Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-06
The Political Mill.
By C. Could Lincoln.

Today Mayor Jimmie" Walker Is back
from California to make reply to
charges brought against his administra-
ton Of New York by the City Affairs
Committee, and tomorrow Mayor big
Bill' Thompson either will be're-elected
or turned out OF Office by the citizens
OF Chicago. In a wiSecracking era 1t
is somewhat significant that both New
York and Chicago have wisecrackers as
their chief executives, and also that
strenuous efforts have been set on foot
by all kinds of better government organ
izations to get rid Of both OF them.
Anton Cermak, the Democratic nom
inee for mayor of Chicago, seems to
have the edge over Thompson, If re-
ports from the Windy City are to be
credited. Thompson's enemies in the
Republican party have turned upon him
en- masse, 1t is said, and will go to the
limit in support of the Democratic
candidate. They prefer to turn the
Office OF mayor over to the Democrats
big Bill" with his ballyhoo and his
attacks en- King George, has been able
to win over divided opposition in the
past. But this time the Thompson
opponents did not fall into the trap;
they did not put up an independent
candidate for mayor. This was a bitter
disappointment to big Bill"
n X
The Democrats are hoping much from
Illinois If Chicago elects a Democratic
mayor tomorrow. They point out that
Senator James Hamilton Lewis was
elected to the Senate by more than
100000 votes last Fall. However, SEN
ator Lewis was elected with the aid of
n Hnxy rNfsF rvrlz1
Ruth Hanna Mccormick, the Republi-
can nominee for the Senate, at the close
Of the campaign. Furthermore, the
voters were antagonistic to Mrs. McCor-
mick for enc reason or another, in large
numbers. They did not love the Demo-
cratic party particularly. The Demo-
cratic candidate for mayor of Chicago
will be elected, If he is elected, because
the voters hate Thompson rather than
for any concern about the Democratic
party. However, the Democrats hope,
if they have control of the City Hall in
Chicago as they have control Of it in
New York, to build up stronger Or
ganization.
Willingly or unwittingly Senator
Norris of Nebraska probably has pro-
vided the Democratic party with its
slogan for the next presidential cam
paign. When the Nebraska Senator
shouted in the recent Progressive Con-
ference held here in Washington, what
we need is another Roosevelt in the
White House" the slogan was made to
order, provided, of course the Demo-
Gratis nominate for President in 1882
Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York.
Contracted to I'VE need another RooSe-
velt," this suggestion of Mr.. Norris is
likely to go far in the campaign. And
unless signs fail to prove correct, Sen
ator Norris will be On the Roosevelt
band wagon next year. He followed
Smith against Hoover in 1928, and he
has given no sign that he will stick to
the Republican national ticket in 1882,
if 1t is headed by President Hoover.
Roosevelt-fcr- President Clubs are
springing up like mushrooms in all
parts Of the country. They have them
in oregon, in Iowa, in Georgia, In Ohio
and all intermediate points, it Is re-
ported. The New York Governor, his
friends insist, is not encouraging the
formation of these clubs, but at the
same time he is throwing no cold water
on them. For publication he continues
to say that he is interested at present
in being chief executive OF the Empire
State.
The drys in the South and the West
among the Democrats are willing TO
take Roosevelt next year because he
does not insist upon talking about the
need for the repeal Of the eighteenth
amendment at all times. 1t is that
kind of talk which weakens Gov. Richie
of Maryland among the Southerners
and the Westerners. The Maryland
Governor has come to be associated
with one thing in the minds of the
HO
hibition amendment. Roosevelt, on the
other hand, is rated a Progressive, be-
cause of his stand on water power and
perhaps because Of his name. There's
something in q name in politics. If
you doubt that, go to Wisconsin and
ask if it means something to be named
La Toilette. True enough, both Sena-
tor La Toilette and Gov. La Toilette, the
most prominent pair Of brothers IN the
country today. have ability of their own.
But they also have the name.
The extent Of the Roosevelt move
ment and its persistence is coming to
be known at last For a long time, the
talk has been that Gov. Roosevelt was
the creation of Al Smith and the Tam
many Democrats of New York, and
that If Mr.. Smith, Mr.. RaSkob and
others turnedsagainst him he would be
out of the uIetpre completely in 1882.
But as makkeR of fact Gov. Roosevelt
was DemocratB nominee for Vice Presi-
dent in 1920, nearly dozen years ago,
and before that he was Assistant Sec
rotary of the Navy under Woodrow VII
son. He carries more than a bit of
weight himself these days and has twice
been elected Governor of New York,
once in a presidential year. It has
been rumored that Smith and Raskob,
especially the latter, were ready to
dump Roosevelt and take Owen D.
Young for the Democratic candidate
for President next year. 1t does not
look as though this can be done. In all
probability Gov. RooSevelt'S name will
be entered in the presidential preferen-
tial primaries next year. He Is likely
TO be the choice of the Democrats in
many of these primaries, and, as con-
sequence, to have instructed delega-
lions at the national convention. Will
the supporters of Owen D. Young put
him in the race in these primary
States? And If they do, will he get
anywhere in opposition to Roosevelt?
Probably not. The opposition to Roose-
welt may try the "favorite son" route
to head him of in these primary States.
But that has not been SO effective in
recent years.
Senator James j. Davis Of Pennsyl-
vania must make up his mind before
very long whether he is to be a candi-
date to succeed himself next year
Rumors have spread around that he is
not particularly anxious to continue on
in the Senate. 1t has even been said he
was considering resigning from that
body to go into business. But he has
denied that, and insists he will stick to
his seat. Report has 1t, however, he has
not been satisfied with life in the SEN
ate, particularly. And now comes the
story that Maj. Gen. Smedley D. But
der, U. S. M. c., Is about to retire, and
that he is seriously considering enter
ing the primary next year for the Re-
publican senatorial nomination. Wheth-