Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-18


Senator Varda-
man of Mississippi was candidate.
but public criticism was so widespread.
especially in the South, that he did
not repeat the effort anywhere else.
Prs.tdents have in the past felt at
ubs.sy to exercise their influence in
their own States, but not outside In
other States. Mr.. Roosevelt. however.
has now openly. as we'll as on some
occasions secretly. interested himself
in the selecting of nominees for party
nominations in various States and dis
tricts.
twenty-five years ago, Progress
sive was one who believed in primary
elections because the people did the
nominating and standpatter or
conservative was one who believed IN
the nominating convention where the
political boss flourished.
Administration Intervenes.
Today the primary system, whatever
Its defects, is still method whereby
the people are supposed to make their
own selection of candidates unln.
fluenced by outside money or outside
power. Yet the Roosevelt admlnlstra-
ton has just interviewed in a hall
dozen State situations, and indications
are the National Government, with
its enormous opportunity for manip-
ulation of public funds and favors,
will increase its participation in the
electoral process.
Intervention in the Southern pri-
MARES is tantamount to election IN
most instances because the admin
istraticn has enough machinery to
WELD the balance of power. The
Florida primaries presented a case IN
point. The administration backing
was enough to assure the renomlna-
ton of Senator Pepper. and that
means reelection next autumn be-
cause the Republican vote is negligible.
The President has put the weight
of his administration-which means
the army of Observation-Disclosures his
candidate in Kentucky. Oregon, PENN
sylyania. Florida, South Carolina and
Georgia If public opinion does not
manifest disapproval, it may be ken
for granted that the President VIII go
further and pick candidates for ad-
nninistration support in other states
A. we'll and in particular congressional
districts.
Targets for Attack.
The members Of Congress who OPP
posed the Supreme Court packing
plan of the President are targets Tor
attack. Quietly but effectively the
plan for Furnishing these insurgents is
progressing. There was much talk at
one time about helping out the men,
beers of Congress who incurred the
presidential wrath. but the foes OF
the Supreme Court bill are consplcu-
ously inactive today with respect to
nobilizing the voters behind the men
who stood up for their convictions
against administration pressure.
Naturally if Senators and Represent
atives see the administration candl-
dates winning and no concerted effort
made to get behind those who opposed
the administration. the band wagon
will begin soon and Congress OF 100
per cent rubber-stamp members may
be expected, very much as is the case
in Germany and Italy.
The Florida result is conspicuous
example of the inactivity OF the anti
administration groups in America.
Two and three years ago. this situa-
ton was foreseen and there was wide
spread discussion Of coalition, but
nothing came of it.
Sort of ree-for- All.
A hue and cry has sometimes been
raised about the possible unpopularity
of outside help for candidates in
Southern States, but now that the
administration has adopted the policy
Of direct participation, using Govern
ment funds and influence, there need
be no hesitation on the part Of those
who disagree with the administrations
program.
It would appear now that party
primary contests, especially in the
South. have become sort of free-for-
all Men like Senator George of
Georgia and Senator Ellison Smith Of
South Carolina are marked for admin
istration reprisals. Will the people in
other parts of the country allow them
to be sacrificed because they fought
the administrations effort to break
down the Supreme Court? These are
questions which the present season OF
primary campaigns would seem to be
raising The true progressives and
true liberals who are against the
Fascist tendencies of the present adj
ministration happen to be poorly
organized, and perhaps afraid to stand
up to the administration tactics.
The Republican party, on the other
hand, is powerless to help the truly
liberal and truly progressive Demo-
Gratis of the South who fought the
court packing plan. Certainly nom
partisan alliance would seem to be the
logical way to protect the men Of the
South who stood by their convictions
and now are marked for slaughter
by the political dictator in the White
House.
Copyright. 1881
50 eerARI 0elEN 1oSE NJ