Evening star., 1938-08-11

Der.
Likewise, in Idaho. where the issue
was drawn even more sharply as be-
tween pro-administration and anti
administration views, the protest vote
may possibly be found expressing it.
self through the Republican nominee
for the Senate
Senator Bulkley's position in Ohio
has been precarious ever since he de-
serted his conservative friends. who
helped elect him originally, and went
along with President Roosevelts
shocking proposal to tamper with
Supreme Court decisions by adding
justices OF his own choosing who
would conform to his doctrines. Ohio
has a definitely conservative trend,
especially In the rural districts, not
withstanding the big majority polled
by Mr.. Roosevelt in 1886. Senator
Bulkley had very large Republican
support when ne ran in 1882, and the
reports from the Buckeye State are
that he may lose much Of it this time
because of his vote on the Supreme
Court issue.
Loses Either Way in kahO.
As for Idaho, even If the final count
had shown that Senator Pope. on the
pro-Roosevelt platform. had been re-
nominated, the administration was
bound to lose For In the nomination
and possible election of Mr.. Pope's
Democratic opponent the new Tories
would lose q vote, whereas, with the
denomination of Senator Pope the
chances OF Republican Senator being
elected in Idaho would have been con-
siderably improved.
lights in the Northern States is an
entirely different proposition from the
primaries in States where the Demo-
cratic nomination is equivalent 20 an
election. The New Tories here do not
sense this difference till it is too late,
though they surrendered in Indiana
in time They became convinced
finally that the protest vote in the
Democratic party, plus q substantial
Republican vote, either might force
the reelection Of Senator Van Nuys
and cause the loss Of some local DEM
ocratic candidates, or else, through
the split, bring about the election Of q
Republican Senator with large num-
ben Of local Republican candidates.
It was, however. only because Sena-
tor Van Nuys insisted on running as
IN independent that the New Tories
here capitulated.
The purge" method has been car
ried on relentlessly, however. in other
States, with the possibility that the
protest vote will either be lined up
behind an independent candidate or
else forced over to the Republican side.
Anti Sentiment Modified.
It is difficult to see what the admin
istration has gained BY allowing pro
and anti administration issues to
be made part OF the primary
contests Of the various States. It only
serves to force to the surface and
mobilize more cohesively the anti
administration sentiment. The Gallup
polls show that, where there is 30
per cent Democratic split-off. the
Republicans can win substantial
number OF seats
Chairman Jim Farley, who has more
political sense than all the New Tories
combined, not excluding the President
himself. begged his associates not to
intervene in the party primaries. AS
a practical politician, he knew the
price that would have to be paid. He
knew, moreover, the history Of such
efforts and that. on the whole, they
had done far more harm than good.
The net result Of the whole purge"
idea is to begin a bitter internal fight
and make voters conscious Of the pro
and anti administration issues many
weeks in advance OF the November
elections, thus accentuating the split
In the Democratic party.
Wins Partial Victory.
To date the administration has sue
ceeded In getting the nominations for
its hand-picked choices in Oklahoma,
Kentucky and Ohio by substantial
margins, whereas the outcome in Ar
kansas. Idaho and Oregon was about
even up. The administration, more
over, suffered defeats in Indiana and
Missouri, where independent-min
Democrats have been nominated. And
1t remains to be seen whether Ohio,
Idaho and Oregon may not elect Re-
publican Senators after all.
In an off-year election, when party
harmony is more desirable than at any
other time because there is no top"