Evening star., 1936-10-25
POLITICAL bARRAGE
COVERS NEBRASKA
Cornhusker State BedIam OF
0ratory in Fight Over
Norris.
BY GEORGE r. FISHER,
Special Correkpondent of The Star,


since free silver days, when Nebraska
sent William Jennings Bryan to bat
tie privilege" has there been such
interest in political campaign IN
the State.
A constant stream OF national
speakers for both parties has been
bombarding the voters for two weeks.
During the week just closed the bar
rage was intensified.
For the Republicans Col. Frank
Knox, nominee for Vice President:
Everett Sanders, former Republican
national chairman, and a host Of
minor figures spoke, aside from the
State candidates.
For the Democrats, Representative
Wall Dexey, Democrat. of Mississippi;
Senator Robert M. La Toilette of Wis
consin, and Mrs. Minnie Oleson OF
Minnesota, have been here and Mayor
F. H. La Guardia of New York Is
scheduled soon.
The hustings have become bed
lam. Speakers of opposite parties
often follow each other over the air
from the same stations, speaking in
dependently, but replying to each
others arguments.
No Hall Available for Ickes.
Secretary Harold L. Ickes was TO
have spoken in Omaha this week. but
no hall was available and his speech
was Cancelled. Owners of the Ak-Sr.
Ben Coliseum, where President Roose.
welt addressed his Omaha audience,
would not permit a political address.
They had given way to the Chief EX.
ecutive because of his office.
Peculiarly, there Is almost as much
interest, if not just little more. in
the outcome of the senatorial fight as
in the presidential contest. Aroused
by the interest of the Democratic high.
command, in Senator Norris fate, the
Republicans are leaving no stone un-
turned to defeat him. If the three
cornered battle in which he is involved
should leave him in the discard in his
final race. it may be attributed to his
detection from party lines.
Presenr IN Nebraska of Senator
La Folle.. championing the Norris
cause ans with it -partisanship,
probably has harmed the Senator as
much as it has helped him. In all
previous political campaigns, Norris
/ had kept up nominal party aff1lia-
ton. 1t was conceded by his own
party supporters that he might be
Progressive, but still he was a Re-
publican and they went down the
line for him.
But this year, Nebraskans are in
different mood. Reports indicate that
old-time Norris supporters in great
numbers are voting for his Repub-
hcan opponent as rebuke for this
attitude.
One House Legislators Up Now.
They resented. but could not stop.
the Norris theory that led to the adop.
ton of the one-House Legislature.
non-partisan members of which will
be elected November for the first
time. Then they saw Norris holding
back his filing as a Republican and
submitted to an independent race, but
backed by the Democratic machine.
1t did not set well when Senator La
Toilette arrived this week and said
1 that definite breakup of established
party lines into definite liberal and
conservative groups is accepted as an
almost certain trend in American
politics. Sponsored by the Labor Nom
partisan League, Senator La Toilette
gave Norris and the elder La Toilette
credit for breaking" the Teapot Dome
scandal Of the Harding administration.
He boasted that Progressives were re-
sponsible for the amendment to the
Constitution permitting graduated in
come tax legislation.
Then a little later, Senator Norris,
continuing his anti-monopoly talks at
meetings over Nebraska. Endorsed the
candidacy of Senator William E. Borah
| in Idaho, his first utterance about the
silent Demosthenes" of the Repub-
lican forces during this national CAM
paign.
Regular Republicans have witnessed
this situation with growing bitterness.
Terry Carpenter, regular Democratic
nominee for Senator, has continued
his attacks upon Norris. He received
the commendation this week of Frank
Arbuckle, Long Beach, Calf, key
man." among a long list of congress
sional candidates backed by the ma
tional Townsend organization. Car
penter, himself. denied that he had
the Townsend Endorsement.
When Senator Norris spoke in Car.
penter's own town of Scottsbluff. he
read letter from Carpenter, written
before the primaries. to him. stating
that he (Carpenter) planned to file
and that If Norris filed later, he would
withdraw and support the Senator.
Norris has had good crowds wherever
he has gone.
Simmons Avoids Personalities.
Herbert G.. Simmons, Republican
senatorial candidate, has avoided per.
sonalities. He has kept clear of the
Norris Carpenter imbroglio and his
friends are hoping he may win.
though it is beginning to look as If
the impressiveness of the Norris name.
coupled with the backing Of the adj
ministration, will be difficult to over
come. However. Norris is making the
battle of his life. He never before
has covered all sections of Nebraska
as closely as this year. His opponents
see in this fear of the outcome.
Observers who have surveyed Ne
braska in the national battle almost
unitedly put the State down close,
but seem inclined to give the edge to
Landon. They are inclined to over.
look the $4,000 majority Roosevelt
obtained in 1882. Interest was keener
so far as the total vote was concerned
in 1884. when 57s.764 persons went
to the polls. Registration in Omaha
at this time Is at a new high record
Of 114,000 and similar highs are re-
ported in cities over the State. with
Democrats mainly in the lead In num-
bers. The big Democratic majority In
Douglas County (Omaha) has decided