Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-08
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

are now considering the redistricting
bills sent them by their State Legis-
latures, Gov. Ely of Massachusetts, a
Democrat, and Gov. Pinchot Of Penn
sylvania, g. Republican. Upon their de-
cision will depend whether the States
elect their entire congressional delega-
lions lat large" next year, or whether
| the Legislatures are called upon to deal
with the knotty problem Of redistrict-
ing again. The Legislature in Penn
sylvania has adjourned and gone its
way. Gov. Pinchot has 80 days from
the time Of its adjournment to approve
the redistricting bill, and the measure
is still before him. The Legislature did
things to Gov. Pinchot's legislative pro-
gram. 1t declined to pass the bills
relating to public service corporations
amend the election laws In conformity
| with his wishes. In consequence, the
Governor and the Legislature are de-
cidedly and seemingly permanently at
| outs. Nor does the Governor like the
| redistricting bill, it Is said, because 1t
| affects the congressional district in
which he lives in a way he does not
like. Mrs. Pinchot has been and may
again be candidate for the Republican
nomination for the House against Rep
resentative McFadden.
X X
Pennsylvania has had to cut its dele
cation in the House from SO to "a,
in accordance with the reapportion-
ment Of the House following the last
census II the redistricting bill becomes
a law 1t will bring about several con-
tests between sitting members of the
House within new districts. For ex-
ample, Representative J. Russell Leech
will have to fight 1t out for the Re-
publican nomination with Nathan L.
Strong and Representative j. Banks
Kurtz will be up against Representa-
tive j. Mitchell Chase A third con-
test will come between Representative
George F. Brumm and Representative
| Frederick w Magrady.
Some CT these gentlemen will have
/ to give up their House seats as a re-
suit Of the new deal. The Republican
| Legislature has sought to strengthen
from Republican point Of view the
three districts which went Democratic
in the last election, in redistricting the
State. 1t IS suggested that II the Gov
ernor fails to approve the redistricting
bill and all the candidates for the
/ House must run in a State wide cleo
! ton, the Republican State Committee
will pick as the partys candidates the
sitting Republican members and add
another Republican candidate to make
| it an even "a and wipe out the three
Democratic members in the present
Congress. No one believes that Demo-
cratic candidate for the House could
win in Pennsylvania in q State wide
contest.
Gov. Ely, Massa chusetts' Democratic
Governor, is being urged strongly by
many C the newspapers and many per-
sons to approve the redistricting bill
which the Legislature has sent to him
although 1t does not give the Demo
Gratis all they ask for. The Legislature
is Republican. Out of the present House
delegation from Massachusetts, 4 are
Democrats and IL are Republican. It
has been Necessary to cut the delegation
from Is to IS. and to do this the Legs
lature has combined the districts in
large part which at present are repre-
Sented in the House by Dallinger and
Luce. both Republicans. The Democrats
say that they should have a greater
number OF House seats, since they have
two United States Senators and a
Democratic Governor. However, the re-
districting bill put through by the Re-
| publican Legislature received favoring
votes from some Of the Democrats
And it is no secret that Democratic
! members Of the House from Massachu-
sets are not anxious to make q State
wide contest for denomination and re-
election next year. Either PARTY might
win or lose all the seats in such con-
test. But campaigning all over the
State is not to the liking of the sitting
members.
X y
In California. the State which gained
nine additional House seats under the
| reapportionment, there Is q terrible row
over the redistricting act passed by the
California Legislature. There is great
! rivalry between the northern and the
, southern parts OF the State. Gov.
| Rolph is to call special election If the
| petitions which are now out for a ref
erendum on this redistricting act are
, completed and filed. II the voters in
| the proposed referendum should reject
the redistricting act, 1t will mean a
special session of the Legislature. The
| political row in the home State OF
! President Hoover holds considerable in
! terest, both because California has in
creased its representation in the House
so largely and because of the effect that
any political disturbance there may
have on the presidential race next year.
X
Senator Hiram Johnson, who in 1920
and 1924 projected himself into the
| limelight as a candidate for the Re-
publican presidential nomination. was
! recently asked what he thought of the
| potential candidacy for the presiden-
tial nomination of Gov. Clifford Pinchot
of Pennsylvania. Senator johnson was
the running mate Of the late President
| hoo DNncnuo1f 'u-ou in
when the Bull Moose party was
launched. Gov. Pinchot was always a
close friend Of President Roosevelt, a
member of his so-called tennis cabinet.
| However, Senator johnson declined to
| discuss the Pinchot candidacy in any
way. Indeed he said he had not heard
of the candidacy Of Pennsylvania
Governor. At the same time, the Cali
! fornia Senator did not, as other Re-
clare his entire satisfaction with Presi-
dent Hoover as candidate for re-
election next year.
Senator Johnson has been urged by
some of his Progressive Republican
colleagues to dispute with President
Hoover next year in the California pri-
maries for the delegates to the next
Republican National Convention. Sc
| far however, the Senator has given no
encouragement to the idea, although he
has no love for President Hoover. In
1928, Senator johnson was up for re-
election. He did not break with the
Hoover candidacy however, in that
year, and both he and President Hoover
carried California by large vote
Hoover supporters insist that Senator
johnson would be showed under in a
contest for the delegates in California
against President Hoover. The Pro-
gressives, however, who undertake tc
magnify the discomfort in California
and other States for the Hoover admin
istration, take a different view Of It