Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
POLITICAL CLOUDS
DIM C. 0. P. SKIES
Varied Issues and Spirit of
Unrest Threaten Control
of Congress.
Continued From First Page)

Continued From First Page.)
of Western Republicans in the Senate
In the Coolidge administration, the
G. o. P. continued to be successful at
the polls.
The hopeful sign for the Republicans,
so far as the congressional elections
are concerned, in the West lies in the
fact that the Republican progressive
leaders are not likely to turn Democrat
or to turn to Democratic candidates.
They may not like the regular Repub-
Icans, but they have no more. use for
the Democrats.
Senator Brookhart during the debate
on the nomination of Chief Justice
Hughes last week declared he would be
glad TO support the nominee of the
Democrats for President in 1892, pro-
v1ded the Democrats would nominate
Senator Borah or Senator Norris, but
this looks to the presidential cam
palgn rather than the congressional.
1t is true that in some Democratic
quarters the suggestion has been seri-
ously advanced that the Democrats in
dorse or nominate Senator Norris for
the Senate in Nebraska this year, on
the theory that Norris cannot be
beaten anyway, that he voted for AL
Smith, the Democratic candidate for
President in 1928, and that it would
tend to bring progressive Republicans
into line for Democratic nominee for
President in 1882.
The attack on President Hoover's APP
pointment of Chief Justice Hughes by
the Western Republican progressive
bloc is the latest manifestation of
the cleavage among Republicans in the
Senate. 1t merely carries on the at
tacks on the administration made dur
ing the farm relief and tariff fights.
1t does not augur well for the future
pleasant relations among the Republic
cans. however. The progressives took
the position that Mr. Hughes represent
ed the conservative viewpoint on eco
nomic questions, that he stood for prop
erty rights as against human rights.
They rang the chances on this argu-
ment for three days and then kept 1t
up after the Chief Justices nomination
had been confirmed.
Butler Creates Interest Here.
The announcement of William M.
Buffers candidacy for the Republican
nomination for the Senate in MasSa-
chusetts has created no little interest
here. Mr.. Butler was former Senator
and headed the Republican national
committee in the campaign which
GlHEL6Q Adlful NOO1AOSC 1ACoAACAbs AZ
was a close friend of the former Pres
ident, Mr.. Buffers announcement was
in a measure expected, for 1t had been
more or less forecast when Louis e.
Iipcett. Republican national commit
teeman, came here to discuss the Mas
sachusetts situation with the delega-
ton in Congress and with President
Hoover.
Mr.. Butler in his announcement in
dictated that he would be particularly
cuisines candidate" that his platform
would be better business for New Eng
land industries" He has promised
statement on the prohibition issue. and
what he says about that matter Will be
eagerly awaited.
Election of a wet Democrat, William
j. Granfield, to represent the second
congressional district of Massachusetts,
which has been additionally Repub-
ucan district ever since its creation, has
thrown a scare into the Republicans. II
Mr.. Butler announces himself in favor
of modification of the dry laws he may
lose some of the dry rural Republican
voters. particularly If dry independ-
ent should get into the race, which
happened in New York in 1925 with
disastrous results for former Senator
WadsWorth, Republican, who had come
out as an avowed wet. On the other
hand, If he comes out dry, it will be
flying in the face of strong sentiment
in Massachusetts IN opposition to pro-
hibition. It's tough proposition.
Buffers Chances Debated.
Republican members of the MaSSa-
chusettS delegation in Congress are not
talking for publication about the Butler
announcement. Some of them have
hoped the senatorial nomination would
come to them. But they fear that Mr..
Butler is not the vote getter they need
right now in Massachusetts,, and they
feel that his former defeat at the polls
there, in 1926 by Senator David l.
Walsh, will not be helpful. At that
time President Coolidge urged the cleo
ton of Mr.. Butler, but was unable to
swing the State for him.
The wet and dry issue is likely to
make things difficult for the Repub-
licans, too, in Rhode Island, where
Senator Metcalf comes up for re-elec-
ton, largely because the rural vote in
the New England States has been dry
as a general thing. The Democrats will
doubtless nominate a wringing wet in
New Jersey, and there, too. many of the
Republicans are dry and Dwight W.
Morrow, if he is nominated, will have
to watch his step. If he comes out for
modification of the dry laws, and Mr..
Butler should do the same thing in
Massachusetts, it will doubtless be con-
strued as slap at the drive by the
Hoover administration for enforcement
of the dry laws. However, such occur
rences would create the effect that the
Republican party as whole is not
welded to the dry cause. .
Granfleld, the new Democratic Rep
resentative from Massachusetts,, is ex-
pected to reach here Monday morning.
He will be given warm welcome by
the three sitting Democratic members
of the House from Massachusetts, who
plan to make his entrance into the