether there shall be white leadership
of the Republican party in the South, Or
colored. A great deal is being said on
both sides OF this question. There are
colorcd political leaders who insist that
there must be no lilly white" Repub-
lican organization in the States of the
South, where the colored men and wom-
en- have been additionally Republican.
On the other hand, there are Repub-
lican leaders who insist that, without
any desire to exclude the colored voters
from participation in the conduct of
party affairs, there must be white lead
ership of the party in those States.
These same leaders insist that the
Democrats of the South are anxious
to see things left in status quo, believ-
ing that it means perpetuation of
Democratic control in those States.
President Hoover is being pulled and
hauled by both sides to this contro-
versy There is strong reason to be-
lieve, however, that the President will
not agree to recognize any organization
that is traff1cking in Government ap-
pointmentS. and not a little will depend
upon the ultimate report which is sub
mitted by Senator Brookhart and his
committee on Federal patronage and
its handling in the South.
r. r. Church, colored leader from
Memphis, Tenn. who has been in Wash
ington attending the Inauguration of
President Hoover, insists that the Presi-
dent will take no part in building up a
lilly white" Republican organization in
the South. This colored leader said,
with other things:
Under Mr.. Hoover the Republican
party will go along encouraging all its
members. A party that will send six
colored men to the Legislature in Hi
Mississippi TO be ineligible either TO
belong to it or to occupy such positions
in its arrangements as their ability may
secure for them
And right there Mr.. Church put his
finger on the factor which has been
influential many times in the past in
the recognition of colored leadership of
the Republican party in Southern States.
With thousands Of colored voters par
ticipating in the elections in Illinois.
Ohio, Indiana, New York and other
States outside of the South. there has
been a great reluctance on the part of
national Republican leaders to offend
the colored politicians of the South.
But whatever has been the effect Of
this argument in the past. there Is no
doubt that the old Republican
organizations in some of the Southern
States are under fire as they have not
been for years.
There are a number of factors which
are pointing to new political alignmentS
in the South The most important Is
the great industrial development in that
region and the urge toward the Re-
publican doctrine of protection which
has been given many Of the outstanding
men OF the section. 1t Is common talk
in many Southern cities that leaders
in their business and industrial circles
strongly Sympathize with the Republic
can party when 1t comes to national
affairs and that they only need a
chance" to send them Scurrying into
the Democratic party. Some OF them
already vote Republican nationally and
contribute to the party campaign funds,
although they continue to vote Demo-
cratic in State elections.
The recent presidential election gave
many of these Democrats with Repub-
lican leanings an opening. as they saw
it. to vote the Republican ticket. Many
of them may continue to vote the Re-
publican ticket Much will depend
upon the treatment which the South
receives at the hands of the present Re-
publican administration. II 1t gets what
it considers square deal. and there Is
no step taken which would rouse its
fears. there is strong likelihood that not
few of the Democrats in the South
who voted for Mr.. Hoover will vote the
Republican ticket again in 1882, partic-
ularly If Mr.. Hoover happens to be re-
nominated for the presidency.
There is fight coming in Virginia
long before 1882 which may have an
important bearing on the political sit
uation in that State. The Republic
ans are hopeful of being able, in COM
bination with the Democrats who sup
ported Mr.. Hoover last November, of
electing a Republican governor. Ell
forts already are being made toward a
Old Dominion elect a Republican gov
ernor. then, indeed, would there be real
evidence that the additionally Demo-
cratic solid South was crumbling.
When the Kansas Legislature adj
journs the end Of this week. 1t is ex-
pected that Gov. Clyde Reed will final
ly announce his selection for the Senate
vacancy caused by the retirement of
Charles Curtis to become Vice Presi-
dent of the United States. There has
been a lot Of stew over this matter.
because of the various factions IN the
Republican party i'll Kansas and be-
cause of the large number OF candidates
for the appointment. Under the law
the governor may appoint TO fill the
Senate vacancy until the next regular
election, which comes in November,
1880. Those who have recently been
In Kansas insist that the choice for
Soma tor lies hetweep former (IOy Henry