Evening star., 1933-08-17
The Political Mill
By G.. Could Lincoln.

Massachusetts,, the recognized leader OF
the Democratic party in the Bay State,
by the Roosevelt administration has
finally raised q rumpus that may have
far-reaching effects In the future.
While 1t has been apparent for q long
time-indeed. since President Roosevelt
first came to Washington after his elec-
ton to the presidency-that the Massa-
chusetts Senator was not being con-
suited by the President and the powers
that be in the administration, the stu
alton has been dragged into the open
recently by publication Of correspond
ence between Gov. Ely-like Senator
Walsh, q strong Smith Democrat last
year-and Postmaster General James
A. Farley, chairman Of the Democratic
National Committee. Gov. Ely protested
vigorously to the Postmaster General,
recognized as the chief dispenser Of
Federal patronage, because Senator
Walsh and the regular Democratic or
Governor himself. were being given no
consideration in the matter Of Federal
appointments for Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Farley has replied to Gov. Ely
that he would seek an interview with
| Senator Walsh at which an attempt
will be made to iron out all difficulties
and differences. The Postmaster Gen.
eral said in his letter to Ely that he,
| personally, had never been involved in
lection of delegates to the Chicago con-
vention Of the Democratic party last
year. Your State Is one State" wrote
Mr.. Farley, that I was not connected
with in any way in. the pre-convention
fight" The implication, which appears
to be the correct one, is that the de-
termination to force the issue In Mas
sachusetts and to fight for Roosevelt
instructed delegation from, the State
was without the advice of Mr.. Farley
and upon the advice of James Roose-
welt, the Presidents son, and Mayor
Curley Of Boston. Curley had leaped
Summer Of 1881, when Gov Ely and
Senator Walsh were holding aloof
| 4 = X
The intense political enmity of the
Walsh Ely Democratic organization and
Mayor Curley is an old story Curley's
| espousal Of the Roosevelt cause and his
demand for a controlling hand in the
State Democratic politics was like
waving red rag In front of a bull
The organization, apparently, had been
! willing enough to have a Smith dele
! cation, which after voting for AL Smith
on the first ballot or two would swing
| to Roosevelt, or at least be permitted
to go where it wanted. This was not
what Curley demanded. however When
the showdown came in the primaries
hA
mally defeated and the Massachusetts,
delegation stuck to Smith at Chicago
| like burr, and was one of the most
active Of all against Roosevelt. Ely
made the nominating speech for Smith
at the Chicago convention. and did a
masterful job. After the Roosevelt
Nomination Senator Walsh Immediately
declared his support of the Democratic
ticket. AS the Massachusetts, Demo-
Gratis saw it there was nothing for 1t
but to unite all the factions and
go out to win. Not so Gov. Ely.
He held of long time before de-
claring for the Roosevelt-Garner ticket
| But like Al Smith himself, Ely eventu-
ally got into the fight His support and
that OF Smith was desperately desired
by the Roosevelt campaign managers.
| X
There was time when the State was
considered in the Hoover column be-
cause of the supposed great disaffection
on the part of Smith Democrats. AL
Smith came into the State and made a
speech. Finally Roosevelt came him
self. Ely and Walsh took off their
coats and worked for his election. Now
they want to know If they are to be
chastised by the Roosevelt patronage
distributors.
| While Senator Walsh was going ahead
in cooperation with the Roosevelt ad-
minlstration when the special session
OF Congress met last Spring. and in
| fact handled expeditiously one of the
administrators major measures on the
floor OF the Senate, there was a singu-
lar lack Of warmth toward him on the
part of the White House. Walsh
himself hung back. unwilling to put
himself in the position Of seeking favors
And. while Democratic Senator after
Democratic Senator was invited to the
many conferences at the White House
the senior Senator from the Bay State
was not among them. Senator Walsh
clung to the belief that when it came
time to make Federal appointments In
Massachusetts his advice and that OF
Senator Coolidge, who plays ball with
the regular organization. would be
sought. But this didn't happen. James
Roosevelt and former Mayor George C
Sweeney of Gardner, now an Assistant
United States Attorney General. seem
to have been the advisers on such mat
tiers.
Mayor Curley may have. had his oar
in, too. Mayor Curley himself. how
Mt %0 IAv u
to get all he wanted from the Roose-
velt administration. He is reported to
have desired to be American Ambassa-
dor at Rome or Secretary of the Navy
He was. as matter of fact, offered
the Office Of Ambassador to Poland
That he turned down, declaring that
his services were needed as mayor in
Boston.
1t was only few days ago that
James Roosevelt. addressing a Demo-
cratic gathering In Gardner, said that
in making recommendations for ap-
pointments to Federal of1ce in Massa-
chusetts the first thing to be taken into
consideration was the loyalty of the
appointees to the President and their
ability. He went on to say, as many
another man has said. that for every
, man appointed 10 once 99 enemies
sprang up. the disappointed Office
seekers. If he had the Massachusetts
situation in mind, he was quite right
Indeed, the Democratic organization up
here has been seething for weeks and
months because of the lack of consid-
Grafton given it. Senator Walsh ap-
proved the appointment of Joseph A.
Maynard to be collector of the port at
Boston, but he had no advance knowl-
edge of the appointment Of Joseph P
Carney Of Gardner to be collector of
internal revenue for the Massachusetts
district Furthermore, he did not ap-
prove the appointment of Sweeney to
be an Assistant Attorney General
Sweeney had been one of the ardent
Roosevelt Democrats during the pre-
convention campaign. There have been
numerous other minor appointments
made to the Federal service in Massa-