Evening star., 1934-12-13
Political Mill
Ry C. Could IiuroIu

| Pennsylvania triumphant democ-
racy apparently intends to 90 places.
The twenty-three Democratic Repre-
!, Sentatives from the Keystone State
i came to Washington couple of days
ago and after conference announced
that Pennsylvania would support Rep
resentative Joseph w. Byrns of Ten
nessee, for Speaker. 1t was as clever
political move as has taken place In
this city OF politics and politicians in
many day. Mr.. Byrns might have
been selected for Speaker of the House
| whether Pennsylvania had made this
early announcement or not. Prob
ably he would have been. for he has
| appeared to have the inside track for
some time. But the PennSylvanians
were quick enough to know that
favorable pronOuncement by their big
delegation-a delegation OF northern
Democrats-would clinch the matter,
in all probability. They might as
well have the credit, they probably
figured. for putting the speakership
election on ice as not. 1t was a
maneuver, moreover. which might
well give Pennsylvania the right to
make some demands for consideration
in the organization Of the House and
In patronage matters. PennSylvan-
ians. by the way. have shown them
selves in the past to be particularly
adept not only in political maneuver-
ing but also IN getting their hands on
goodly slices of patronage-Somet
called political pie.
The Senator elect Joseph F. Guffey,
is thr dominating figure III the pic
ture Of Pennsylvania democracy. He
has been recognized as the Roosevelt
leader and the principal dispenser of
patronage for The Democrats in the
State ever since the present adminls-
tration came into power. Mr. Guf1ey
| accomplished what was considered I'M
possible of accomplishment. He de-
feated Senator David A. Reed. Repub-
llcan, IN the Senate race and carried
the State ticket along with him TO VIC
tory. Mr. Guf1cy was influential Ill
bringing about the quick pronounce
ment of the Pennsylvania House DEM
ocrats for Byrns for Speaker. Stories
had been published which aligned Mr..
Gutfey and his Pennsylvanians with
other Northern Democrats TO put
across either the election of North
ern Democrat to the speakerShip OF
perhaps to swing the speakershlp TO
Representative Sam Rayburn of Texas
supposed To have the good will of the
White House in this contest. The pub
lication of these stories in advance OF
the action OF the delegation in sup
port OF Byrns by no means detracted
from the spectacular announcement
which the Pennsylvanians have just
made.
Other State delegations might have
done Just what Pennsylvania Demo-
Gratis have done in the Speakership
contest The political "savvy' OF the
Keystone Stat-rs. however, has long
been famous. whether they be Demo-
Gratis OF Republicans. Mr.. Gutfey
had the vision to Jump to Franklin
d. Roosevelt early in the preconven-
tion contest for the Democratic presi-
Dental nomination in 1882. He had
earlier still been tlrm supporter OF
Alfred f. Smith. But he left Smith
and Jumped aboard the Roosevelt
DandWagon. when the 1892 race began.
II was a Pennsylvania Republican
boss. the late William S. Ware OF
Philadelphia. who forced the hands
Of those distinguished gentlemen who
had gone to the Republican National
Convention in 1928 intent, If they
could. upon Sidetracking Herbert
Hoover and picking either the late
President Calvin Coolidge or one OF
the 1aVorite-Son candidates Tor the
G. O.P. presidential nomination. The
PENNSYLVANIA delegation arrived at
Kansas City. the convention city, late
one afternoon. II was generally sup
posed that Andrew w. Mellon. Secre-
tary of the Treasury i'll the Coolidge
cabinet. would do the talking for the
delegation. and Mr.. Mellon was slated
to 20 into conference with William
NJ. Butler OF Massachusetts. then
chairman of the national commit
tee: Charles d. HIlles OF New York
and others influential IN the organ
ization While Mr. Mellon Was con-
ferlus. Mr.. Ware. who had y big slice
OF the Pennsylvania deleg alton in his
vest pocket, put cut all announcement
to the press that he and his delegates
, ! would Vote TOR Hoover for the presi-
Dental nomination. Ware left moth
ing for Mellon to do but 10 trail along
which he did the next morning. Mel
. Ion would not have cut much OF q
swath as the leader OF a segment
of the Pennsylvania delegation, and
. minority segment at that.
The Pennsylvania delegations de-
cision at the same Kansas City con-
vention put the seal of victory upon
the candidacy of Charles Curtis Of Kan
sas, TO be the Presidential NOM
inee of the Republican party in 1928
This kind Of thing does not. as a rule,
just happen: it is the result OF care
ful ana prompt consideration by po-
litical-minded leaders.
Just now Senator David A. Reed
who lost TO Mr.. Guffy, is not making
political plans for the future. He is
going back to Pennsylvania to get
, into the active practice of law again
lie has two terms of six years in the
Senate Whether he can permanently
erase the political virus from his
blood is extremely doubtful, although
he has no present intention OF SEEK
ing public Office again. He will hold
ON to the ottice OF Republican ma
tional committeeman for Pennsyl-
vania, however. He is interested III
, what the self-appointed rebuilders
MAY undertake and in the choice OF &
party nominee for President in 1886
Indeed, as long as he remains men,
ber Of the National Committee. Reed
! will still be decidedly in the political
game whether he seefs public office
, Or not.
! Senator William E. BOrah OF
Idaho and Senator Gerald P. Nye OF
North Dakota are to speak tonight in
New York on the subject of reorganiz-
ing the Republican party. Senator
t Borah has already said quite a lot