Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-09
The Political Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

for success in the coming national po-
litical campaign the Democrats do not
intend to overlook the point. Having
already launched an organized drive to
raise $1,5oo,0oO to pay on the Party
deficit and to get start on the 1887
race for President, the Democrats,
through their National Committee, have
now organized THE Minute Men OF the
Democratic National Committee" John
]. Raskob, chairman of the National
Committee, Is making formal announce
ment of this group ready to leap to the
defense of Democratic principles TO
help keep the National Committee in
formed Of political trends, to give coun-
sci and financial aid when necessary,
names a Board of Councillors. This
board includes in its membership the
three surviving Democratic nominees
for President, Cox, Davis and smith;
Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross, one time Demo-
cratic Governor Of Wyoming; Mrs. Jes-
sic Woodrow Sayre, and former Gov.
Harry Flood Byrd of Virginia. The
temporary commander Of the new legion
of Democracy is Jouett Sheuse, chair
man Of the Executive Committee OF the
National Committee, and the two vice
commanders are Mrs. Ross and former
Gov. Byrd.
In the past it was the Republicans
| who have been strong on organization.
The Democrats have carried on from
one national campaign in a hit-or-
miss manner. But the Democratic
national organization, under the d1-
rection of Chairman RaSkob and his
| first lieutenant, Jouett ShouSe, during
| the last three years has turned over
| new leaf for the party. 1t has
maintained a Woodworking and Ell
| ficient headquarters force in Washing
wit, of 70 rxyOrlx falling
on Charles Nicholson, director OF pub
licity. This organization has fallen
on President Hoover and the Repub-
J licans generally like a ton OF brick
every time it seemed to find an OPP
| portunity. In little over a month
the Republican National Committee is
to meet in Washington at the call OF
Senator FesS, chairman, to consider
/ important matters relating to the COM
| ing national convention and the presi-
Dental campaign. Perhaps the Re
publicans will come forward with
| plans for strengthening their organi-
cation, too, at that time. Prepared
ness is the slogan of the day.
A few weeks ago in this column
attention was called to AN editorial in
the Texas Weekly, published by Peter
Molyneaux. in which Mr.. Molyneaux
said. to paraphrase his words, that
there were Democrats who would
rather not have economic recovery in
this country than to have it at the
hands of Herbert Hoover. Comment
| ing on this statement, the writer OF
| this column said that "this certainly
does not sound as though Mr.. Molly
neaux was a Democrat" In the Octo-
Der 81 issue of the Texas Weekly Mr..
Molyneaux said, referring to this COM
| ment:
II have always been considered a
| Democrat, I always vote the Democratic
ticket, I voted for Gov. Smith and made
radio speeches for him in 1928, and
have not apo!ogized to anybody for
| doing so. On the other hand, I am
also an American citizen, and I &C
| cepted the verdict of the American peo-
pie in 1928. Desiring that my country
should have as good government as
| possible, I have given Mr.. Hoover, rs
President of the United States, whole
hearted support whenever I have felt
| that the best interests Of the country
would be served by doing So and it has
never occurred to me to inquire whether
| I impaired my standing in the Demo-
| cratic party by following such q course.
I have never heSitated to criticize any
public man, whether Democrat or Re-
publican, when have judged such
| criticism to be III the public interest.
Il
| Democrats just now who are praying
that nothing shall happen to elevate
| Mr.. Hoover'S standing in the public
mind by connecting his name with any
| improvement of the economic situation,
it involves question of fact, and not q
question Of my Democracy. And If Mr..
| Lincoln does noe know that there are
such Democrats IN Congress at present,
| just as there wele Republicans in Con-
greSs in 1918 Who were willing to sac
] riflce the best interests of the country
in order to discredit Woodrow Wilson,
he is not as we'll informed on such mat
ters as think he IS"
The political faith Of Mr. Molyneaux
is here established, and also his good
| citizenship. If all the politicians were
willing to put country ahead of party,
business would not shudder when 1t
contemplates the impending session of
Congress. The efforts of members of
Congress to put an opposing admins
| tration in a hole, merely for party adj
vantage, have by no means been con-
fined to the Democratic party. I recall
! that during the Wilson administration.
and while the League of Nations and
Versailles treaty were under conSidera-
ton, when the so-called mild reserva-
tionists, Republican Senators willing to
accept entry into the League with res
ervations that might have received the
approval of President Wilson, were
working out their program one Repub-
lican leader calculated with emphasis,
Eve can't let Wilson have that
meaning the Senate approval of Ameri-
can adherence to the League. This Re-
publican Senator voiced this view pri-
| Vately, while at the same time declaim-
ing publicly that the good of the coun-
try demanded rejection of the League
treaty. 1t was obvious to those who
heard him privately he was intent on
preventing Democratic President from
having feather in his cap"
X X X
The coming session of Congress will
| give the Democrats in Congress and
the Republican Progressives full oppor-
tunity to show whether they are seek
| ing the good Of the country or merely
seeking to hamstring the Republican
President: The country will be the
judge. Under the title Wanted in
Politics; Brains and Patriotism" the
State, Columbia, S. c. editorially puts
| itself on record as demanding that the
Democrats in Congress ray aside parti-
san politics when the interests of the
country are to be served. The editorial.
referring to my statement that Mr..
| MolyneauX's editorial certainly does
not sound as though Mr.. MoiyneauX
was Democrat" adds:
Mr.. Lincoln's Interpretation of what
constitutes party fealty Is certainly a
terrible indictment Of American states
manship and patriotism"
have not the slightest doubt there
are Democrats, and Republicans as
well, who put country before party. On
the other hand, there are those who do
not. The proof Of the pudding is in
the eating. The next few months on
Capitol Hill are likely to give the coun-
try full opportunity to observe for it.
self just how far patriotism and how far