Evening star., 1937-09-11


easury. will r,
work up the local
sentiment.
The technique is already in operation
with respect to the punishment which
the administration wishes to inflict
upon Democratic Senators who VEN
tured to vote their convictions in op-
position TO the White House dictation
on the issue Of enlargng the Supreme
Court. Postmaster General Farley is
out making speeches saying there will
be no "reprissls" by the administration
and then he adds significant but. A"
This is to the effect that the "constit-
uents" will punish the misguided"
members of Congress
Naturally the constituents" read the
papers and they learn from Mr.. Farley
what their attitude is supposed to be-
Likewise all the postmasters. collectors
Of internal revenue, marshals. officers
of the various Federal agencies
throughout the country and who are
members of the Nation wide political
machine which gets out the vote and
gees that it goes to the primaries in
particular will have been given their
cue by the speeches Of the administra-
tion officials.
Punishment Goes on"
The punishment process. so to speak.
is going on right now. The "reprisals"
are being applied this very month and
year so that by the time the Demo-
cratic primaries are held next year
very sizable group will be militsntly
active in applying the reprisals pre-
sumably on behalf of themselves alone.
This is supposed to be the way democ-
racy works" and when the results show
that the machine and organizat ton vote
which is cohesive has triumphed over
the stay-at-home or indifferent citi-
zens who usually avoid primaries. the
election will be pointed to again as the
majority rule in action.
In some instances the sdministrs-
tion works in such close contact
with the State organization that it
virtually decides in advance who shall
be nominated. This is the case in
Indiana. where Just as soon as Sena-
tor Van Nuys began few months
ago TO differ With the administration,
the State machine started 10 mark
him for political death The die
was not cast finally, however, till
Gov Townsend of Indiana stood on
the steps OF the White House after
an interview with the President
and told the reporters Mr.. Van Nuys
couldn't be renominated
just why the White House doorstep
was selected as the place for such
an announcement may be puzzlins
TO some observers. but this is be-
cause the general public does not
realize the extent to which State
politics and national politics are inter-
mingled al the executive Offices.
Thus when there was vacancy in
the Senate in Tennessee due to the
death OF Senator Bachman, President
Roosevelt had Immediately thereafter
an interview at the White House
with the Governor of Tennessee after
which Maj. Berry, political ally of
the President. was appointed. Just
tor Black to the Supreme Court bench
was announced Mr.. Roosevelt was
sn touch with the Governor of
Alabama. A Birmingham newspaper
is authority for the statement that
Mr.. Roosevelt by telephone urged
Gov Graves to arrange to take the
appointment himself or to name some
rrk,I
carry out the wishes Of the White
House The appointment Of the Gov
ernors wife is believed to have been
one way by which the Governor. who
felt he could not take the appoint
ment himself thought ne could meet
the Presidents request
Local Leaders Blamed
In fairness 70 the President ii
should be stated tnst the local leaders
frequently bring about situations
which bring Mr.. Roosevelt to one
side or the other OF fsctional strife
1t cannot be doubted that knowledge
by the local politicians of what the
President and Mr.. Farley want Gone
TO the Independent Democrats in
the Senate and the House will enable
them to put forward candidates who
hy supposedly casual visit to the
White House or by public appearances
with the President or 3 train where
the photographers can record the
political intimacy will appear to be
In presidential favor.
The fight goes on every CAV bv the
administration 70 line up more rub
ber stamp" Senator's and Representa-
tlves and 10 punish those who dared
TO believe in constitutional govern
ment and IN the independence Of the
legislative branch Of the Government
as well as the independence of the
judiciary from executive encroach-
ment Any Independent Democrats
who think that by remaining silent
or by vote or two next session they
VIII regain White House support or
mat they viii at least prevent 1t
from being thrown to Their sdversaries
ere bound to come in for some real
olsilluslonment some day. The adj
mnistration. like its counterparts
abroad, believes in the purge" idea
though its firing squads, for the time
being at least. consist Of machine
politicians and local orgsniza tions
and the army of parasites who feed
81 the Federal trough and spend their
tlme throwing mud at any who ven-
tore TO express opinions that happen
TO refute the king -do-no-w wrono
theory OF government.
tCopyright. 1937D