The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-11-15
The Heat Under Fess

The Heat Under Fess
1t was no surprise to those who get part OF their fun
by observing the ups and downs of politics, to read
Friday that certain Republican leaders are urging the
president to revamp the Republican party in preparation
for the campaign of 1882.
At the same time, 1t is being suggested that Senator
Simeon D. Tess Of Ohio resign as national chairman.
The Associated Press, noteworthy for its caution in dis
cussing political matters, asserts that there Is "a feeling
in the Republican high command that the senator
resign latter completing the job for which he was chosen
-piloting the party through the congressional cam
paign."
The feeling" of course. is actuated largely by the fact
that the recent campaign was none too successful from
the Republican standpoint. 1t is not too much to say
that the word wish" might be substituted for feeling"
in the statement quoted.
1t is a difficult thing to unload a chairman who comes
into power when everything looks rosy, as witness the
trouble the Republicans had in getting rid Of Mr.. Claudius
Huston. DR.. Fess' predecessor.
But with the outlook as dark as it has suddenly be-
come by reason of the Democratic gains and the other
troubles which beset the Republicans. it should be an
easy matter to induce the incumbent to quit.
Those who think-and hope-so, however, may be
reckoning without DR.. Fess. He may not want to quit
and powerful forces are at work in the Republican party
to keep him in the saddle.
To get a clear view Of the situation it is necessary to
know something of DR.. Tess himself. He acquired the.
title of doctor" while president of what probably Is,
Or was. the smallest college in Ohio, q state which is
lust full Of small colleges. The name Of the institution
was Antioch college, located at Yellow Springs, Ohio, q
town of which most North Dakotans have never heard.
BY sheer hard work and persistence, DR.. Fess kept It
going for years. The job was one which no one else
wanted to undertake and the good doctor retained the
college presidency for a number of years after he was
elected to congress.
A hornely man, both in his ways and in appearance,
DR.. Fess always has been noted for the strength of his
fervor in regard to causes which he has espoused. The
two which have come most strongly into the limelight
in regard to him are the very two which will be most IN
evidence in any battle over the g. O. P. craftsmanship.
First of all, DR.. Fess Is dry. The word is used LITERAL
ly. 1t does not refer to his politics alone, but to his per-
sonal conception of what is best for America. He is no
ordinary dry senator who votes that way because he
believes it represents the will of his constituents. but
a man who would rather 60 down fighting for the dry
cause than to win by budging an inch from his present
convictions. That is his record and there is no reason
to believe that he will be willing to change it.
Second, DR.. Fess Is q Republican. And that also Is
literal. Throughout the length and breadth OF the land
there is no more staunch and solid Republican than DR..
Fess. To him the Republican party is an instrument of
Providence designed to rule the nation. He is the kind
OF Republican who feels sorry for Democrats, not be-
cause they don't win very often but because they are
Democrats.
1t is obvious, of course, that the high command" which
is putting the heat under DR.. Fess is composed very
largely of members of that faction which would like to see
the party go a little stronger than the words noble
experiment. with regard to repeating prohibition. They,
of course, want DR.. Fess out Of the craftsmanship and feel
that the period Immediately following a severe defeat is
the time to unseat him.
But the prohibition adherents in the Republican ranks
conceive the good doctor es their leader. They want
to see him continue In power, for it will give them an up
per hand in the struggle for control between the vets
and drys which seems almost certain to develop within
the next two years.
Of major political Importance.
Both prohibition and the Republican party are as
dear to Dr.. Tess heart as twin sons to a mother. He
does not want to choose between the two and the only
way to keep from having to make such a choice may be
for him to retain the Craftsmanship Of the Grand Old
Party in an effort to hold it in line for prohibition
enforcement.
If the doctor feels that way a real battle Is just
around the corner. If Dr.. Fess wants to stick, the fight
which it took to unseat Huston will be a mere warlm.up
in comparison to the battle which will be necessary
to move him. And his dry friends will want him to stick.
It begins to look IS though the fur would fly in
plenty in the Republican camp In the near future. And
even as 1t Is. the moon which rises over Washington has
more than a faint tinge Of political blood upon its sur
face.