Evening star., 1938-07-12
Political Pilgrimage.

Political Pilgrimage.
President Roosevelt's campaign" trip
into the West has brought no surprises
80 far. The Chief Executive supposedly
in his capacity as head Of the Demo-
cratic party-has given pats on the back
to incumbent Democrats, New Deal
Senators. These pats on the back would
not be so effective were it not for the
ability of the administration to dis
tribute pennies from political heaven
in big way. The President has frankly
told his audiences how well these
friends Of his have been able to obtain
aid-which means money-from the
Federal Treasury for use in their States.
The presumption u.s. of course, that they
will be able to continue along similar
lines.
The Presidents address in Kentucky,
where he declared his preference for
Senator Barkley over Governor Happy"
Chandler, contained the rather remark
able statement that the President
would not undertake to interfere in any
way. shape or form in the primary cam
paign in that State. Just what the
President thought he was doing when he
declared for Senator Barkley perhaps
only an astrologer could say. There is not
the slightest doubt that Senator Bark
ley has been counting heavily on the
Presidents visit to Kentucky in his in
terest. There is no doubt whatever that
Senator Barkley believes the President
has now given Happy" Chandler the
coup de grace. Perhaps the President
was just using little gentle irony when
he made his statement.
The fact Of the matter is that the
President has not only interfered in the
Kentucky primary, but he has interfered
In the primaries in Ohio, Arkansas,
Texas and Oklahoma and will carry his
interference into several other States be-
fore he returns to Washington. The fact
also stands out more and more clearly
that the President is trying to tell the
people In the States whom they should
elect to Congress. The fiction about his
speaking merely as head Of the Demo-
cratic party is entirely transparent. The
sooner the people understand the final
Implication Of the attempt to dictate to
them who shall constitute the legisla-
tive branch of the Government, the
better.
The Kentucky speeches were more
thoroughly political than any others of
the Presidents so far delivered. There
Is reason. It means more to the Presi-
dent to have Barkley win in Kentucky,
for Barkley is his own chosen leader of
the Senate. An upset for the President
In this Kentucky primary would have
terribly flattening effect. It may be
remarked, however, that the President
did throw few flowers in the direc-
ton Of Governor Chandler, calling him
his friend and saying that he had made
q good Governor-or words to that ef-
feet. There is the cushion if anything
untoward happens in the Bluegrass
State in August.
So far the President has urged the
denomination Of sitting Democratic
Senators. His argument in support of
Senator Barkley was that Kentucky
needs an experienced and highly placed
Senator in Washington. This will not fit
at all into the picture when and if Presi-
dent Roosevelt goes into Georgia, South
Carolina and Maryland to tell the
Democratic voters to discard veteran
Senators, men of prominence in the
Upper House, for "unknowns. From
pats on the back the President will have
to turn to socks on the jaw if he is to
be effective. In the opinion of many he
has destroyed the arguments he may
make against George of Georgia, Smith
Of South Carolina and Tydings of Mary
land by his speech in Kentucky.