Evening star., 1932-12-08
The Political Mill
By C. Could lincoln.

dppO1nteeS OF PreS1oent HOOVER 10 reu-
eral office where their terms extend
beyond March was expected. 1t
seems a tough fate for able men who
accepted Office and have given their
best effort since the Congress adjourned
last July. But it Is just one Of those
things which happen when a political
party In this country defeats the party
which is in Office. The Democrats have
been out of office for dozen years;
they have waited long time for "jobs"
among other things, and they are max
ing as sure as they can Of all the big
Federal Offices for deserving Democrats
at this stage of the game. Included
in the list of appointments to office
by President Hoover, which are not
to be confirmed under the edict Of
the Democrats are those OF several
Democrats. among them former Sena-
tor Atlee Pofnerene Of Ohio, chairman
of the Reconstruction Finance Corpora
ton, and former Representative Crisp
OF Georgia, to be member OF the
United States Tariff Commission. Un-
less the Democrats should relent in
their attitude toward these gentlemen
and there is no present indication that
they will do so-they will 60 back to
private life after March 4, unless Presi-
dent-elect Roosevelt should reappoint
them when he comes into Office.
\ y Il X
Mr. Pomerene was twice elected q
Democratic Senator from Ohio and
went out of Office on March 4, 1923.
He was ahead of his party on the liquor
question by decade. The drys in Ohio
had no use for him when he sought re-
election in 1922. Judge Crisp had a
long and distinguished service in the
House. He sought nomination for the
senate this year In the Democratic pri-
mary, but was defeated by the youthful
Gov. Russell. Now these Democrats
are to walk the plank along with for
mer Representative Franklin Fort of
New Jersey, chairman of the new Home
Loan Bank Board and other appointees
OF the President awaiting confirmation.
NO one seems to think that Gov. Roose-
Velt VIII reappoint them. There are
PROBABLY dozens of Democrats already
urging themselves for these iobs or
having their friends put in q word for
tnem. President Hoover's new Secre-
tary OF Commerce, Roy D.. Chaplin of
Detrolt, Will have better fortune. He
VIII, In all probability be confirmed in
ms appointment, since his term of of
nee expires with that Of the President.
ana 1t is generally conceded in the
senate that q President has a right to
PICK whom he desires for his cabinet.
Also the Democrats will not lay a ban
on routine. appointments in the Army.
Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard,
put 1or the rest-the lid is on. The
democrats have the ability to Law this
pan ON Hoover appointments because
ot the power OF unlimited debate in the
senate All they have to do is to begin
taking when a nomination is called
tup, ana Keep 1t up. With the limita-
sHo sioa On tne present session, ending
nalcn 4 tney could tie the work of the
n1enase into double bowknot If the
epuoncails tried to force q vote on
Hne OF tnese nominations. However,
enere may be some fireworks in the
senate over the refusal of the Demo-
crats 70 confirm before it is all over.
Judge James H. wilkerson who sent
Al Capone to jail. beat the Democrats
10 tner announcement that they would
lot agree to any presidential appoint
ments being confirmed now. JUDGE
W!Kersons nomination to be a circuit
!!uoge was sent to the Senate during
ene last session by the President. It
nas attacKed by representatives of
,aooI organizations on the ground that
ne nag peen unfair to labor, particu.
larry in the issuance of an ini,,nrtin,,
curing the railroad strike when the
Government controlled the railroads
after the World War. NevertheIess a
subcommittee Of the Senate. including
Senators Borah and Walsh of Mon.
tana, reported his nomination fayorahlv
10 the full committee But there the
nomination has been tied up, with SEN
ator Norris OF Nebraska, chairman. Bit
Ier!y hostile to the confirmation. Judge
Wukerson wrote letter to the Presi-
dent and asked him not to resubmit
MS nomination at this session. having
been informed that no Nominations
were to be confirmed. So the Senate
VII! not have the satisfaction, if anv,
OF holding up Judge Wilkerson's NOM
NATION and dumping it along with the
rest. The declination Of the Senate. or
What amounts to declination. to con-
Ilrm the Wilkerson nomination. which
was before that body for many months.
certainly is not going to cause Capone
and his outfit to shed any tears. And
whether rightly or wrongly. a lot of
citizens Of the United States will think
less highly of the Senate for falling to
act favorably on this nomination before
the election.
There are signs in the offing of an
attempt on the part of anti-Hooyer
Republicans, or Republicans who have
Tor long time been lukewarm to the
President, to take over and run the
Republican national organization. This
Is evident from a public statement
made by William A. Grant of New
York, who asserts that he was active
in the reorganization and planning for
the Republican National Committee
before the return of the G. o. P. to
power in 1920. Mr.. Grant lays the
blame for the Republican defeat at
the polls in November to the failure
of the national organization under
Chairman Everett Sanders to conduct
the kind Of q campaign he would have
early effort to find a new chairman of
the National Committee. He also
criticizes President Hoover because he
was not enough of an organization
politician and because he sought the
aid of amateurs" in conducting the
political affairs Of the party. It looks
like the Republican outfit which dis
liked Mr.. Hoover from the start is out
to get control again Of the organiza-
ton If 1t can.
4
Mr. Grant is certainly an optimist If
he believes that any chairman of the
National Committee and
any kind of campaign more pleasing
to the old line politicians could have
elected any Republican nominee for
President. The G. o. P. was on its way
out two years ago, due to hard times,
and when they got harder and harder,
no one that Mr.. Grant could have nam
ed for President-and it is apparent he
had no desire to name Mr.. Hoover-or
for national chairman could have turn
I'd the tide. It's the fate Of any political
party in power that when times get
hard it Is turned out. Mr.. Grant speaks
very highly Of Will Hays, the G. o. P.
national chairman who ran the Hard
ing campaign. 1t is equally true that
any Republican national chairman, in
Guiding Mr.. Sanders, handling the cam
oaign in 1920, would have won the elec-