Evening star., 1935-01-31
ThePOlitical Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

The Democratic organization in
Kentucky has not taken kindly to
attempted dictation from Washington.
The Executive Committee Of the State
Central Committee by vote Of 80 to
20 turned down fatty a proposal OF
the White House that a party primary
for the selection of gubernatorial
candidates and other candidates for
State Offices be substituted for the
old party convention. The President
and Postmaster General Farley, chair
man OF the Democratic National Com
mittee, in their effort to back up
the primary for Kentucky Democrats,
sent messages by Senator Barkley to
the Democratic State Central Com
mittee. Barkley carried letter penned
by the President and read it to
the committee This letter expressed
the belief that the voters Of all States
and all parties should be given un-
bridled liberty in the selection Of
candidates for ONCE.
The weight of the Democratic high
command in Washington was hurled
into the Kentucky situation because
the administration was convinced, 1t
is said, that the Democratic as well
as the Republican party organiza-
tions in that State are machines"
and dominated by public utilities, by
the racing interests and other big
interests These interests. it is
charged, hand pick the candidates for
Governor. and some times give the
victory to one party and then to the
other.
Apparently the Kentucky Demo-
cratic Committee have not taken
kindly to the criticisms heaped upon
them. They are not going to re-
linquish their control Of the situation
if they can help it. Yet it is charged
by those supporting the primary idea
that If the Democratic machine names
its candidate this year-Kentucky
elects a Governor in l935-there will
be enough sore Democrats TO elect
a Republcan-even though he be
machine-selected candidate. The
Democratic high command has not
the slightest desire to see Republic
an victory in the Kentucky contest
this year. 1t would not look SO good
on the eve of 1896.
There has been agitation in the
State itself for the primary instead of
the party convention. A poll con-
Quoted by the Louisville Courier
Journal, which editorially supports the
primary, shows the people participat-
ing in the straw vote IL to in favor
of a party primary In view Of the
sentiment for the primary, 1t is be-
lieved that the fight may be taken
into the convention. which the State
Committee seems determined to call.
and effort made there TO defeat the
machine candidate for the guberna-
torial nomination. This Is always a
tough job, however.
Chairman Farley Of the Democratic
National Committee in a statement
sent to Kentucky said: MY impress
sion from the information that has
been brought to me is that majority
of the Democratic voters Of Kentucky
desire a primary rather than a conven-
ton I feel that their wishes should
be respected That is the democratic
thing to do"
The effort made from Washington
to tell the Democratic leaders Of Ken
lucky what to do has aroused certain
amount Of antagonism. however, in
the State Dictation from outside
even from Washington-doeS not sit so
well there This is not the first time
that the administration has had run
in with the Democratic State authori-
ties in Kentucky. Gov. Latfoon fell out
with Harry L. Hopkins. the Federal
relief administrator, who declined to
send more money for relief into the
State until the Governor laid before
the Legislature a new tax program
designed to make it possible for Ken
lucky to bear more of the relief
burden.
The Democratic leaders in Wash
ington, looking at the party problems
from a national angle. have been in
clined at times to lay down the Law
to various State organizations. Some
Of these State organizations have fall
en- in with the ideas of the national
leaders. Others have not. When the
national leaders went out of their
way to indorse Senator La Toilette in
Wisconsin for reelection, although
he is not member, nor has been. of
the Democratic party, there was a
lot of i'll feeling. The administration
gave a tentative kind of approval to
Senator Shipstead, Farmer-Labor, in
Minnesota, and went the whole hog
for Senator Hiram johnson in Cali
fornia. 1t has undertaken to step on
the Democratic organization domi-
mated by Huey Long in Louisiana. 1t
has pretty effectually dominated the
Democratic organization in New York.
**
The Wisconsin State Legislature
specializes in sending memorials to
Congress. urging favorable action on
various measures which seem to fit
in with the Wisconsin progressive
idea. Senator F. Ryan Duffy. Demo-
crat, from the Badger State, has the
job of presenting these memorials,
along with Senator La Toilette. to
the Senate. But Senator Duffy doesn't
think so much of the practice.
"Of course" said the Senator, II
pay attention to memorials that are
sent to me, and present them to the
Senate, but they are referred to the
committee having the particular leg
islation in charge. and they then go
into the voluminous files, along with
the propaganda for and against every
bill that is introduced. really do
not believe they have any effect"
When a memorial is presented a
Senator rises in his place during
morning hour" which really Is the
two hours between the meeting time
at noon and 2 O'Clock. when miscel-
laneous matters are presented, and
sends it to the clerks desk. 1t never
is read unless a request Is made by
the Senator that the clerk read it.
Usually a Senator waits until he has
accumulated q sheaf Of such pleas
before he sends q bundle to the
nra.;d;0c oH6oaryc dack