Evening star., 1938-03-06
Democrat Primaries to Decide
Anti>New Deal Coalition Fate
Victory for Roosevelt Forces in Voting This Year
Would Provide Occasion for Foes in Party
to Join With G. O. p.

Aiken Of Vermont and Chairman Hamilton
OF the Republican National Committee all
admitted the present weakness of the
party; all stressed in different ways the
party's need Of getting adherents from
those who are now Democrats. Chairman
Hamilton invited conservative Democrats
to come into the Republican party; Gov.
Aiken said the Republicans might IS we'll
close up shop unless they can win to them
selves large sections Of the electorate which
are not now with them Senator Vanden-
berg made fortnight tender Of coalition
between the Republicans and the anti
New Deal Democrats.
Time Not Ripe for Coalition.
Something like coalition may take place,
but the time is not yet Even to talk about
coalition at this time defeats the purpose.
Te Republicans are free to talk about coali-
ton If they choose to-but the anti-New
Deal Democrats cannot do so at this time.
Democratic Senators who oppose the Presi-
dents court measure and are now up for
denomination by their own party are
obliged to avoid. like . kiss Of death,
anything which would lay them open to
charges that they are negotiating with the
Republican party. or even becoming the
benefciaries Of Republican votes. This con-
dltion, the reluctance of anti-New Deal
Democrats to talk about or consider coali-
ton, will continue until after the party
primaries that take place the coming
spring and summer.
The whole political situation can be
made clear by approaching it from one
angle. There is taking place Just now
struggle between two wings of the Demo-
cratic party to determine which of the two
shall dominate the party. This struggle is
the major political development OF the
present time. The outcome of the struggle
will be determined by the Democratic pri-
maries which begin in Illinois next month
and continue in various States until Sep
tembcr If these primaries are won pre-
vailingly by anti-New Deal Democrats,
then that wing Of the party will control the
party as whole, will dominate the Demo-
cratic National Convention OF 1910, and
will name the Democratic presidential can
then there will be no coalition between
Democrats and Republicans, nor any occa-
sion for coalition.
Chance for Coalition.
But If the coming Democratic primaries
are won prevailingly by New Deal Demo-
Gratis. Roosevelt Democrats-in that event
the New Deal wing of the party will possess
the party organization, will dominate the
Democratic National Convention In 1910.
and will choose the next Democratic nomi-
nee for the presidency.
If that happens, there will arise the occa-
sion for coalition and the probability of
coalition. But we can know nothing about
it until after the Democratic primaries the
coming spring and summer. Possibly, in
deed, We may not know until the Demo-
cratic National Convention Of 1910 has met
and named its presidential candidate, In
case that convention is dominated by MIR.
Roosevelt; in case the nominee Is Mr.,
Roosevelt himself, or some one like Mr..
Roosevelt and named by Mr.. Roosevelt-in
that situation undoubtedly large number
OF Democrats would be willing to enter into
coalition with the Republicans.
Within Congress, in the contest between
New Deal Democrats and anti-New Deal
ones, the latter grow stronger Mr.. Roose-
velt has not really had control of his party
IN Congress for many months. The act by
which he lost it was the most damaging
act of the presidency, his attempt to
change the Supreme Court That attempt
was made on February S last year. During
full year thereafter Mr. Roosevelt got only
one major measure through Congress-and
that was the housing bill, the easiest kind
Of measure to get through any Congress.
Do Not F1out Roosevelt.
But, while the Democrats in Conrre.,
do not do what Mr.. Roosevelt wants,
neither do they flout him their attitude
is kind of passive resistance. Even
though they doubt his Judgment and doubt
the wisdom of many Of his measures, they
do not make their attitude conspicuous.
They still have prudent fear Of him. All
the Democrats in the House (exceptinp a
few who retire voluntarily and q Demo-
Gratis IN the Senate. are up for renomi-
AoSAoAA IA pol ~ pIluldIlc curing CI1c next
few months. None of these Democrats
wishes to take on himself the handicap of
outright hostility toward the President of
their party.
But the existing schism between Mr..
Roosevelt and the members Of his party in
Congress is not important or decisive. The
real test lies in the coming Democratic
primaries. In those primaries the issue Is
whether New Deal Democrats prevail over
anti-New Deal ones, or vice versa. Tho
primaries that are immediately ahead Of
US, the earliest ones in which Democratic
Senators and Representative come up for
denomination, are:
Illinois, April IL.
South Dakota. May 3.
Alabama, May 3.
Indiana (convention), May 3.
Florida, May g.
Pennsylvania, May II.
Oregon, May 20.
BY the time these early primaries are
over, we may Know which branch Of the
party Ii to control 1t.
(copyrisht. 1888, New York Tribune, ins)