Evening star., 1935-11-10

ana haven't said thing the people
didn't know. They themselves voted
for the very activities they censure
and so are particeps criminis, having
joined forces in doing these recovery
efforts. 1 cannot see where the con-
stitutional amendment controversy will
get them anywhere, because the only
| amendment that was considered seri.
ously was written by Republican
Senator Norris. We have all been
amused at the naive statement of Rep
resentative Hamilton Fish that if some
one else didn't run he would l be-
lleve that whoever is put up as cam
dldate. 1t will be principally TO build
him up for 1910.
/ My Nationwide survey shows me
nothing but the reelection of Presl.
dent Roosevelt. Always before a ma.
tlonal election there is a slump in
approval of what the outstanding
candidate has done. We welcome
such an eXpression-especially thus
early, because it discloses the weak
spots. That is all that criticism has
amounted to up to this time"
Chairman DreWry has been study
ing hard day and night to fit himself
to be a good chairman. He came
into this campaign with experience
and a good record, having been acting
chairman in the last campaign while
! Speaker Byrns was tied up with his
| duties as House leader Il never be-
/ fore realized how big this country is
so big that We in the House don't
/ understand each others troubles"
said Mr.. Drewry He explained that
candidates for Congress hitch Them
selves as tail to the party kite and
| hight for the leader, whoever he NAV
be-thats why we are interested in
the contest for the presidency.
Question of Candidate.
This time it will make a consider.
able difference in many congressional
districts who the Republican candi-
date for President may be. The
political history of our country shows
that in an off year-that is. the
congressional election in between
presidential elections-the party in
power loses so to rs seats. There is
most always that much of a slump
due to the accumulation of criticism
that bobs up to plague the party in
power. In 1884, as acting chairman
OF the Congressional Committee at
the request of Speaker Byrns. rather
expected we might lose about so seats,
/ so l developed the custom of calling
/ IN the Democratic members of the
House and canvassing the situation
with them to discover the weak spots,
and We had study made in each
district held by Republicans. After
our tabulation was made we found
that We wouldn't lose more than 20,
and three weeks before the election
we felt sure it wouldn't be more than
10. The actual result was a net
gain Of II.
I am pursuing the same line Of
inquiry in this coming campaign and
am receiving much real help from the
Democratic members of the House.
For the life OF me l can't see how
the Republicans have the slightest
chance of getting control of the
House. Certainly reports I have re-
ceived up to this time do not disclose
that We will lose any large number
of seats.
Il do see an amazing chance for us
to win some old-time Republican
seats.
The Republicans are shooting at
the use of relief money. They are
not going to be able to show it has
been used for any campaign purposes.
On the contrary, have a complaint
from a Democratic member of the
House that in his district in New
Jersey, where there is a Republican
Governor, out of lie appointees under
relief funds. lis we're Republicans
and only one Democrat That is
in spite of President Roosevelt's dec
laration that there should be no
politics in distribution of relief-no
political discrimination where there
was distress I have had similar re-
ports from Kansas. 1t comes with
mighty bad taste for the Republicans
to make such an allegation and they
will be forced to swallow their words"
Southern Prices Higher.
Illustrating why he is so certain
that there will be no Republican
inroads in the South, Chairman
Drewry cited the increase Gin prices
for the products of the South-such
as cotton advancing from to u
cents, tobacco from to 30, peanuts
from 112 to Az. He knows his own
State of Virginia best and says it
will remain solid. Virginia went Re-
publican in 1923. he pointed out, due
to an alliance with the dry forces.
That shift was not so much political
as tanatical. religious, moral and pro-
hibitous, hindsight shows him. But
Virginia came back in 1929 and will
be solidly Democratic in 1885," he
says.
All the talk about a revolt in
Kentucky is nonsence. Mr.. Drewry
declares. He is convinced it is only
local fight which will be settled
without an effect on seats in the
House. He comedies that mountain
districts historically have preference
for the Republicans.
| He also appreciates that the main
| trouble that individual members Of
the House will experience in seeking
reelection is on account of patron-
age. 1t has been staggering job,
and many Of those who did not get
an appointment naturally got sore
but much of that soreness will be
smoothed out before election day
arrives. In the South, especially. it
viii all be tested out in the primaries
and will make no difference in the
general election, Mr.. Drewry argues.
He finds the Pacific Coast States
in very good condition" from his
congressional election viewpoint.
There has been much disturbance in
California, he realizes, but says that
will settle down." Oregon and WASH
ington he finds are o. K. and the
Mountain states are all reported as
good" West of the Mississippi the
legislation of the Democratic admin
istration is getting more approval
| than ALI NEr I,o 4.