Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-20
POLITICIANS SCAN
COMING BALLOTS.
Auguries for 1886 Sought in
Few Elections Due for
November.
RYG. GOULD LINCOLN.

The few elections to be held in va
rious parts of the country in November
will be closely scanned by political
wiseacres and by Democratic and Re-
publican leaders for auguries for 1886.
Every test will be regarded as an in
dication of what the Nation may do
at the polls when the New Deal comes
up for trial.
Only one Statewide contest is
scheduled SO farm Kentucky
where a Governor is to be chosen.
However, there will be municipal cleo
lions of considerable interest, as for
example. in Philadelphia. The Demo-
cratic Governor of Ohio, Martin L.
Davey, backed away from Statewide
election there. much to the joy, 1t is
reported, of the National Democratic
organization. Davey could have called
special election to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Representative
at large TruaX, a Democrat. He did
not do it.
Cleveland holds municipal elections
and so do some of the other cities in
Ohio. and these may give some indi-
cation how the political wind Is
blowing.
Political Career Meteoric.
The primaries in Pennsylvania, held
Tuesday, nominated in Philadelphia
for mayor on the Democratic ticket
John B. Kelly and on the Republican
ticket City Controller S. Davis Wilson.
Kelly has had a somewhat meteoric
political career, for prior to 1882 he
was practically unknown even in Phil
adelphia politics. He has become
dominating factor in the city Demo-
cratic politics. He is young, a former
Olympic OarSman. He is making a bid
for big stake-control of the city
hall in Philadelphia.
The national effect of a Democratic
mayoralty victory in that city, which
has been traditionally Republican,
would be great So the Republicans.
both because they wish to control the
city hall and also because they wish
to demonstrate that Pennsylvania will
be found in the Republican column in
the national election in 1886, will bend
every effort to win the coming contest.
In Kentucky, the gubernatorial cleo
ton has particular significance be-
cause at the instance of President
Roosevelt, the Democratic State Com
mittee, which had provided for con-
ventlon nomination of the party
candidate for Governor, was notified
that primary election should be held.
Through a series of rather ludicruous
circumstances. the primary was even
tually held and candidate nominated
for Governor opposed by Gov. Ruby
Laffoon. though satisfactory to the
Roosevelt administration.
Special Session Called.
For Gov. Laffoon slipped out of the
State to bring his prospective csndi-
date for Governor TO Washington to
show what fine fellow he was. While
Laffoon was out of the State, the
lieutenant governor. Happy" Chand-
Ter. conceived the happy idea of calling
the State Legislature into special seS-
sion for the purpose of passing a
mandatory primary law. When Laffoon
and his candidate. Thomas S. Rhea.
got back to the State. the fat was in
the fire. The Legislature passed the
primary law.
The Governor and his friends in
sisted on writing into the new law
a provision for 'runoff" primary. in
the event no candidate in the field
should have a clear ajority of the
votes cast. There they stubbed their
toes again. For Rhea, in the primary.
had the lead over Chandler. but did
not have majority Of the total vote
cast. So runof was held and
Chandler beat Rhea.
The Republican nominee for Gov
ernor of Kentucky is former Repre-
sentative King Swope and now a
State circuit judge. He Is a war
veteran and active. He received the
Republican nomination practically
without opposition and does not suffer
from the factional differences which
may handicap Chandler in his can
didacy.
Kentucky Usually Democratic.
record. however, is more Democratic
than Republican in past elections.
Almost always it has had two Demo-
cratic Senators and a Democratic
Governor, although in 1924 and 1928
the Republicans carried the State for
Coolidge and Hoover for President,
respectively. Cox, in 1920, despite the
q rHino lan6cliIn ~
ried the State by a narrow margin.
and Wilson carried it in both 1916
and 1912. Roosevelt in 1882 showed
Hoover under in Kentucky. with
vote of 100000 to 1874. The Democrats
did well there in the 1884 elections,
too
Clearly if the Republicans should
elect a Governor in Kentucky this
year, it would be held a black eye for
the Roosevelt administration. more
particularly as Happy" Chandler is
considered a kind of protege of the
White House. Efforts were made to
have the President stop on his coming
Western trip to deliver speech or say
something nice about Chandler So
far. however, nothing has materialized.
There is. of course, always the danger
that if the President Endorses person.
ally a candidate and then he suffers
defeat. the blow to the administration
prestige is the more severe.
Tough Going in South.
In the South all is not yet beer ard
skittles for the Roosevelt Democrats.
notwithstanding the recent death Of
Senator Huey P. Long of Louisiana.
regarded as one of the bitterest foes
of the President and the New Deal.
Gov Talmadge of Georgia is out
shouting against the New Deal in the
Middle West, and will keep it up in
his home State and bend every effor.
to choose an anti-Roosevelt delegation
to the next Democratic National Con-
vention. And now Gov. j. Marion