Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-31

Two chief questions are recognized in
the controversy within the Republican
organization over the disclosure OF
methods employed in an attempt to de-
feat Senator Norris in the last election.
The position of Robert H. Lucas. an Of
fetal of the Republican National Com
mittee, is widely condemned, but in his
support it is denied that Senator Norris
Is entitled to be classed as a Republican.
There will be no end to this conflict, y
declares the New York Sun Gndepend--
ent), until we have a new political
cleavage. When the radicals grow
strong enough they will become a party,
opposed by the conservative elements
in the two old parties. Meanwhile any
demagogue who supports Government
operation of utilities and unlimited ap-
preparations for paternalism, bureau
cracy and bonuses is licensed to call
himself Democrat or Republican, as he
chooses, and If the wind sits in the
right quarter he is waited into Con-
gress."
I'm a country of the size and nature
Of the United States" says the Wor-
cester Telegram independently, sit is
tremendous task to organize and
maintain national parties which can
be effective. Along with flrmness for
certain principles, there must be MOD.
Grafton and compromise on all sides. "
The Telegram holds that 1.-The question
of the improperly Of Mr.. Lucas actions
is not even debatable among those VINO
profess to have any regard Tor stralgnt-
forwardness and truth" but 1t argues
that political parties cannot be effec-
tive unless they can at times control
maiorities"; that they cannot control
malorities unless their members are
united"
While it is the opinion of the Chicago
Daily News independently that the
chronic insurgent is prone to degenerate
into a nuisance" that paper finds no
ground for insisting on strict party
regularity these days" and also COM
ments: Rational independence Is not
synonymous with perverse, professional
insurgency. So long as there is a lack
of major party issues to stir the pop
ular heart, there is bound to be much
straying from party folds at particular
times and on particular questlons; 80
On the question of the regularity OF
Senator Norris, the Topeka Daily Cap
ital Republican, states as to his record,
particularly in supporting Gov. Smith:
''These actions are for the people he
represents to judge. They are the Re
publicans of Nebraska, and they NOM
mated him in fair primary and
made him the Republican candidate
for the Senate" The Ann Arbor Daily
News independently adds: There Is
no law prohibiting an independent
from seeking Republican nomination,
and citizens of Nebraska cannot be de-
ported or JAILED for electing Norris re-
peatedly, if they desire him to be their
representative, whether he be irregular.
mugwump or whatnot."
Though quite correct IN MS conVlc-
ton that Senator Norris was rot a
Republican" argues the New YORK
Herald Tribune Republican,, Mr..
Lucas was singularly unhappy IN what
he set out to do about it. He
proceeded to conduct his anti-Norris
activities in secret, whereas he should
have known that such secrecy is viz
tually impossible in politics. This
minor political mishap has now been
exposed, with all the customary artifice
and trumpetings which can be expected
from Senator Norris senatorial friends.
The net result is an unfortunate
widening of the breach between in
surgents and regular Republicans and
a probable strengthening OF Senator
Norris political position"
1.-The Republicanism of Senator Nor
ris," maintains the Hartford Courant
independent Republican, sis rot for
Mr.. Lucas or any other individual to
determine. Under the poltlcal system
that prevails in the United States,
such an issue can only be determined
by the voters. 1t was presented to the
Republicans of Nebraska in the last
election. and they rendered the verdict
at the polls that Senator Norris was
Republican fit 70 represent them in the
Senate. No individual, whatever his
position in the party, can go behind
such a verdict. Otherwise the control
of the party would be taken from the
hands of the voters, whether in Ne.
braska or in Connecticut, ar.dsplaced in
the hands OF petty bureaucracy re-
sponsible to no one"
The Lucas campaign against the Sen
ator is described by the Wheeling Intel
ligencer (Republican) as involving q
"pointless. squabble" since Senate
Norris has always been a liberal ane
Mr. Lucas dss always been highly coma