Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-07
The Political Mill
By G. Could Lincoln.

Today ID the day set for the retire
ment Of Claudius II. Huston Of Tennes-
see as chairman Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. 1t has been obvious
for o long time that Mr.. Huston, sooner
or later, must yield the party leadership
or perpetuate q division of the @. o. p,
which threatened to reach serious pro-
portions. Furthermore, 1t was perfectly
obvious that for months Mr.. Huston had
not been functioning as chairman OF
the Republican National Committee in
the sense that he was doing anything
for the party! It Is quite apparent that
his resignation will be accepted with
signs Of relief on the part of the @. o.
p. leaders The Democrats, on the
other hand, will regret the passing OF
Mr.. Huston with the campaign just get
ting under way. In fact, the Demo-
Gratis have been waiting with more or
less patience for the time to come to
open fire on the Republican national
chairman, who attained q considerable
degree Of adverse publicity when the
Senate Lobby Committee delved into his
activities while he was president of the
Tennessee River Improvement Associa-
ton.
The Democrats are In q measure I'M
fortunate in having had removed by the
Republicans themselves two targets Of
their campaign shafts. One was Sena-
tor Joseph r. Grundy Of Pennsylvania
and the other Mr.. Huston. The voters
of Pennsylvania took care of Mr..
Grundy when they nominated Secretary
James ]. Davis of the Department Of
Labor for the Senate over Mr.. Grundy
last May in the party primary. The
Democrats still cling to the statement
that the Smoot- Hawley tariff bill is the
"Grundy" bill. But with the high priest
Of protection effectually out Of the pic
ture by action of the Republican voters,
the sting Of this Characterization Of the
tariff bill Is somewhat lessened. And
Mr.. Huston, upon whom the Democrats
had hoped to heap all kinds Of criticism,
Is on his way out.
- 4
Robert H. Lucas, the youthful Ken
tuckian, who Is to have charge of the
Republican campaign as chairman of
the Executive Committee of the Repub-
lican National Committee, is declared to
be most efhcient organizer, with an
unusually pleasing personality. Senator
Simeon D. Tess Of Ohio IL slated for the
Job Is national chairman. In many quar-
tiers 1t has been tntimated that Mr.. Tess
is to be o temporary chairman and that
either Mr.. Lucas, after he becomes more
widely known, or another, Is to fill the
place Of Mr.. Tess after the present cam
paign Is over. That's as may be. Chair
men OF National Committees. once hav-
ing been placed in office, have way of
continuing on the job. Mr.. Fess is said
to be unacceptable to some of the ele-
ments In his party. For example, to
Senator Moses Of New Hampshire and
to some Of the Western Republican Sem
ators whom he dubbed pseudo" Re-
publicans when they were "coalescing"
With the Democrats to defeat the Hoover
administration on the tariff and farm
relief. Mr.. Moses happens to be chair
man OF the Republican Senatorial Com
mittee this year. It's dollars to dough-
nuts, however, that Mr.. Moses will not
feel 30 strongly regarding the selection
OF Mr.. FeSS that he will resign the
Craftsmanship of the Senatorial Com
nittee. And, IL he did, there are quite
few Republican Senators who would
welcome Mr.. Moses retirement.
+
The primary in Kansas Tuesday has
resulted apparently In the nomination
OF Senator Henry Allen to succeed him
self. Senator Allen has had the
breaks" The opposition to him was
divided three ways. Furthermore, Mr.
Allen has considerable following in
Kansas himself. having served as Gov
n.
who was director of publicity for the
Republican National Committee during
the 1928 campaign, has been q consist.
ent defender Of the Hoover administra-
ton since he was appointed to the Sen
ate to fill the vacancy caused by the
retirement of Vice President Curtis. His
defeat at the polls would have been
hailed as blow for the administration.
HIS victory Is naturally pleasing to the
Capper, the senior Senator from Kansas
was renominated without opposition for
another term. Senator Capper is re-
garded as unbeatable in the Sunfiower
state. Former Gov. Jonathan M. Davis
Is the Democratic nominee in opposition
10 Capper, but Davis chances are prac-
tically nil.
The row among the Democrats of
Massachusetts, continues almost at fever
neat Joseph B. Ely Of Westfield, q
nation, has accused John r. Fitzgerald.
Honey Fftz," Of having double crossed
MIN, and Fitzgerald has replied that
the charge Is absurd" Ely maintains
that Fitzgerald invited him to become
candidate for Governor and now has
gone after the nomination himself. Ely
says he will stay in the race for the
gubernatorial nomination. Mayor Cur
ley OF Boston has come out in favor
of Fitzgerald. Ely has strong backing
out in the State.
Meanwhile the Republicans Of the
State are at daggers drawn over the
Wet-and-dry question. Conrad Croker
OF the Liberal Civic League has charged
that William M. Butler, dry candidate
for the Republican senatorial nomina-
ton, Is buying" the nomination with
NJ 0o1, 4.
CROKER admits he is supporting Eben
Draper, wet. for the nomination. In
informed quarters 1t is generally ex-
pected that Butler will win the nomi-
nation. And they look on Butler as
an easy man to beat. He has been
defeated by Senator David I. Walsh.
But Senator Walsh is stronger with the
voters. probably, than any other man
IN public life In the Commonwealth,
Democrat or Republican. Butler is
not colorful candidate, but will have
lot of support from the business and
the dry elements. II he loses. It will
be largely due to the wet sentiment
among many Of the Republicans and
to the unemployment situation.
n
The drys seem to be distinctly on
the toboggan in New York State. 1udg-
ing from the attitude of the political
leaders Of both the major parties. The
drys perhaps will say that this is
nothing new in wet New York. New
ertheless the recent reports from the
Empire State indicate that the wet
sentiment is gaining ground even there
and that the leaders, among them Gov.
Roosevelt, who may be a strong con-
tender for the Democratic nomination
for President in 1882, have about de-
termined that 1t is just as important to
be wet nationally as in the State field
OF politics. Gov. Roosevelt. after an
interview with former Gov. Al Smith.
has apparently let it be known that
he intends to rim in the Coming cam