The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-09-12

political risks" by trying t anti-New Deal Democrats.
 The friend said he could under stand the Presidents personal rec sentiment at these enemies, but he questioned the wisdom of chance ing a split in the Democratic Party by waging open war upon them.
 Roosevelt's reply affords an H. luminating insight into the rea- soning and motives behind his dramatic purge" crusade. It re- vcals clearly that 1940 looms very large in his thoughts.
 The President began by em- phasixlng that there was absolutely nothing personal in. his campaign against Senators George and Tydings, Represen- tatlve John O'Connor and other Old Guard Democrats whose reelection he has opposed. As proof of this he cited his speeches against George and Tydings.
 He pointed out that in the Georgia speech, he centered his fire squarcly and directly on George, for whom he has the warmest effection and highest re. gard. But in Maryland, he said nothing about Tydings, whom he frankly dislikes and diStruStS.
 If 1t were merely c matter of personal spleen, the President continued, there were many less "arduous" ways in which scores could be settled. But the real pur- pose of the "so .called purge" was to force every Democrat holding ofiice, elective or appointive, to show his true colors on the New Deal.
 Parable of Gideon
 If there is one thing his Ad- mlnistratlon has proved, the President declared, it is that the old party labels no longer mean anything. A George or Tydings Democrat Is no different from Q Vandenberg Republican. Under the skin they arc blood brothers.
 With world conditions what they are, Roosevelt told his friend, it Is urgently vital for the welfare of the nation and the preservation of It's democ. racy that political dlssembllng" no longer be possible for men seeking public ofilce. Conserva. lives should run as c0nservA. lives and liberals as liberals.
 He said it was his intention to draw such lines in le4o. That Is why he is applying tho acid test to Democratic office-h holders now. It is to make them show, clear cut and unmistakable, on which side of the fence they stand.
 Basically, the President ex- plained, 1t was only of secondary moment to him whether the vari- ous purge fights are won or lost. Tn tho larger strategy they arc only preliminary BkirmiShos to prepare for tho decisive battle in lo40,
 The New Deal, Roosevelt said grlmly, proposes to go into this battle with loyal ranks right down the line. Those who show themselves hostile this year will Do weeded out. whether the Georges or Tydlngses win or not. and be replaced with llb- erals who can be depended upon.
 If there is going to bo . fight for control of the Democrat party in io40, the President intends to see to it that he has c loyal party organization behind him.
 He concluded by recalling to his friend the Biblical story of 0id- con, and how the Lord told him to choose his warriors by watch- ing how they qucnehed their thirst at the river.
 "And you remember" re. marked the President, the Lord said, By the saree hun. uFUu meu tnht Ahppcu WILL save you'."
 Funny Name
 Discussing eleetioneering oxper. fences with c friend, Senator Morris Sheppard, who has been in Congress longer than any other member, told this story on him- self:
 stumping Texas in his last campaign fIe made it q practice to stop at filling stations to shake manaS H,s and svs Gound 5 out t local . Sss. ,,si. attendant, '1iOw do you do, my friend? I'm Senator Sheppard
 "IIowdy," was the reply, "what'd you say your name