Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-29
Politics at Large

The Republicans up in the second
district of Massachusetts, have NOM
mated Fred D. Griggs of Springfield to
run for the House seat made vacant by
the death of the late Representative
Kaynor The nomination OF Griggs, a
former member of the State Legisla-
ture, is not surprising. The surprise
time before the primary election, which
was held yesterday, that he would sup
port amendment of the Volstead act
He was running against wringing wet,
Frank T. Hinckley, for the Republican
nomination. MIR. Griggs has been
known as dry. The drys today are
claiming that his victory over Hinckley
is dry victory. But some of the ex-
treme drys do not look on Mr.. Griggs
today as an entirely satisfactory cam
didate. Whitfield Reed, young attorney
will run as an independent dry candi~
date in the special election. provided
he can get into the race through petit
ton.
**
The election will be held February
IL and may give some indication of the
extent that the wet sentiment has
permeated even Western Massachusetts,.
The Democratic nominee, William j.
Granfield, is an announced wet. He
ran in three-cornered race yesterday
against two other wet Democrats for
the nomination. There was a much
larger vote cast in the Republican pri-
mary than in the Democratic yesterday,
something like two to one, which might
indicate Republican victory. If Reed
the bone dry independent, should get
into the race, 1t is possible he might
attract some of the votes of drys who
have been angered because of the state
ment made by Griggs that he would
vote for modification Of the Volstead
act. The district voted wet" in the
referendum held in 1928 on the repeal
of the eighteenth amendment, although
there were many ballots cast in the
election of that year which did not
register preference in that referendum
GriggS' statement that he would vote
for modification, however, is an indi-
cation of the extent to which the wet
and dry issue Is stirring politics in the
Bay State. Louis K. Liggett, the Re-
publican national committeeman, was
in Washington last week to talk over the
situation with the members of the Mas
SachusettS delegation in Congress and
with President Hoover. He said while
he was here that prohibition would be
a dominant issue" in the campaign next
Fall. He went further and said he be-
ieved that the referendum, which would
be held at that time on the proposed
repeal of the State prohibition enforce
ment act, would be carried by the vets.
His statements created much excite
ment in Massachusetts,, where 65 to rs
per cent of the Republican voters are
supposed to be dry. Massachusetts, has
senatorial election coming on, to fill
the seat now held by Senator Gillett,
who has announced he will not be a
candidate to succeed himself.
y Fl
The suggestion that Secretary Charles
Francis Adams of the Navy Depart
ment be candidate for the senatorial
nomination has gained more circulation
among the Republicans. While 1t is
understood that Mr.. Liggett did not at
his conference with the Massachusetts
delegation put forward any particular
candidate for the senatorial nominal
ton, it is also understood that he did
discuss the possible nomination of Mr..
Adams. The Secretary of the Navy, If
put forward by the Republicans, might
be strong candidate. It would appear
that his nomination would satisfy the
Hoover Republicans in Massachusetts,
since Mr.. Hoover picked him for MEM
bership in his cabinet. Further, Mr..
Of an historic Massachusetts, family.
He is said not to have been pro-
nounced dry. although, of course, he IS
supporting enforcement of the dry laws
He might, 1t is said, attract some of
the Democratic voters as well as the
Republican.
The Republicans elected their candi-
date TO NIL the vacancy in the House
caused by the death of the late Repre-
sentative william w. Griest of Penn
Sylvania without difficulty. The new
member of the House is j. Roland
Kinzer. The district is strongly Re-
publican. Mr.. Kinzer was opposed at
the polls yesterday by George w.
HenSel, jr., Democrat.
If there be any upset of the Repub-
lican control of Congress in the election
next November, it has not yet been
indicated by the results of by-elections
held to fill vacancies in the House
caused by death. The Democrats are
sure to win back several, if not all, of
the Kentucky seats which were lost to
them in the Hoover landslide of 1928,
and probably the North Carolina and
Virginia seats, though the Republicans
have fighting chance in some of the
latter districts. But that would be
AhCAOy IAAC 1LokHldA SWING OdCk OF the
political pendulum.
y X II X
Norman E. Mack of Buffalo. N. Y.
veteran member of the Democratic ma
tional committee, was in Washington.
Monday on his way to Florida. He
views the Democratic situation in his
own State as highly satisfactory. He
insisted that everybody in New York
conceded the reelection of Gov. Frank
lin d. Roosevelt. If he is correct. and
Gov. Roosevelt is reelected, there seems
no doubt but what the New York Gov
ernor will have strong support for the
presidential nomination in 1892. III
New York the Republicans are still ap-
parently unsuccessful in getting to-
gether. The wet and dry question has
upset the apple cart for them lust as
II has for the Republicans of Massa-
chusetts. Whether the Republicans of
New York will ever get together, until
some strong, dominant figure arises to
lead them in the State, is a problem.
y X y y
Mr.. Mack said among other things
while he was In Washington: "I believe
IN fair tariff to protect American in
oustry. but not a robber tariff" This
seems to be becoming more and more the
point OF view of the Democrats. The
question of overthrowing. the protective
tariff system which has been built up in
this country is being abandoned by the
democrats. The only question now is
whether the Democrats or the Repub-
licanS can write the best and fairest
lNFnf 0ntfWyn 4nv-t@ al .nHn t.