Evening star., 1931-12-07
The Political Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

The Democrats of the House have
given demonstration of harmonious
action in framing their states for the
organization of that body that even the
Republicans In their palmiest days -
before the word progressive" had come
to have such disconcerting effect on
the G. o. P-might have equaled but
not surpassed. If the Democratic eau
Gus Is any criterion for the future course
of the House Democrats it bodies i'll for
the Republicans, who quite naturally
hope for divisions and dissensions In the
ranks of their enemies. If the House
and Senate Democrats can act together
in this Congress as well as the Demo
Gratis Of the House alone, that viii be
something more for the Republicans to
think about.
The hope of the G.. o. P. for the ma
tional elections next year continues to
lie in trouble for the Democrats, intra-
party trouble and dissension. 1t has
been the practice Of many Republicans
to say to each other, when considering
the possibilities Of 1892: "Oh, it's lust
question of time before the Demo-
Gratis begin tearing each other to pieces.
Remember Madison Square Garden"
Well maybe there will be another
Madison Square Garden affair next
| June, but so far the Democrats have
given no indications of it, except in the
meeting of the National Committee last
March, when Chairman John j. Raskob
was bumped because he sought to have
the committee recommend a home
rule" plan for liquor traffic control to
the coming national convention. But
here lately even Mr. Raskob has been
singing different tune and has said,
mirabile dictu, he does not wish to put
the party on record in the campaign
platform as either wet or dry. When it
Is possible to get the wet Mr.. Raskob to
talk in that fashion, it begins to look
as II Democratic harm ony would be so
thlck 1t could not be stirred with a
spoon.
To help matters along Senator Rob-
lnson OF Arkansas, Democratic leader
OF the Senate, and Senator Pat Har-
rison, author of the plan, have put
through a proposal for a special COM
mittee OF the Democrats of the Senate
to work with similar committee to
be appointed by their House brethren
Tor a harmonious and united front in
the Congress. These committees, which
WILL in effect, form a Joint committee
OF the Democrats of the two houses,
are to consider the Democratic atti-
tude to legislative measures and to out
line party strategy. But above all they
are to see to 1t that there be co-opera-
ton by the Democratic members of the
two bodies,
The threatened conflict between the
Northern Democrats in the House with
the Democrats of the South over i'm
portant committee chairmanships, floor
leadership and the like. has not ma
terialized. John F. Curry the Tam
many leader himself has come down
to Washington to see that the peace is
kept, and there has been give-and-
take attitude on the part of the Demo-
Gratis of the two sections of the coun-
try that is almost touching. 1t begins
to look as though some one had at
last been able to put little salt on
the tail of the dove of peace.
Things have been going SO well for
the Democrats they naturally do not
wish any one to rock the boat. There
Is another congressional election to
come on January up in the first New
Hampshire district to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of the late Repre-
sentative Fletcher Hale, Republican.
The Republicans have nominated, in
party convention, former Gov. John H.
Bartlett, who also served as First As
sistant Postmaster General in the Cool
idge administration. His nomination
was expected, although there are those
in New Hampshire, Republicans, who
should fall out so. The Democrats, also
in party convention, have nominated
former Representative Rogers, who
served in Washington after the 1922
elections for a term of two years. Rogers
had active opposition, and the vote by
which he won in the convention was
close. The Republicans are seeking
comfort from that fact They carried
the district a year ago by 5000 votes
for Hale. But 5000 votes in view of
recent happenings seem to melt away
in a hurry on occasion. If the Demo-
Gratis should win In the New Hamp-
shire district, they will have a total of
220 members of the House to 214 Re-
publicans and | FarmerLabor. 1t Is
scarcely what might be called work
ing majority of the House unless, in
deed, the Democrats all work together.
For a moment at least, the Demo-
terest therein has eclipsed In public in
terest the race for the Democratic NOM
ination for President. However, Gov
Albert c. Ritchie of Maryland continues
to deliver speeches in various parts of
the country, and Gov. Roosevelt of New
York keeps right on comforting with
party leaders, who come to visit him
from many States. Many of the party
leaders are finding 1t convenient to visit
War Springs Ga, where the New York
Governor Is at present taking vaca-
ton. The Roosevelt band wagon is
gaining more and more passengers.
During the last day or two Watt Brown,
Democratic national committeeman for
Alabama, has stopped off" to call on
Gov. Roosevelt. The Alabama State
Democratic Committee is to meet De-
cember l6 in Birmingham to fix the
rules for selecting the delegates to the
national convention next June. Anti
Roosevelt forces among the Democrats
are hoping that the selection will be
made by the Executive Committee and
not in primary, it is said. The same
kind of plan to block Roosevelt dele
gates was attempted in Florida recently,
but did not work out.
%*
Martin L. Davey of Kent, Ohio,
former Democratic member of the
House, today announced that there is
being formed in Ohio a State
organization for the purpose of draft
ing Newton D. Baker, Secretary of
War In the Wilson administration, for
the Democratic nomination for Presi-
dent. In his announcement Mr.. Davey
states emphatically that Mr.. Baker is
not candidate for President and that
ne has no connection whatever with
the movement now started to bring
about his nomination,
Just how far this campaign fer Mr.
baKer VIII get is a problem. Generally
speaking, the Ohio man has been more
In the talk as an alternative candidate
Tor President on the Democratic ticket
II Gov. Roosevelt is not nominated than
any other. What will Ohio itself do
about the Baker boom? He is popular
IN Cleveland, but there are other cities
49,.