The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-07-28
The Fight In Maryland.

The Flgnt In Maryland.
However enthusiastic he may seem
now, it is perfectly understood in
Washington that the Roosevelt radio
announcement of his intention person
ally to enter the Democratic primaries
in various states in order to nominate
the hundred per cent Roosevelt men
and defeat those who have been in
dependent Of him, was not an idea
originally conceived by the president.
Nor is it the sort of political STRAIT
egy that appeals to such pillars of the
administration as Mr.. Farley, Secre-
tary Hull, Mr.. Jesse Jones, OF even
Secretary Wallace. AS for the Vice
President, his feeling about this kind
Of punitive politics is definitely and
vigorously unfavorable and it is gen
orally deplored by the more moderate
of Mr.. Roosevelt's friends in the Sen
ate They recognize that it originated
with the little Corcoran- Cohen-Jack-
son-Keenan group of White House adj
visers, who think this is the way not
only to dominate the Next Congress
but also the 1910 National convention.
Months ago, in their super-subtle
way, they made up their slaughter
list" Of Democratic Senators and
Representatives who were not to be
allowed to return. The first real elimi-
nation attempt was in Iowa and it
was eminently unsuccessful. However
Mr.. Corcoran and the others who d.
rected that fight from the White
House convinced themselves - and
then convinced Mr.. Roosevelt-that
the reason Senator Gillette won was
because he did not throw his weight
against him personally. 1t is at least
doubtful that this would have changed
the result but that is the argument
with which they induced him to take
his stand, disregarding the disposition
of voters to resent Federal interior
cree in their local politics and the
damage he is sure to sustain in States
where his appeal is made in vain.
The young liberals" who, ever
since the court fight, have insisted
upon party purge, have gained
their point and committed the Presi-
dent to the attempt. 1t is interesting
that on their elimination list the
name Of Senator Tydings, of Mary
land, should not only be close to the
top but that they should be more con
fdent of defeating him than any other.
The reason they are SO anxious to
beat Senator Tydings is easily under
stood-he has been a consistent oppc
nent not only of the court-packing plan
but of the whole New Deal philosophy.
His attacks upon reckless expendi-
lures have been particularly effective
and particularly irritating to the New
Deal spenders.
However, the reason for the belief
what the personal desire of Mr.. Roose-
welt to beat Mr.. Tydings, plus the
weight of the Federal machine in the
State will do the trick, is indicative Of
the defective character of their politi-
cal understanding. For example, the
argument is that, as Maryland, with a
total vote Of only 100000, gave Roose-
Yelt $4,000 majority, it will be ridicu-
loUSly easy to swamp Mr.. Tydi..ss,
cnce the Presidents wish is clearly
made known to his Maryland follow
ers. 1t is typical New Deal reasoning
and there are so many things to offset
1t that when they are added up there
seems much more justification for con-
tidence on the other side.
**&
In the first place, this isn't a general
election contest but one in Demo
cratic primary in which none but reg,
lstered Democrats on the books last
year can vote This means that the
approximately $4,000 Negro voters
who helped make the Roosevelt 1886
majority of $4,000, cannot partici-
pate, because they are registered as
Republicans. In the second place, the
WPA organization cannot be used in
Maryland against Mr.. Tydings in the
way it was used in Pennsylvania and
Iowa and is being used in Kentucky,
because it is largely manned by men
named by Mr.. Tydings and his col
league, Senator Radcliffe, who is sup
porting him. In the third place, the
Federal jobholders in the State are
nearly all Tydings men. In the fourth
place, the county organizations are
almost all with Mr.. Tydings.
In the fifth place, there are in the
State now a large number of regis
tered Democrats who voted for Mr.
roosevelt in 1886 who would not vote