Evening star., 1938-02-08
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. COULD LINCOLN.

are taking stock of the Endorsements
which the White House is giving these
days to those Senators who stuck by the
President in that historic contest. They
have read the letters Of approval sent by
the White House to gatherings intended
to honor Senator Barkley of Kentucky,
the majority leader. and to give approval
to Senator F. Ryan Duffy OF Wisconsin.
Both Of these Senators are up for re-
nomination this year.
y -
The recalcitrants are wondering
whether any indication OF White House
approval will come to one or more of
their number. In the list OF Senators
who opposed the court bill and who are
up for reelection next fall are Senator
Clark Of Missouri, Senator George OF
Georgia, Senator McCarran of Nevada,
Senator Smith Of South Carolina, Sena-
tor Tydings Of Maryland and Senator
Van Nuys Of Indiana There are others
who, 1t was believed, would not have
voted for the bill, but who were not so
vociferous about their position.
If the President finds occasion to send
a message giving his Endorsement to any
OF these gentlemen who opposed the
court bill, 1t would appear that the
hatchet was to be buried that reprisals
were not the order of the day. So far,
however, nothing Of this kind has trans
pired.
The letter sent by the President, CIV
ing words Of praise to Senator Duffy.
was read at dinner in Duffy's honor in
Fond du Lac his home, Saturday night.
Duffy while he was one of those who
voted for the recommital Of the court
bill last July. was not regarded by the
opponents Of the measure as an ally.
He merely joined with Senator BarkIey.
Senator Logan of Kentucky and other
supporters Of the President. in voting
for the motion to recommit when it had
become apparent that the measure could
not pass the Senate. The bill was re-
committed by vote of 10 to 2O
The significant thing about the presi-
Dental Endorsement OF Senator Duffy is
that it means the President will not
throw his influence in favor of a sena-
torial nominee of the La Toilette Pro-
gressive party in that State. Appar-
emily the administration Democrats have
decided to go down the line for Duffy.
AS one OF the Democrats who opposed
the court bill said today-the admins
tration should give its support to Sena-
tor Dufy. for he has stood by the Presi-
dent through thick and thin. When the
court bill was first launched, it was
rumored that Duffy did not care for the
measure. He did not commit himself
against the measure, however, and in
the end. the opponents were not count
ing on his support. but regarded him as
likely to vote for the Presidents bill, If
it ever came to vote.
Back in 1894. when Senator La Fol-
lette ran as a Progressive for reelection
to the Senate. leaving the Republican
party once and for all, President Roose-
welt really threw his influence back of
La Toilette. La Toilette had supported
the New Deal right down the line, and
had come out for Roosevelt in the 1892
presidential campaign. The Democrats
had a candidate in the field, Callahan
by name. But the administration did
not lift a hand for him, but rather
against him. Callahan was persona non
grata at the White House. as 1t hap
pened. But now the plan to back Duffy
makes a very different situation in Wis
consin.
The La Toilette progressives will, 1t is
said, undoubtedly nominate a candidate
for the Senate next September in the
party primaries. They will not only
nominate, but they will stand a very
good chance Of electing their candidate.
The Progressive party has continued to
gain in strength in the State. Gov. Phil
La Toilette is likely to be candidate to
succeed himself as the States chief
executive, although there have been
rumors he, too, might like to come to the
Senate.
Senator Duffy was elected in the 1882
Democratic landslide. Even so, he was
lucky. The Republicans in their party
primary had defeated the late Senator
Blaine, q Progressive of the La Toilette
group, and had nominated Chapple. a
Republican. The Progressives switched
over their allegiance to the Democratic
Duffy, and the Democrat was elected
with q vote of 10000 to 387 900 for
Chapple. This year. however, Duffy will
have to face the opposition of the Pro-
gressive as we'll as that of the Repub-
licans, unless the Progressives should
agree to a deal with the Democrats.
There is no indication whatever that
this is to take place. The Progressives
figure, probably that there is no reason
for them to do so. When the results
Of the last gubernatorial election in Wis
consin are examined. there seems no rea-
son why they should make a deal. Gov.
La Toilette was reelected with vote Of
$4,000 to $4,000 for the Republican. and
26S,0O0 for the Democrat.
&+
The only way to beat La Toilette
Progressive, apparently. in Wisconsin
would be for the Republicans and the
Democrats to unite. The Republicans
would hesitate to choose a Roosevelt
Democrat as against La Toilette Pro-
gresslve. Indeed, they could see little
difference between them. In 1884, the
last senatorial election in the State.
Senator Bob La Toilette was reelected
with vote Of 100000 to 223, 900 for the
Republican and 100000 for the Demo-
crat. The Democratic party in Wisconsin
Is clearly in the minority. There has
been talk now and again of a coalition
between the Democrats and the Repub-
licans to take the measure of the Pro-
gressives-but 1t never seems to get any
where.
The Democrats who opposed President
Roosevelt on his court bill and other
measures, while they do not expect at
this time the blessing of the White
House in their efforts to be returned to
the Senate this fall, are not lying down.
For example. there is Senator Burton K.
Wheeler of Montana. He does not come
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