Evening star., 1936-08-22
FARLEY TELEGRAM
BACKING BLANT0N
PROMPTLY DENIED
Democratic Chairman Re-
pudiates Endorsement q.
in Texas Primary.
MESSAGE PRAISES
CONGRESS CANDIDATE
May Have Been Old Message
When He Supported All Demo-
Gratis, Says New Yorker.

The prompt reputation by James
A. Farley of a mysterious telegram
purporting to be an Endorsement OF
Thomas L. Blanton by the chairman
of the Democratic National Com
mittee complicated the close run-of1
primary today in the seventeenth
Texas district for the House seat now
held by Blanton.
The telegram, reported by the As
sociated Press as received by Texas
newspaper, declared:
Congressman Tom Blanton should
be returned. He has contributed
much to legislative progress and the
people of his district should recognize
his worth"
Audacity Unlikely.
Asked if 1t were possible that such
a message might have been sent over
his signature from Democratic head
quarters in New York, Farley said
over the telephone to The Star:
Frankly, I doubt it. I doubt If
anybody would have the audacity to
do such thing when my policy Of
refraining absolutely from participa-
ton in primary fights Is SO well known.
"Blanton and McFarlane (candi-
date for denomination in the thir-
teenth district both wanted me TO
send along an Endorsement, but ] re-
fused, just as I have refused in all
such cases this year. I'm not sup
porting Blanton Or any other candi-
date in primary fight, and you may
quote me to that effect
Chairman Farley said it is possible
the quoted message is an old one
sent during the 1884 campaign when
he supported all Democrats by a
personal letter. Such an Endorsement.
however. was not intended for any
other campaign than the 1884 one,
he said
Blanton is engaged in a run-off
fight with County Judge Clyde l..
Garrett for the nomination in an
election being held today.
In the first primary last month,
Judge Garrett polled about $4,000
votes, as compared to slightly under
LA
date claimed about $500 ballots with
CARROTS figure being short of a ma
jority of the total votes cast, such a
majority being necessary for NOM
ination.
The repudiated telegram was made
public just as Blanton closed a stren-
uous speaking campaign with an ad-
dress from the doorstep of Judge Gar
rett's office. The judge. however. has
matched Blanton in bitter campaign,
with both candidates speaking sew
eral times daily.
Blanton, first elected to Congress In
1916, has been returned every term
except 1928, when he made an unsuc-
cessful attempt to gain Senate seat.
Because of his careful scrutiny of
all appropriations and frequent OBJ
jections to those going elsewhere than
Texas, Blanton has become known
as watchdog of the Treasury"
AS q member of the House Appro-
priations Committee, he became last
session the chairman of the subcom-
mittee in charge of the District supply
bill. For many years he has fought
to lower the Federal contribution to
the District government.
Blamed Washingtonians.
Blanton publicly has blamed Wash
ingtonians for his failure to capture
the nomination in the first primary,
claiming that "slush fund" was sent
into his district by residents of this
city.
He has charged also that the util-.
ity interests have helped finance the
fight against him and blamed re-
sentiment over postmaster appoint
ments as an additional factor.
Since the first primary, most OF his
efforts have been directed at gaining
support of the nearly 5000 voters
who cast their ballots for the third
candidate last month. With this can
didate out of the present race, the
decision of these voters Is expected
to turn the present fight.
In another run-of primary today
in the thirteenth district, Representa-
tive McFarlane, seeking reelection,
and Ed Gossett were opponents, while
Mayor Oscar Holcombe of Houston
and Albert Thomas were paired in an
eighth district race. The winner will
succeed Representative Eagle, who at
tempted unsuccessfully to wrest the
senatorship from Morris Sheppard.