Evening star., 1938-06-17
PRESS VIEWS ON
IOWA PRIMARIES

Victory Of Senator Gillette In the Iowa
Democratic primary battle is interpreted
by many newspaper commentators as a
defeat for the administration, because of
the Endorsement given to the opposition
candidate, Representative Wearin, by
Administrator Hopkins of the relief or
ganization. Administrative supporters
deny that relief politics was involved.
The primary VOTE" according to the
Syracuse Herald, nominated by q ma
jority over all the Senator whose selec-
ton was contested because he had op-
posed the court change" The Omaha
World-Herald maintains that those
agencies of Government charged with
the solemn duty Of distributing the peo-
piles money to relieve poverty and dis
treSs should be kept scrupulously free
from partisan activity" The Charleston
(W. Vao Mail assails the determination
Of the Federal administration to oppose
openly through the relief agencies and
the National Committee Senators who
voted against the court bill"
~
In defense of the administration, the
Fort Worth (Tex) Star Telegram de-
clares: 1T is not to be expected that w.
P. A.. with the biggest pay roll in Gov
ernment history, would escape the atten-
tions OF the self-appointed grand juries
on political stumps. 1t is not to be ex-
pected. also, that SO widely spread dis
tribution Of Federal funds touching SO
many people should be entirely free from
politics. But all incidents thus far un-
covered indicate that the traces Of po-
itical pressure run no farther back than
to some local elected official who is closer
to the ballot box than Mr.. Hopkins"
Minimizing the partisan nature Of the
result, the Morgantown (W. Va) Do
minion-News comments: Though the
Republican primary voters cast in that
State have outnumbered the Democratic
votes in 1884 and 1896, the Democrats
have won the general election both times
in easy fashion. Conclusive evidence that
Democrats alone do not represent the
following of President Roosevelt and the
New Deal, all progressive minded voters
who put country above politics have
championed the cause of Roosevelt,
which is the cause of the people"
Stating that the attacks on certain
Senators represent an "elimination
movement" the Kalamazoo Gazette holds
that "the strategy is extremely hazard
ous, while the Cincinnati Times-Star ad-
vises that Mr.. Roosevelt would do well to
keep his hands of State primaries" and
the Davenport Uowa Times suggests
the possibility that the State may re-
turn to the Republican column in No
vember." The Sioux City 0owa) Tribune
advises that If the inner circle New
Dealers are only half smart, the deci-
sion should cause them to pause"
THE conscience of the Nation would
be outraged" thinks the Asheville Citi-
zen Times, IF it felt that persons could
get on relief and remain on relief only
oy voting a certain way" The San Jose
tCalifo Mercury Herald offers the inter-
probation: THE voters made it clear they
do not want relief entangled In politics,
and are opposed to attaching to the pres
idential office the NaZi idea of Fuehrer,
who policies and measures must be ac-
cepted by other departments of govern
ment without question"
Xxx
THE Republicans may have an issue
which the Democrats will find trouble
some" in the opinion of the CHATTANOOGA
Times, while the Roanoke CVaD Times
argues that "the Presidents defense of
Hopkins is not the least of the blunders
that the New Dealers made in Iowa"
The San Antonio CTex) Express con-
cludes that Hopkins served one useful
purpose in paving the way for an inves-
tigation." The Rochester Times-Union
declares: Those who administer the vast
funds Of the lending spending program
are not spending their own money. It
will be an outrage If they expect to call
the tune politically because of their posi-
ton as diSpenSers of nennle's money!