Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-05
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

an ProgreSsives in the House If thu
Democrats should turn out to have al
actual majority after all? Two Re
publican seats are endangered because
Of the recounts, one in Illinois and tn.
other In Pennsylvania. II both wen
finally to the Democrats, they woule
House to 216 for the Republicans anc
one for the Farmer Labor party. In.
stead Of holding the balance of power
instead of being in o position to i'm.
pose their will upon the Democrats q:
well as upon the regular Republicans
the Progressives would simply be Out
Of luck, small minority Of the minority
party. When the Democrats came into
power the last time, the Progressive
Republican group in the Senate cut very
are not without their differences, but
on many major issues they may be
counted upon to hold together.
$3.50
Indeed, the Progressive Republican
group in either house would cut very
little figure If the Democrats gained
control in the national elections next
year. Perhaps this fact may have it
effect uuDn the Progressives when next
year rolls around and they have tx
make I'D their minds whether they will
support the Republican national ticket
and fight for seats In Congress as Re.
publicans. Representative La Guardia
that rather unusual political phenom.
eron, q Republican Progressive from
New York, has just issued a statement
in which he has declared that the Pro.
greSsive Republicans would dicker with
either the Democrats or the Repub-
licans on the matter of House organi.
zation when Congress assemblies anc
probably follow the lead of whichever
party offered the most. If the Demo.
Gratis finally have majority there viii
be no dickering on the part of Mr.
La Guardia and the others of his group
The Democrats will be in position tt
travel on their own.
The La Toilette Progressive Repub-
leans in Wisconsin on Saturday scored
another victory, nominating their can
didate, Thomas r. Amlie, in the Re-
publican primary for the House seat
made vacant by the death of that vet
eran Progressive Henry Allen Cooper
Gov. Philip La Toilette and his brother
Senator Robert M. La Toilette, jr., were
active in the campaign for the nomina-
ton of Amlie. Unofficial returns give
Amlie the lead over his regular Repub-
lican opponent, George w. Blanchard
by 1900 votes to 1895. The margin
Of success. however, was not so very
great. But the FIRST Wisconsin district
has been regarded as one Of the most
publican point of view. Any idea that
the Democrats might pick of this
House, if there ever was such an idea
has vanished with the success of the
Progressive Republican candidate. The
Democratic primary was won by Her
zog with 765 votes to $50 votes fol-
Herman. The disparity in the votes
cast IN the Republican and Democratic
primaries is not very complimentary to
the Democratic party in Wisconsin.
4 4 4
The plans for the national conven-
items of the two major political parties
will soon be in the making The Re-
publicans will hold a meeting of Their
National Committee either the last week
in November or in December to pick
city and fix time for their conven-
ton. The Democrats are expected now
to hold a meeting of the Democratic
National Committee on Jackson day
January 8. for the same purposes. One
of the duties of the national committees
Is to pick keynote speakers for the
national conventions, although these
selections are usually made later. How
ever, already there is speculation in
regard to keynote speakers for the con-
ventions next year. 1t Is their job to
sound the clarion call; to lay down
either a defense of the administration
or an attack upon 1t, as the case may
be. The keynoter of the Republican
national convention in 1928 was Sena-
tor Simeon D. Fess of Ohio, who is now
chairman of the Republican National
Committee and will have charge of all
the arrangements for the convention.
The Democrats had for their keynote
speaker Claude G. Bowers, historian
and editorial writer.
r. ~
The suggestion has been advanced
that the Democrats should pick Senator
Robinson of Arkansas, their Senate
leader and their candidate for Vice
President on the ticket with Alfred E.
Smith three years ago. II they do not
turn to Senator Robinson, it is sug-
gested that it would be wise to select
Representative John Garner of Texas,
the party leader of the House. who may
be Speaker of that body if the Demo-
Gratis realize their present ambition of
organizing the House at the coming
session. Others who have been men
toned in this connection are Senator
Buckley of Ohio. Senator David I. Walsh
of Massachusetts,. Senator Thomas j.
Walsh Of Montana. former Gov. Byrd
Of Virginia, Newton D. Baker of Ohio
and Senator Pat Harrison of Missis-
sippi. Senator Willard E. Tydings of
Maryland, who was chairman of the
Senatorial Campaign Committee in
1880, and Senator Barley of Kentucky
and Wheeler of Montana have their
supporters for the Office of keynoter
and temporary chairman. The list in
cludes leading Democrats whose views
of prohibition are widely divergent. For
example, Senator Robinson and Senator
Walsh of Montana are rated strong
drys, while David I. Walsh, Senator
Buckley and Senator Tydings are wiring
ing wet. The Democrats can scarcely
hope to pick as keynoter any promi-
nent Democrat who Is neutral on this
subject, however.
When it comes to the Republican Sc
lection for a keynoter and temporary
chairman of the national convention,
again Senate leader stands out, Sen
ator James E. Watson. No one makes
a better political speech or a more Re-
publican speech than Senator Watson.
Then there are Secretary Patrick j.
Hurley of the War Department, who
halls from Oklahoma and is q stanch
administration supporter. and Gov.
Theodore Roosevelt. jr., Of Porto Rico,
who has been mentioned as vice pres
idential possibility and also as a fu-
ture governor general of the Philippine
Islands. Going further West. the selec-
ton of Senator Charles L. McNary of
Oregon, assistant Republican leader of
the Senate, would make an excellent
keynoter, or Senator Arthur Vanden-
berg of Michigan.
X + X
A veteran Democratic leader who
was shelved because of his anti-Smith
position in the last campaign, former
Senator Furnifold M. Simmons, has
been taking his ease at his home in
North Carolina since he left Wash
ington last March at the close of his