Evening star., 1936-09-27

DEMOCRATS FACE
NORTHWEST CRISIS
Dissolving in Washington
as Right Wing Routs
Radicals.
BY JAMES De X. BROWN,
Special Correspondent Of The Star

SEATTLE, September 2s.-Disin-
tegration Of the Roosevelt Democratic
party in this State has set In as
the result Of the recent primary, when
left wing groups which had wrested
party machinery from conservative
Democrats at the State convention
last Summer, were overwhelmingly
defeated for nominations in every
section of the State outside OF King
County.
Even in King County the right wing
groups nominated and elected enough
precinct committeeman and women,
so that last week. these controlled
and ousted the left wing groups.
Lost Major Offices.
Return Of party machinery to the
right wings may have some after effect
on the presidential campaign. The
left wingers are badly split. They
lost their major political Offices were
defeated uniformly for legislative
posts, and now have been let out
OF party Offices. Whereas all factions
were united behind the candidacy of
President Roosevelt, the more active
Of the left wing groups are turning
their attention now toward a third
party ticket, and the Union party
leadership Is promptly moving to cor
raj these votes. They are certain to
get a rather large following.
The situation Is causing rejoicing
among the Republicans. wide split
in Democratic ranks means the cleo
ton Of a Republican Governor, may
bring two or three congressional seats
back, and will assure a Republican
legislative House next Winter. Just
how far the split will affect the ma
tional ticket is uncertain now, but
the recent swing through the State
of Representative William Lemke,
nominee for President on the Union
party ticket, encouraged the dis
gruntled left wing leaders to climb
aboard his wagon. Many are doing So
Federation Breaking Up.
The Commonwealth Federation,
which originally held in its ranks or
ganized labor. Communists, techno-
Gratis and a host of small minority
groups. is breaking up. Last week
the officers. many Of them founders
Of the federation. resigned. They took
with them most of the more conserva-
tive members The remainder are
moving toward the Lemke party.
Mr.. Lemke during his visit here
stressed more the importance from
his point of view OF the defeat of
President Roosevelt than he did the
danger to his program in the election
Of Gov. Landon. The more radical
element wants neither They prefer
Lemke and will so vote in November.
The primary election showed that
there are just enough of these strong
extremists affiliated with the Demo-
cratic party organization to defeat
Roosevelt in this State If they all de-
eide to follow the Union party. None
Of them has been Democratic except
in name. Most Of them have been op-
portunists and now that they are
being shunted completely out of the
political picture in so far as handling
or receiving Federal or State patron
age is concerned. they are perfectly
willing to shift their allegiance in a
wild hope that Lemke can muster
votes to become politically powerful
enough to aid them in the future.
Roosevelt Has Majority.
At the present time there is no
question that Roosevelt has a ma
jority Of the popular vote. or rather
more votes than Landon will be given.
However. week by week. the Lemke
vote grows stronger and the loss is
being borne by the Democrats. The
Republican vote shows some slight
gains.
In congressional affairs the Repub-
licans have an even chance in at least
three districts-the fourth. where DR..
John w. Summers is staging a come
back campaign; in the third, where
Representative Martin Smith Is not
so we'll liked, and in the second. where
Mon walgren Is op-
posed by Payson Peterson. who was
defeated two years ago by only q
slight majority.