Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-02
KENTUCKY EXPECTS
DEMOCRATIC GAINS.
Loss of Four or Five House
Seats and Senatorship
Seen for G. o. P.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


LOUISVILLE. KY, November L.
Kentucky Democrats apparently will
recover at least four and probably all
i've Of the seats in the House which
they lost In the Hoover landslide Of
1928, but whether they will defeat the
Republican candidate for the Senate
presents another and far more delicate
problem in the gentle art Of prognosti-
cation.
It is true that the natural advantage
which business recession may be said
to give the party out Of power is sup
plemented in Kentucky by the effects Of
a disastrous drought which has not yet
been broken.
It Is true also that United States
Senator John NJ Robson, the Republic
can nominee, faces the possibility Of q
certain amount Of disaffection in his
own congressional district-the banner
Republican district of the State-and
that elsewhere, many Republicans are,
privately, at least, not enthusiastic about
his candidacy. Nevertheless, to assume
that these handicaps are insurmount-
able becomes absurd, when all the cir
cumstances are considered.
Robson Better Financed.
In the first place, Mr.. Robson APP
pears, in spite Of everything, to have an
organization considerably superior to
that Of his opponents and he is, or so
Democrats say, better financed.
Although they proceeded in 1929 to
elect safe State legislative majority,
the Democrats seem not to have recov-
cred altogether from the crushing eff
fects Of 1928. At any rate, nearly every
observer reports that they lack that
militancy which, in other conditions,
would be considered absolutely req
uisite to success
For instance, in the Louisville dis
trict, they did not even put a candidate
for Congress in the field. This is ex-
planned as strategy" it Is argued that
since many Louisville Republicans are
presumably cool to Mr.. Robson, they
will not take the trouble to 60 to the
polls If 1t Is not necessary to do so
in order to insure the reelection of
Representative Maurice H. Thatcher
Such strategy" as this may be evi-
dence Of cunning, but not OF fighting
spirit.
Judge NJ M. Logan Of the State
Court OF Appeals is the Democratic
candidate for the long term, and Ben
Williamson, q wealthy business man Of
Ashland. for the unexpired term Of
Fred M. sackett Of louisville. now
United States Ambassador to Germany.
Mr.. Robson, who was appointed by
Gov. Elem D. Sampson to succeed Mr.
Sackett, Is running for both the long
ans short terms. Judge Logan, Of
course, has the center Of the stage on
the Democratic SIDE and whatever NAV
be said about the GOODNESS Of many
Republicans toward Mr.. Robson must
also be said about the feeling OF many
Democrats toward their nominee. In
Louisville at least, perhaps the most
striking feature Of the campaign to date
has been the readiness Of numerous
stalwart Republicans and Democrats
alike, in private conversation, to express
lukewarm opinions about their respec-
tive candidates. Partisans, in discuss
ing the two candidates, almost speak
the language Of non-partisans. This is
something that doesn't often happen
in Kentucky.
Race Not Exciting.
1t follows that the contest which is
drawing TO a close cannot. by anv
stretch Of imagination, be described as
having been exciting or bitter. Mr..
Robson and Judge Logan have said
bitter things about each other, but so
Tar they have not melted large num-
oers OF their supporters to violent
emotions. although each has loyal
friends and vigorous assailants.
Judge Logan has endeavored to cap
ltaliZe whatever antagonism toward Gov.
Sampson may exist in the State, since
the Governor and Mr.. Robson are
| political allies Of the closest sort. Judge
Logan has charged that Gov. Sampson
! reward for espousing Mr.. Robsions
candidacy. will be appointment as a
United States district Judge The
Democratic candidate pledges himself
TO exert his best efforts, II elected, to
thwart Gov. Simpsons supposed
ambition.
IF I am elected" Judge Logan has
said over and over again, "the reward
will not come to him as I will never
vote for his confirmation as a Federal
judge, but I can prevent his conflrma--
ton by presenting the charges made
against him by Robert H. Lucas while
they were candidates for the nomina-
ticn for Governor.
In the Republican gubernatorial pri-
mary Of 1927, Mr.. Lucas, now executive
director Of the Republican National
Committee, contested for the nomina-
ton and made an energetic, II un.
successful, campaign. One Of his con-
tributions was the designation Of his
opponent as Film F1am Flem," anC
this nickname Is still applied to Gov
Sampson by his opponents.
Faction Against Robson.
without going into intricacies o.
factional politics, it may be said that
speaking generally, those Republican,
who supported Mr.. Lucas in 1927 art
the Republicans who are now the leas
ardent about Mr.. Robson. This ele
ment has been hoping to nip Mr.. Rob
sions senatorial aspirations-they hav'
been obvious for several years-by re
y nominating II Sackett and Mr.. Sack
ett's departure for Berlin left then