Evening star., 1936-01-20
THE POLITICAL
MILL
By C.. Could Lincoln.

moneys, appropriated for relief, are
being used to build up the Democratic
political machine and to enrich political
favOrites, has now suggested to Senator
William E. Borah of Idaho senatorial
investigation of the matter. Well, why
not? In campaign years Senate COM
mittees are set up to see what cand!-
dates and their hackers for the presi-
dency are doing in the way of expendi-
lures Of money. It has been a practice
for many years. The charge Is made
and repeated that in one OF the greatest
States in the Union relief money Is
being used for political purposes that
workers for the w. p. A. are compelled
to contribute to the political bosses, and
that in order to obtain w. p. A. jobs,
relief jobs, Republicans are compelled
to repudiate their party.
** X
It has been said time and again that
1t is impossible to beat $4,000, 900 900 in
the coming national election. The ex-
penditure of huge sums of money for
relief and all kinds of projects has its
affect, undoubtedly. 1t could scarcely
be otherwise, even If not cent of the
money was wrongly expended. But
charges are made that part of the huge
sums appropriated by Congress are being
used wrongly. Either the charges are
true or false. The former Governor of
Pennsylvania insists that he has proof
they are correct. A senatorial inquiry
into the matter might throw a lot of
light on what is being done with the
money, and what effect it may be ex-
pected to have on the coming elections.
Senator BOrah himself last year made
the charge that huge sums of relief
money were being wasted" He did not
charge corruption. He made at that
time, however, no move for a congress
Sional investigation.
The Idaho Senator is himself a cam
didate for the Republican presidential
nomination. If he is to be an active
candidate, and particularly If he is TO
make speeches in some of the presi-
Dental primary States before those pri-
maries are held in the Spring, it is
probable that Senator Borah would have
no time himself to act as chairman or
as member of a senatorial committee
to inquire into relief expenditures. But
there are others in the Senate who might
sponsor such an inquiry.
* *x
In West Virginia. supporters OF Borah
for the presidential nomination are be-
coming more and more active. The
presidential preferential primary in West
Virginia takes place May H. Former
Representative Carl G. Bachmann of
Wheeling was in Washington recently
interesting himself in the Borah boom.
Former Senator Davis Elkins is another
West Virginia Republican who has an
nounced himself in favor of Borahs
nomination.
When the Republican party speaks
through presidential preference primaries
1t will be Borah with sweep" was Bach
mann's comment. Bachmann also de-
clared himself in favor of the nomina-
ton of Walter S. Hallanan, the Repub-
lican national committeeman for the
State, for the Republican senatorial
nomination to run in West Virginia next
Fall against Senator Nicely, Democrat.
The Republicans in West Virginia insist
that they can carry the State against
President Roosevelt next November and
that they will win in the congressional
elections also.
+
Bachmann said that he would be. him.
self. a candidate for delegate to the Re-
publican National Convention, but that
he would not seek other Office this year.
Speaking of Borah. he said He needs
no advertising build up" He is known
10 everybody in the land and every-
body admires him for one thing or an
other, regardless of parties. The elder
La Toilette in 1924 demonstrated that
he had a personal following number
ing 100000 That was the most aston
no fro ftnvH in, IN hit
American politics. In the same set of
circumstances, many have stated it as
their firm belief that Senator Borah
coulo duplicate Fighting Bobs remark
able feat. 1t is one of the powerful
Senator Borah. The Republican party
Borah. That answers everything, I
thirk."
This year what happens in Maine in
September will be watched with the
keenest interest. Maine still sticks to
its tradition of electing its Governor
and other State officers and its Senators
and members of the House in September.
although it casts its vote for President
along with the rest of the Nation in
November. The old chanty, LAS Maine
goes, so goes the Nation" has not always
been correct. But nevertheless, the Sep
tcmber elections in Maine may very
we'll give a pretty good indication of
what to expect when the Nation votes
in November. especially If there has been
real swing of the political pendulum.
X
The present Democratic Governor of
Maine, Louis j. Brann. is popular. He
has done the unprecedented; he is the
only Democrat ever to be reelected Gov
ernor of the State, an he received last
year, when he ran the second time, more
votes than any other man, Republican
or Democrat, received for Governor. He
has not yet said whether he intends to
run again for Governor or not. It is
obvious that Democrats in Maine and
also in Washington would be sorry If the
Governor should decide not to be can
didate to succeed himself. They might
have difficulty finding another candidate
who could do nearly so well at the
polls
The Maine Republicans have not yet
decided upon their candidate for Gov
ernor There has been mention of for
mer Gov. Percival P. Baxter, one of the
leading citizens Of the Pine Tree State.
Baxter has not taken much part in
politics since he was defeated for the
Republican eenatorial nomination in
1926 by former Senator Arthur r. Gould
So far Baxter has said that he does not
care to be candidate for Governor
But Republicans who believe u" '-'~ y
Ln .@hoir bact hot ouoirct prorv ara