Evening star., 1934-01-22
The Political Mill
BY C. Could Lincoln.

Former Senator and former Am
bassador Walter Edge has not risen
to the bait held out to him by his
Republican friends in New Jersey.
They sent him an urgent message to
become candidate for the Republican
nomination for Governor this year.
Mr.. Edge has diplomatically but qVite
firmly said no" In fact, Mr.. Edge
has pointed out there are several well
equipped aspirants who have directly
or indirectly indicated their willingness
to become candidates" And he added
that he himself is neither an aspirant
nor a candidate. and that he GER
involved In scramble for the guber-
material nomination. Even If the
nomination could be his without a
contest, 1t is doubtful, extremely doubt
full, that Mr.. Edge would accept, &C.
cording to his friends.
There seems no possibility at present
Of such tender to Mr.. Edge for the
simple reason that Emerson Richards,
president Of the State Senate, is a
candidate and says he won't withdraw.
According to reports, Richards has no
love whatever for Mr.. Edge. and the
bitterness between the men dates back
several years. A fight between them
at the primary would make difficult
game-the election of a Republican
Governor of New Jersey-still more
difficult.
Mr.. Edge might have raised his
tightening rod. 1t Is quite clear that
any Republican who carries an i'm
portant State in a gubernatorial cleo
ton this Fall; when presumably the
Democrats will again be carrying the
House and increasing their present lead
in the Senate, will be a marked man,
possibly timber for the Republican
presidential nomination in 1886. For
example, if Mr. Edge entered the race
for Governor this year and won. he
would certainly go to the next Repub-
lican National Convention with the
backing of his own State delegation
and possibly with the backing of the
delegations of other Eastern States
It is job, however, for Republican
to carry New Jersey in the guberna-
torial race this year, particularly when
it Is remembered that for almost thirty
years New Jersey has elected Repub-
lican Governors only when presiden-
tial campaign was on and the G. o. P.
was electing a President New Jersey
elects Governor once every three
years. which means that guherna torial
elections fall in presidential election
years only once out Of every four times
New Jersey has had three Democratic
Governors to one Republican, there
fore. for long time If Mr. Edge was
able to overcome this Republican. jinx
in New Jersey, particularly in this year
of Democratic control of the National
Government, he would be a political
wizard. indeed He is and has been
popular in his State, and at one time
before coming to the Senate was Gov
ernor Of New Jersey
y
Republican chances this Fall. viewed
aom today. do not look bright in New
Jersey or elsewhere. The outlook may
change. A few months can alter ma
terially the situation politically. it is
true, but Republicans are not particu-
larly hopeful Former Senator Jim
Watson of Indiana. one of the shrewd-
est political leaders Of them all. for
example, does not give the G. o. P.
much of chance. There are friends
of his in the Hoosier State who
would like to see him stage a come
and would have him run in his old dis
trict. So far he has not acquiesced in
this plan. His many friends among the
Democrats in Congress-and he has a
raft Of them-might be willing to have
the Republicans win that seat with
Jim" Watson Just for the sake of hav-
ing him back on Capitol Hill. It has
been suggested that both Watson and
his old comrade in arms. former Sena-
tor George Moses of New Hampshire,
will undertake to win election to the
House.
The House committee did what was
expected in the election contest case of
Mrs Bolivar Kemp from the sixth
Louisiana district. Mrs. Kemp WAS de-
MED a seat in the House in the COM
mittee report. 1t is true that j. Y.
Sanders, jr.. who was elected in special
election called by the people of the dis
trict, was also denied a seat, and
another election must be held. But the
real essence of the matter Is that the
Long faction in Louisiana received q
Jolt at the hands of the House COM
mittee when it denied a seat to Mrs.
Kemp. Gov. Allen, who is Governor of
Louisiana by virtue Of the ecquiescence
of Senator Huey P Long and the Long
machine, tried his best to put Mrs Kemp
into office without permitting a pri-
mary contest. This the House commit
tee would not and could not coun-
tenance. 1t was clearly in violation of
the State election laws.
Senator Long and his machine are
to undergo an even severer test in New
Orleans tomorrow. where a mayor is to
be chosen. Longs political allies in the
city have turned on him. It Is three
cornered race-with Long backing one
list of candidates for city Office and
the "old regulars" and an independent
organization backing others. The very
fact that it is a three -cornered race
may make it possible for Long to turn
the trick and win a much-needed VIC
tory. Both Of the other factions have
lambasted Long. Long has sought to
this campaign.
Once more we have the American
Legion and the National Economy
League locking horns. The Legion is
demanding that the Senate take its
whole four-point program for LIBERAL
izing the compensation of veterans
The League Is calling upon Senators
to stand by the President and give q
deaf ear to the Legion. A year ago the
Economy League had the better of the
argument, and the economy act was
put through, taking many veterans off
the rolls and cutting the total appro-
priations for them by some $500. 200, 900.
President Roosevelt's recent executive
orders. easing up bit on the veterans
as a matter of fact. permitting the ex-
penditure Of $21 100000 additional for
the veterans-is likely to head off the
revolt In the Senate, which was growing
serious, and to make it possible for the
President to hold his own against fur
ther liberalization.
\
In letters to each member OF the
Senate. Henry H. Curran. director of
the Economy League. says: I'm par
ticular we ask you to refuse the demand
Of the American Legion that you give
money to veterans who were not hurt
in the war and to widows of veterans
whose deaths were not due to the war.