Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-09-16

EDITORIAL

The result of the Senatorial cam
paign in Maryland, on Monday last,
was the high point of the entire elec-
tion. The eyes of the nation were di-
rected toward the fight between Mil
lard E. Tydings and David j. Lewis
the former staunch exponent OF
democratic doctrine; the latter a rank
New Dealer, and, by his own confess
ion, subservient to the slightest wish
of the Chief New Dealer, President
Roosevelt.
The campaign was bitterly fought.
On the Lewis side, use was made of
methods hardly in keeping with the
dignity that should mark aspirants to
the high office sought. Effort was
made to place the Senior Senator in
a most compromising light before the
public. A scurrillous pamphlet was
issued, caricaturing Mr.. Tydings and
endeavoring to implicate him in deals
hardly consistent with honest and up
right citizenship. His name was
metamorphosed into Milford" in an
attempt to prejudice certain classes
against his Americanism. In fact
everything that could be thought of
was done, up to the point of refrain
ing from incriminating libel.
So far as we are able to Judge, Mr..
Tydings' course was simply defen
sive one. He was charged with OBJ
structive methods in Congress. Mr..
Lewis claimed he was young man
with old ideas, and represented him as
far behind the times-the times, of
course, being included in the life and
deeds of one-Franklin Delano Roose- !
velt.
Mr.. Tydings on all occasions con-
fined himself to placing before the
public details of his career in Con-
gress, and challenging Mr.. Lewis to
debate certain measures-such as, the
Supreme Court Bill, the Government
Reorganization Bill and others. But,
important as these were, Mr.. Lewis !
consistently avoided any controversy
but occupied himself with hurling
charge after charge, many of which
were denounced by Mr.. Tydings as
falsehoods. There was nothing left
undone, APPARENTLY, TO discredit his ri
val in the minds of the Electorate.
Evidently, Mr.. Lewis felt he was
not impresing Maryland voters to the
extent he desired. Something had to
be done. Word soon came out that
President Roosevelt would appear in
person and by the influence of visit
from the head of the nation, draw
support for Lewis and the New Deal.
President Roosevelt landed at Girls
field and began what he hoped would
be a triumphal march through the
counties, coming to a halt at Den
ton, the home of Hon. T. Alan Colds
borough, whose guest he was.
1t was march but far from trium-
phant. All along the way there were
evidences of opposition so plain that
those who rode could easily read, and
when the day was done, they rode
back, but not with prizes at their
chariot wheels.
It was not many days after, that
the daily press began to give hint of
disappointment experienced by the in
vaders, and premonition on their
part that all was not well on the
"Eas'n Sho' -. Reports went so far
as to credit Lewis, ct al, with con-
cessions admitting defeat; and the
President as saying his "purge" had
in some way gone woozy.
Election day came and the good old
Free State spoke in no uncertain
tones. 1t welcomed the opportunity
to register it's denunciation of a cam
paign of force, and by an overwhelm-
ing vote declared for, not so much
a denomination of Tydings, as for the
liberty of the franchise, an unframed
led ballot, and for government not
in harmony with concentration in Fed
eral authority. It was a noble and
inspiring gesture for democratic prin-
ciples, and notice served upon Wash
ington that thus far shall it come and
no farther.
What a splendid attitude for Mary
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