Evening star., 1936-09-27
CHANDLER-TAyLOR
SPLIT ISDEEPENED
Kentucky Lieut.. Gov. Keen
Johnson Resigns as Cam
paign Aide.
BY HARRY BLOOM,
Special Correspondent OF The Star.

Opctldi NOIIespOnQenL Oh Inc 6tHr.
LOUISVILLE, KY, September 26.-
A reorganized Democratic campaign
staff, designed to protect the State
administrations grip on the Ken
tucky organization, took charge this
week after a party squall that brought
to light a number Of new and i'm
portant cleavages.
Principal among them was tbs
break between Gov. A. B. Chandler
and E. Leland Taylor, head Of .
minority faction in Louisville and
Jefferson County and between the
Governor and his Lieutenant Cove
ernor, Keen johnson, Richmond.
A supporter of Chandler last year
when his race for the office seemed
hopeless, Mr.. Taylor swung against
him in the senatorial primary CAM
paign this year, supporting the in.
cumbent, Senator M M. Logan in
preference to the Governors selec-
ton, former Senator J. C. w. Beck.
ham.
Beckham Defeat Laid to Taylor.
After Beckham's defeat by Logan,
the Governor, blaming Mr.. Taylor,
wrote as follows:
1T would now appear best that I
ask your release from such obliga-
tions as you feel I have to you. Your
recent action is largely, if not en-
tirely. responsible for the defeat Of
the Hon. j. c. w. Seckham in the
senatorial contest. Il would not seem
the part of wisdom to give you patron.
age with which to club my admin.
istration."
Mr.. Taylor's reply. in part. follows:
"The agreement between you and
the Taylor organization was carried
out in full by US. What you decide
to do as to your end of the agree
ment. Of course. rests with you. -
You benefited once by our independ-
ence and If you also had to suffer
for it. I am sorry it had to be-"
Even after this breach, however.
Mr.. Taylor was chosen campaign
chairman in the district by j. j.
Greenleaf, Richmond, the originally
approved State chairman. After Mr..
Greenleaf was ousted last week by
the State Central Executive Commit.
tee, his successor, Vego Barnes, Hop
kinsville, proceeded Immediately to
oust Mr.. Taylor and to replace him
by State Senator Stanley B. Mayer,
aligned with the Brennan faction,
traditional foes Of the Taylor group.
johnson Quit Campaign.
After Mr.. Greenleaf was ousted
Lieut.. Gov. johnson, his fellow towns
man, resigned as publicity director Of
the campaign. Mr.. johnson did not
make public any reason for his
resignation, but contented himself
with the statement that he wasn't
available and was strong for Roose-
welt.
Mr. Johnson's detection keeps Ken.
lucky politics running to form, since
Kentucky Governors and Lieutenant
Governors have habit Of falling out.
In the previous administration Gov.
Chandler was the Lieutenant Governor
who opposed Gov. Ruby Laffoon, and
before that the late James Breathitt.
jr.. was of the opposite party from
Gov. Elem D. Sampson. w. S. sher-
wood, former secretary Of the Racing
Commission, was appointed to succeed
Mr.. johnson as publicity director.
In order to accept appointment as
State campaign chairman, Mr.. Barnes
had to resign his $1,000 postmaster
ship at Hopkinsville. State officials
tried to induce Postmaster General
James A. Farley to grant Mr.. Barnes
a 60-day leave Of absence, but ap.
parently the plea was rejected. The
office is under civil service and its
incumbents are not permitted to dab
BILE in politics.
Chairman for Barkley.
Mr.. Barnes has long been active in
the party. He was organization chair
man for Senator Alben w. Barkley's
campaign and, later, campaign chair
man for Representative w. Voris Greg
ory. He expressed hope Of Solidifying
the contending factions, but II he sue.
ceedS 1t will be a miracle.
The new enemies of the State adj
ministration. combined with the old.
will put no obstacles in the way Of
the reelection Of Senator Logan or
the capture of the State by President
Roosevelt, but they may be expected
to make a determined effort to wrest
party control from the Chandler group
in December, when the State ma
chinery is reorganized through elec-
ton of county committeeman. That
reorganization may have important
consequences in the election next
Fall of State legislators, determining
whether the Governor will retain con-
troll of the General Assembly through
the 1888 session.