Evening star., 1936-03-12
THE POLITICAL
MILL
By C. Could Lincoln.

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about as expected. It incidentally showed
the value Of having the party organiza-
tion's support, particularly in primary
elections. Col. Frank Knox, in the Re-
publican primary, and President Roose-
welt, in the Democratic, had organiZa-
ton support. Victory for both of them
had been predicted. There were Lam
don followers among the Republicans
who thought they might have chance
to elect a delegate or two committed to
the Kansas Governor. In the Demo-
cratic camp there were opponents Of
the Roosevelt New Deal and supporters
of AL Smith who hoped to make show
ing against the President. In both cases
the organization was too strong.
The revolt" in the Democrat camp
was led by John 8. Hurley, Roosevelt
leader in 1882 and chairman Of the
Credentials Committee at the Chicago
convention which nominated the Presi-
dent. Hurley, 1t is explained, is not
opposed to the denomination of Roose-
welt, but to some of Roosevelt's policies.
He wanted to elect enough hostile dele
gats to the Philadelphia convention next
June to make it possible to force the
writing of an old-fashioned Democratic
the New Deal. Mr.. Hurley's charge is
that too much of the New Deal savors
Of state socialism.
If the Democrats at their national con-
vention do write Democratic plat
form" instead of New Deal platform
then what? demand the Republicans.
The G. o. P. leaders point to the 1882
Democratic platform on which RooSe-
welt was elected. That document, they
argue, was good Democratic doctrine to
which the President and the New Deal
ers have paid no slightest attention.
Would they pay any more attention to
1886 Democratic" platform? they ask.
Apparently the Republicans cast many
more votes in the New Hampshire pri-
mary than did the Democrats. This
might lead to the belief that there are
more Republicans than Democrats in
New Hampshire. Presumably there are.
The State went for Hoover in 1892,
though by narrow margin. Today it
has Republican Governor, but an even
split in its congressional delegation,
with one Republican and one Democratic
Senator and one Republican and one
Democratic Representative. The close
ness Of the vote in the past makes 1t
possible for the Rpublicans to do lit
tie gloating over the size Of the vote
cast in their primary as compared to
the Democratic primary.
Col. Knox wins in the first presiden-
tial preference primary, but New Hamp-
shire was regarded as particularly his
territory, for he formerly lived there and
published q newspaper in Manchester,
and most Of the Republican leaders of
70 hi
among them former Senator George
Moses. Senator Borah, who has entered
most of the primary States, failed to go
into New Hampshire. He left it to
Knox. If Knox cannot have the presi-
Dental nomination the delegation may
end up in the Landon column in the
convention balloting. A month from
now Knox will face Borah in the Illinois
primaries. Most of the political observ-
ers give the colonel the edge by a con-
siderable margin there. He has the
State Republican organization with him
In Illinois. How favorable to his can
didacy will be Col. Robert Mccormick,
publisher of the Chicago Tribune, is an
other question. 1t does not seem in the
cards. however, that the Tribune will
support the candidacy of Senator Borah.
The resignation Of John D. M. Ham
ilton from his post as assistant to the
chairman of the Republican National
Committee to help Gov. Landon of Kan
sas in his drive for delegates to the
Republican National Convention is not
surprising. It should be material aid
to the Landon campaign for delegates.
Furthermore, it would seem to mean
that the Landon candidacy is to get out
into the open and make fight for dele
gates from now on. Hitherto Landon
has avoided all contests for delegates
in the primary States. Hamilton, until
couple Of years ago, was comparatively
unknown in Republican political circles
outside of Kansas. He became national
committeeman In place of the late
Dave" Mulvane, a veteran of many
political battles. At the meeting of the
Republican National Committee in Chi
cago in June, 1884, Hamilton was put
forward as a candidate for national
chairman by a younger and more pro-
gressive element in the committee. He
failed of election but was made general
counsel of the committee. Since then
Hamilton has taken more and more
active part In the affairs of the G.. O. p.
He has spoken in many States. He was
a prime mover in the grass roots" con-
ference held by the Republicans in
Springfield, ILL.,, last year. If Landon
gets the presidential nomination next
June Hamilton would be his logical
choice for the national Craftsmanship to
conduct the campaign.
The entry of Senator Borah and Of
Col. Henry Breckenridge into the Repub-
lican and Democratic primaries in Penn
sylvania, respectively, gives promise Of
enlivening those elections, If nothing
more. The Republican organization
leaders in the keystone State are bent
on sending an unpledged delegation to
the G. O. P. National Convention. Even
If Borah wins the preference" of the
voters in the primary-which he seems
sure to do since there is no one oppos-
ing him--the delegates will do as they
please when they get to the convention.
The result Of the preference primary Is
not binding upon them. There is said
to be q good deal of Landon support
among Pennsylvania Republicans. The
vote for Borah in the primary, however,
will not be without interest. If he rolls
up big vote 1t will have its psycholog-
ical effect.
No one expects Col. Breckenridge to
make much headway against President
Roosevelt in the Democratic primary,
but every vote that Breckenridge gets
will be an anti-Roosevelt vote and the
size of his vote may give some measure
of the opposition to the New Deal among
l..