Evening star., 1934-01-27
The Roosevelt Blessing,

The Roosevelt Blessing.
Senator Hiram johnson Of California,
progressive Republican, is to have the
support of the Roosevelt Administration
for reelection to the Senate next No
vember. Postmaster General Farley,
who still continues to be Democratic
national chairman, has said Is much,
declaring, Personally I know enough
about California people to believe that
they will, OF course, re-elect Senator
Hiram johnson to the Senate" This
will not come as = surprise. Senator
johnson did yeoman service for Presi-
dent Roosevelt In California In 1897,
when he came out openly in support
Of the Democratic presidential ticket,
carrying with him much Of the john
son Republican faction in the the State.
It would be the height Of ingratitude
il in this year of his own trial the
Democratic administration should turn
its back on Senator johnson and give
support to a Democratic candidate for
the Senate seat.
Mr.. Farley's statement was made
after Representative John J. McGrath
Of California, q Democrat from former
President Hoover's own home district,
who was swept into the House on the
wave Of the Roosevelt victory, had
issued q call to the Democrats of Cali
fornia to get behind johnson and not
to put up q candidate against him. Mr..
McGrath's statement prepared the way,
indeed. for the kindly sentiment ex-
pressed by the Democratic national
chairman and political spokesman for
the Roosevelt administration. 1t took,
in = measure, the curse OF the effort
Of the national organization leaders to
dictate to the Democrats Of California
What the Democrats greatly desire
is a permanent alliance with the John
son Republicans in California. 1t has
seemed impossible to bring Senator
johnson to announce himself a Demo-
crat after all these years of political
endeavor. The next best thing, ap-
parently, is to have him revive the old
Progressive party, of which he was a
shining light a score Of years sgo, and
tie that party up with the Democrats.
Together they could dominate the poll
tics of California. And now these
Democrats are suggesting that this Is
the proper course for the Senator to
pursue rather than risk losing in the
Republican senatorial primary this
year. Senator johnson, up to the pres
ent, has kept his political plans to him
self. One thing, however, the offer of
Democratic support has done. and that
Is practically to assure the reelection
Of Senator johnson.
If the Roosevelt blessing Is to be be-
slowed on Senator johnson, then why
not on Senators La Toilette Of Wis
consin and Cutting Of New Mexico.
Both are progressive Republicans. up
for reelection this year. Like the
California Senator. they jumped into
tho Roosevelt campaign in 1882 and
helped to carry their States for the
President. Indeed, the support Of the
Roosevelt administration undoubtedly
will flow to these Senators as well rs
to johnson, though how openly will
depend upon the attitude Of the local
Democrats in Wisconsin and New
Mexico. If the local Democrats are
strongly bent upon putting candidates
for the Senate in the field, it may be
somewhat embarrassing for the admin
istration to take open steps to insure
the reelection Of La Toilette and Cut
ting. It will be recalled that in 1890
when Senator George Norris Of Nebraska
came up for reelection the Democrats
put . candidate in the field against
him-no less than former Senator
Hitchcock although Senator Norris
had taken the field for Smith in 1928
against Herbert Hoover. But II the
Democrats in Nebraska insisted upon
putting up Mr.. Hitchcock. it Is never
theless true that q great deal Of good
Democratic work was done for Senator
Norris in that campaign and many
Democrat voted for him.
The principal problem with regard
to johnson and La Toilette, and per-
haps Cutting to . lesser degree, has
been to get them nominated and on
the ballot this year, with regular Re-
publicans cunning for them both. Once
their names are on the ballot, their
elections are believed to be assured.