Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-09
The Political Mill
BY G. Could Lincoln.

Inc democrats OF the South are more
efficient at disciplining "bolters" than
are the Republicans in other parts of
the country. When the Democrats of
North Carolina on Saturday turned
veteran party leader and a member Of
the Senate for nearly 80 years, it was
for one reason alone-he bolted the
Democratic national ticket, headed by
Al Smith, in 1928 In some quarters
efforts will be made to interpret the
victory of Josiah w. Bailey and the de-
feat of Senator Simmons as wet"
victory, because Bailey supported the
Smith ticket in 1928. But Bailey has
bsen reputed dry for years. Although
many vets followed Bailey, Senator
Simmons owed his defeat to just one
th1ng-failure to observe party regu-
larity and the victory of the republicans
in North Carolina in the last presiden-
tial election. The Democrats of the
South just can't stand Republican vic
tories at the polls. Lurking back of such
victories lies the shadow of reconstruc-
ton days anu the possible political
dominance of the Negro. In 1928. urged
by religious prejudice and by anti-Wet
sentiment, four States of the solid
ticket and went for Hoover. For a sea-
son, the old race issue was laid aside
But in North Carolina, with Simmons
and Bailey running for the senatorial
nomination and without the two main
issues which carried the State for
Hoover and against Smith being in
volved, fear and hatred of Republican
victory and of the man who made such
a victory possible in 49, had its effect.
The Republicans have not been so
effective in dealing with party boilers.
Back in 1924, it is true, Senator
Brookhart, who supported La Toilette
for President instead of Coolidge in that
year, was turned down by combined
vote of regular Republicans and the
Democrats, and Senator Steck was
elected. But that was in a general
election, not in a party primary, and
Brookhart'S disciplining was accom-
plished only with Democratic aid. In
another two years Brookhart, in party
primary, was again triumphant and still
insurgent. Senator Frazier of North
Dakota, the late Senator Ladd of that
State and the senior La Toilette, all
bolted the regular party ticket in 1924,
but none of them felt the party lash in
their States In 1928 Senator George
w. Norris came out fatty for Al Smith
In Wisconsin. Norris is up for renomi-
nation this year and there appears to
be no one among the regulars who rel
ishes an attempt to defeat him in the
primary, despite his boiling the Re-
publican ticket two years ago. Perhaps
If Nebraska had followed Senator Nor
riS' lead and gone Democratic that
year the Republicans might have been
a little more sore with him and might
have regarded his denomination with
more opposition. But Nebraska rolled
not pay the slightest bit of attention
to what Mr.. Norris had to say on that
matter. Nor did Wisconsin turn to
Smith at the instance of Senator Blaine.
x X x X
Now that the regular Democrats have
successfully disciplined party boilers in
North Carolina, Virginia and elsewhere
in the South. attention is centering on
the race which Senator Heflin of Ala
bama is making for reelection. He is
having trouble keeping his head above
the flood of regular" opposition which
has developed in his own State. This
regular opposition will receive added
momentum from the defeat which the
Democrats have administered to SEN
ator Simmons, beyond a doubt. Fur
thermore. 1t appears that Senator Hefiin
Is about to head an entire independent
ticket in the State this Fall, with many
candidates for State Office and possibly
for membership in the House. If the
House members do not line up for him.
This may be a bold stroke. but it is re-
garded in some quarters as political
blindness. 1t Is calculated to line up
solidly all the friends of the many can
oidates who will run as regular Demo-
cratic nominees for these Offices and
cause them to vote against Heflin and
all his ticket.
If reports be true, the Democrats are
so intent upon having the Smoot- Haw-
ley tariff bill as an issue in the coming
campaign that they just can't bear to
let the measure be defeated in the Sen
ate finally. The rumor is going the
rounds that If necessary a Democratic
bill in addition to those of the Senators
from Louisiana. Wyoming and another
State or two where the tariff needs are
so strong that these Democrats would
vote for the bill anyway. Senator Joe"
Robinson, the Democratic leader of the
Senate, is expected back this week, in
time to play a part in bringing the
tariff bill finally to vote. Senator
Robinson has been out in Arkansas,
where Thomas w. Campbell, a former
State chairman, is trying to win the
senatorial nomination Of the Democrats
this year against the Senator. For II
years Senator Robinson has been
member of the Senate, and for decade
or more he was member of the House
before that. For few months between
his service in the House and his service
in the Senate he was governor. And
two years ago he put Arkansas still fur
Their on the political map by capturing
the Democratic nomination for Vice
President. During the last six years
Senator Robinson has been his partyS
leader in the Senate. Much of that
time his leadership has been the only
effective leadership in the Senate on
either side. The Republicans, with
their insurgent group ready to kick over
the traces at any time, have been In
bad way for leadership.
The tariff bill as 1t is coming out OF
conference finally is criticized by Re-
publican Senators from the farm States
on the theory that it gives too much
aid to the manufacturers and not
enough to the farmers. On the other
hand, some of the Senators from the
industrial States particularly Reed and
Grundy of Pennsylvania, take unkindly
to the measure because they feel it does
not do enough for the manufacturers
and does too much for the farmers.
Some one must be wrong.
* X *
Senator "Jim' Reed of Missouri, who
has been out of the political limelight
since he was defeated for the presi-
Dental nomination in Houston in 1923,
is planning to stage a comeback and
win the Democratic nomination for
Chief Executive in 1892, it is now re-
ported. He is talking to the Democrats
nationally over the radio and burning
I'm" President Hoover the London naval