Evening star., 1938-08-12
The Challenge in Georgia.

.lhe challenge in Georgia.
The President has shown character
istic boldness in Georgia, cutting loose
from all subterfuge and coming out fiat
footed in favor of one OF three candi-
dates for the Democratic senatorial
omination-consigning the one of them
to graceless defeat, another one of them
to comfortable retirement, perhaps to
enjoy the leisure OF q gentleman and
scholar" and the third to victory as the
standard bearer Of true liberalism and
democracy.
OF the Presidents daring there is no
question. OF his political wisdom and
the propriety Of his action there is grave
question. The answer will be- furnished
by the voters Of Georgia next month,
with other voters in other States con-
tributing.
As President, Mr. Roosevelt has told
the voters OF Georgia whom to nominate
As President he has taken upon himself
the responsibility OF selecting not only
the man who measures up to the STAN
GARD of liberal democracy, but himself
has set the standard. And if the preced-
ent established in Georgia is followed
elsewhere in South Carolina and in
Maryland, particularly, the elections this
fall will become as important test of
the political wisdom and propriety of
presidential interference in State pri-
maries as 1t will of anything else.
Hitherto the President has sought to
show nice, II perhaps little too smart,
dent and his actions as head of the
Democratic party. AS President, he
said on June Is, he is not taking part
In Democratic primaries" AS head of
the Democratic party, he felt perfect
right to speak in those few instances"
where there is clear-cut issue between
candidates involving certain principles
Of liberalism and "a clear misuse of my
own name"
In Kentucky the President patted
both candidates on the back, but gave
the edge to Senator Barkley because of
his status as majority leader and his
Experience" But In Georgia the Presi-
dent, speaking as President ito carry
out my responsibility as President" de-
cides the primary election in favor of
Mr.. Lawrence Camp and against Sena-
tor George on the basis Of what consti-
tutes liberalism and the good of the
country. Senator Georges sixteen-year
service In the Senate, with the expert
ence" thus gathered, plays no part in
the matter. The trouble with Senator
George Is that he has not shown "a con-
slant active fighting attitude in favor
Of the broad objective of the party and
the Government as constituted today
and 'in his heart" he does not believe
in the objectives.
Senator George was against the court
bill. He was against the wage-hour
BILL He was against the reorganization
bill. He was against the Wagner Hous-
Ing Act. His record in the Senate
during the New Deal shows him sup
porting practically all other administra-
ton measures from the beginning. But
he apparently did not fight for them
vigorously, did not "in his heart" be-
heve in them. And by such standards,
chosen by the President, he does not
measure up to the sort of man .the
people Of Georgia should send to the
Senate.
Political tradition argues that the
Presidents speech in Georgia will help
Senator George rather than hurt him.
Voters in the States are Jealous OF their
prerogatives in choosing their own rep
resentatives Senator George is wise in
his dignified acceptance Of the chal-
lenge. For 1t is a challenge. not only
to Georgians but to the voters of every
State In the Union.