Evening star., 1938-07-09
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kentucky's young Governor, A. B
Chandler, generally referred to as
Happy Chandler" who is opposing
Barkley for the party's senatorial nomi-
nation. In the capacity of Chief Ex-
ecutive of Kentucky, Chandler had to
be welcomed aboard the presidential
train as it entered the State, and he
was included in the presidential party
during the stop at Covington, KY.
A tremendous crowd was on hand
at the Latonia Rack Track, on the
outskirts Of Covington, where the
President first spoke in Kentucky, and
while Barkley banners were flying and
there was every evidence of the affair
being an organized Barkley rally, Gov
Chandler received sufficient applause
10 annoy the Barkley managers.
Roosevelt Is Cheered.
Whether or not it was Barkley or
Chandler crowd, it surely was a Roose-
welt crowd. The blistering rays of the
sun did not prevent the mass of people
from cheering loudly and often for
him.
Gov. Chandler probably would not
have Jared so well in the matter of ap-
plause and cheers had he not been
clever enough to maneuver himself
into better seat than did Barkley on
the speakers platform. He grabbed
himself q chair in the front row just
to the right of the President. A vivid
personality, Gov. Chandler knows the
game well and takes advantage of
every situation.
The Presidents treatment Of Gov.
Chandler in his speech lauding Bark
ley was suggestive of the fellow who
tickles you under the chin and just
as you are about to beam your thanks,
let's 60 with a terrific blow to the nose
or heart. But the President did his
Job cleverly and well. Until Gov.
Chandler thinks it over for some time,
the wrose he can accuse the President
Of is that he thinks Chandler is too
young and inexperienced to aspire to
the seat in the Senate of man Of the
standing and experience of Barkley.
Part With Warm Handshake.
However, everything apparently
went off all right. The President and
Gov. Happy shook hands warmly
and smiled affably as they parted, and
the President continued on his way.
It might be said here that every one
in the Presidents train party, 1nciud-
ing the President himself. felt easier
when it was all over and Happy" had
passed out Of the picture.
Knowing "Happy's" resourcefulness
and his campaign tactics, they were
expecting most anything from him on
this occasion, because it had been ad-
yertised well in advance that the Presi-
dent was going to throw his strength
suuarely behind Senator Barkley in
this fight. They hardly dared to think
what that youthful, personally popu-
lar politician might resort to in an
eleventh hour attempt to upset things
for the President and Senator Barkley,
but Happy" refrained.
The Kentucky speech presented a
difficult situation for Mr. Roosevelt. AS
President, he is the leader of the en-
tire party and not of faction of the
party. 1t is not customary for Presi-
dents to express preferences in State
campaigns within the party. Bal
anced against that is the fact that his
chosen leader on the floor of the Sen
ate is facing a serious fight. The de-
feat Of that leader would be just about
as bad a blow to the administration
II the President had not spoken for him
a. If he had given him strong backing.
Ballot Boxes TO Tell.
Under all the circumstances, Presi-
dent Roosevelt did a splendid job. He
must wait almost a month to see the
ballot box effect of his speech. At all
events, the plucky Chandler is run
ming his race from now on against the
power and prestige of the President of
the United States.
Contrasted with his enthusiastic re-
ception in Kentucky, the reception at
Marietta yesterday was cold. The Pres
ident rode from his train to the speak
ing platform and back along lines Of
people who received him in courteous
silence or with only faint applause
Marietta is the birthplace of former
Vice President Dawes, and the former
home Of Alfred M. Landon, the 1896
Republican nominee
Considering the nature Of the nom
political gathering at Marietta, con-
trasted with the purely political ones
IN Kentucky, the Endorsement Of Sen
ator Bulkiey was Just a. emphatic ~
that Of Senator Barley.