Imperial Valley press., 1936-05-29
News Behind the News
Ohio Primaries Ease Brain Aches :.
Father Coughhu Not So Much :.
His personal Plea FlOpped =.
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON. - Congressman who have
been getting crosseyed from keeping one eye
on Father Coughlin's National Union for So
eial Justice and the other eye on the IoWn-
sendites get some comfort but not much,
from the Ohio primaries.
They cot more from the defeat of the Fra
zer-Jenke bill which had Goughllns nnsantea
backing One Of the arguments used as good
reason for defeating the bill was TO cite Cough
Inns advocacy and his dictatorial attitude.
When Coughlin got into verbal row re-
Gently with Chairman John OConnor OF the
rules committee ever the bill, many congress-
men saw that O'Connor# was fighting their bat
tie. and sympathized with him rather than VII
Coughlin.
But in the Ohio primaries he provided
beautiful object lesson. Ohio was watched as
practical test Of both the NUSJ and the
Townsend groups at the polls. Both togethf
would average about as strong III the state as
anywhere IN the country.
The political priest had chosen that citadel
of his organization TO make personal appeal
At a Cleveland mass meeting just oetoe the
primary. he addressed $4,000 listeners and broad
cast statewide appeal for all his candidates
by name.
The results almost justified the boast OF
Coughlin's Ohio manager. Sylvester MeMahon'
that half OF the candidates backed by the NUSJ
would come through. But Ohio observers re-
port many factors entering locally into the dis
trict contests that destroy the purity o1 the
For instance the spearhead Of Coughlin's
attack in Cleveland was aimed at Chester
Bolton G. O. P. congressman representing the
'silk-stocking 22nd district. But Bolton gave
the Coughlin hopefuI d sound beating.
CONGRESSMAN Martin Sweeney, Democratic
incumbent, got the benediction of both Ccughln
and Townsend and sailed through triumphant
But he was greatly aided by voter disgust with
the local Cleveland Democratic organization,
which had the poor judgment to pit against
Sweeney particularly obnoxious stuffed sllr1
with one foot already in his political grave
Congressman Robert Crosser, who had NUSJ
but not Townsend backing, came through easily
but Crosser again is a special case, with an
intensely loyal personal following
While ne favors many NUSJ ideas, CrosSer
resolutely refused to sign the pledge to vote
as Father Coughlin directs, which IS usually
required in exchange for NUSJ support.
Very quietly one of the thorns in the
flesh CT the Roosevelt administration is being
withdrawn. The threat of Huey Long to alien
ate great part of the traditionally Democratic
south, was a very real one. His death partly
checked that.
But the new governor, Richard w. Leche,
Just inaugurated has given every indication
that he wants no feuds with Washington
Pledged to carry on Huey's work in louisiana
he has nevertheless given every indication that
he is more than willing that the Creole state
re-enter the Roosevelt fold.
All OF which is good for a sigh of relief
from Jim Farley, for the less spade work he has
to do in states normally Democratic, the more
licks he can get in on those which are admit
tedly doubtful.