Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-17
The Political Mill

By C. Could LiHeela.
Regular Republicans insist that Bena-
tor George w. Norris of Nebraska has
just as much right 70 run on tho Re:
publican ticket for Senator this Fan
as the regular Democrats In Alabama
say that Senator "Tom" Helm has 70
run as Democret--no more. Senator
Norris supported Al Smith. the Demo-
cratic nominee for President, and Tom"
Helm opposed Al Smith and In sup
posed to have supported Herbert Hoover.
Norris was more outSpoken In his
declaration that Smith should be
elected.
The regular Democrats In Alabama,
however, seem to be better able 70 take
care OF Mr.. Hefiin-up to date--than
the regular Republicans are able to deal
with Senator Norris. George Norris
Nebraska politics. This, by the way,
has made the threatened entry Of an
other George w. Norris unto the Re.
publican senatorial primary, all the
more aggravating TO the supporters Of
the Senator. Senator Norris is credited
with having declared that II this name
sake OF his, = grocer in Brokenbow,
Neb., does not get out Of the race, he
himself will withdraw from the Re-
publican primary and run as an in
dependent in November. Mr.. Helm is
to run as an independent. The Demo-
cratic State Committee settled that for
MIN. And II reports from Alabama are
correct, the running on an independent
ticket in that State is not likely to be
so good. It remains to be seen whether
Senator Norris, who hitherto has al
ways run as q Republican, will volun-
tarily take himself out of the party
and stand for reelection as an
Independent.
Mr.. Norris must decide what he is to
do about this matter by midnight to-
morrow. That Is the limit of time for
Withdrawals Of candidates from the
primaries In Nebraska, which take place
August IL. Doubtless the Republicans
who are candidates for the senatorial
nomination would be glad TO have Sen
ator Norris take himself out of the
primary. Certainly it would mean that
one OF them would win the Republican
nomination, which probably none Of
Norris in the primary. Listed as can
didates for the Republican nomination
are Lieut.. Gov. George A. williams,
State Treasurer Frank Stebbins, Mrs.
Beatrice 7. Craig, who Is running on q
platform Of cleaner politics: the octo-
genarian, Aaron Reed, running as q
wet, and the two George w. Norrises,
the Senator from McCook and the
namesake from Brokenbow.
*
There has been talk of q getting to-
gether of the Republican candidates,
outside Of Senator Norris, to determine
which one Of them Is to make the race
in the primary against the Senator.
But so far no one has stepped aside in
the interest of the others. The name
sake Norris apparently has vanished,
after filing his petition. OF course this
Is merely political trick and as such
is not likely to get very far, except that
1t may bring Senator Norris to run as
an independent instead of on the Re-
publican ticket. The validity Of the FL
ing of the petition by the Norris name
sake has been challenged on the ground
that 1t was received too late. But there
has been no final decision by the author
will be no decision until after 1t has
become too late for Senator Norris to
take himself out of the primary. If
he stays in the primary he cannot run
in any event as an independent.
y = = y
Different views are taken Of Norris
as an independent candidate. One Is
that he would be stronger as an indie
pendent than he would be running as a
Republican, on the ground that the OPP
position to him would be divided be-
tween the regular Republican and the
regular Democratic nominees for the
Senate. On the other hand, 1t Is held
that II Mr.. Norris runs as an indie
pendent it will work In the interest of
the Democratic nominee, for the Re-
publican strength will then be split be-
tween Norris and the nominee of the
Republican party. Senator Norris has
strong personal following in the State
How much of 1t will follow him as an
independent remains to be seen II he
tries 1t out. The late Senator Robert
M. La Toilette of Wisconsin always ran
as Republican in his State until the
last campaign in which he had part, in
1924. In that year he ran as an inde-
pendent candidate for President, and
he again demonstrated his great per-
sonal strength by carrying the State
strongly.
The Democrats who have announced
for the senatorial nomination in Ne
braska include former Senator Gilbert
M. Hitchcock, Mrs. Jennie Calfas and
Fred Hall, all of Omaha. The nominal
ton beyond doubt will go to Senator
Hitchcock unless something should i'm
pei him to take his name out OF the
primary race by tomorrow night. He
should make strong candidate in his
effort to return to the Seante where he
served with considerable distinction. He
Is a newspaper publisher. His father
before him was at one time q Repub-
lican Senator from Nebraska. Senator
Hitchcock early fell under the spell of
the late william Jennings Bryan and
became a Democrat. He and Bryan
later fell out. The senatorial contest
in Nebraska this year will be followed
with the keenest interest. Senator Nor
ris Is regarded as the real leader of the
progressives in the Senate today.
The lines are set now for the sena-
torial race In Montana this year, with
Senator Thomas j. Walsh, Democrat,
opposing Judge Albert H. Galen of the
State Supreme Court, Republican. The
primary on Tuesday gave Galen a two
to-or1e lead over his nearest opponent,
o. H. p. Shelley. The Republicans are
planning real campaign in the State,
believing they have q strong candidate
In Judge Galen. Senator Walsh, how
ever, Is well intrenched and has a ma
tional reputation. Furthermore, con-
dit1ons due to the fall in the price of
wheat and depression In business seem
to favor the Democratic nominees gen
orally in the coming election.
Owen D. Young of New York, chair
man OF the board Of the General Elec-
trio Co., Is receiving some support for