Evening star., 1936-10-27


the electoral vote of Virginia might
have been decided this time by much
narrower margin, and it possibly might
have been won by Gov Landon.
But fundamentally the cleavage be-
tween the New Dealers and the ira
ditional Democrats has been confined
to . relatively small number Of per-
sons, though the Jeffersonian Demo-
crats have stirred up much more dis
turbance politically than their numer-
teal strength might seem to indicate.
The significance Of these trends,
however, does not lie in the present
campaign or election alone. 1t has
deep-seated meaning for the future.
1t explains why Senator Carter Glass,
the greatest Of American statesmen of
today, must remain silent so far as
making speeches for or against the
New Deal Is concerned and yet cast
his ballot for President Roosevelt.
Prevents Rubber Stamp.
The veteran Senator's position Is
not at all dificult to understand and
even to agree with If one has the
slightest knowledge Of Virginia politics.
Outside the State many persons have
criticized Senator Glass for not bolting
his party. They who do 80 do not
realize that bolt this year would have
meant the election Of . rubber-stamp
Senator from Virginia to add to the
tools Of New Deal manipulation in
Congress next January.
Supposing. for instance, that Glass
had announced that he would not
eupport the President in party sense.
What would have happened?
Opinions will differ, Of course. but
the New Deal would have encouraged
really strong candidate In oppo-
sition. While Glass has extra ordinary
strength and might have won the
primary, his followers throughout the
State in the Democratic organization
would have been subjected to severe
trials and tribulations in a political
way. -
Thus Senator Harry Byrd, who does
not come up for reelection for four
years and has for long time been
the most influential man in Virginia
organiza ton politics, has a fight on
his hands now. His wing Of the party
Is being undermined by James Price,
who has the backing Of the New
Deal. In the governorship fight next
year there will be a battle between
the Byrd forces and the Price faction
Battle Lines Formed.
The lines are being formed for it
row. The New Deal with its use of
patronage and public funds has the
means of winning over some Of the
local organizers and workers. That's
the way party organizations are built
TIP or broken down-with Federal or
State patronage.
To win an election nowadays, espe-
eially in a State like Virginia which
has 50 long been . one-party State,
It Is necessary to have organization.
The Republicans have never built an
effective organization for the national
ticket here because they have not been
able to set up q good State orsaniza-
ton to wage an opposition fight on
State and local issues.
More than ever in America, Federal
and State political organizations are
tntertwined. Senator Glass has
staunch friends in the Democratic
organization who have gone down the
line for him throughout his long ca
reer in public life. He cannot now
turn his back on his lieutenants and
supporters To do so Is to expose them
to factional attack, and since neither
Glass nor Byrd stand in with the
New Deal, they do not have available
Federal favors to build up their own
political fences.
Fight Tammanyizing State.
As q matter Of fact, Harry Byrd IS
Governor of Virginia made great
record and his popularity with Vir.
sinians Is undiminished. His fght Is
purely the kind with which any inde-
pendent or progressive would be con-
fronted in trying to beat Tammany
In New York State. In fighting the
Farley influence in politics in Amer
lea Byrd and Glass are struggling to
prevent the ultimate Tammanyidng
Of Virginia.
To hold their own organization
Intact they must be regular in
PARTY sense. Back in 1928 both Sena-
tors were regular" and did not hesi-
tate to excoriate any who left the
party to vote for Hoover. against Al
Smith. Today the position Of Byrd
and Glass is fixed by the precedent
Of their own party fidelity of 1928.
But this does not prevent them from
developing q Democratic organization
and 4 party platform In the State
which contradicts the New Deal and
reasserts true Democratic doctrine.
Reputation Stressed.
Incidentally, Mr.. Roosevelt recently
has furnished the Byrd-Glass pro-
gressives with the best argument they
could have had for sticking to their
guns and keeping the fight inside the
Democratic party rather than stray
ing outside. Editorial prominence, for
instance, has been given In the Lynch
burg News, owned by Senator Glass,
10 the way Mr.. Roosevelt has repudi-
ated the Democratic party nominees
Of the Nebraska and Minnesota pri-
naries. Organization Democrats here
sres ehagrined over the action. They
regard 1t rs an example Of the lengths
to which . presidential nominee will
sometimes 90 to advance his own
political fortunes ct the expense Of
his party.
Glass has therefore made no
speeches about the presidential con-
test. He will cast his ballot for the
straight Democratic ticket because he
ewes allegiancs TO his party In this