Evening star., 1938-06-07
Iowa
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
support Of his colleague, Senator Clyde
Herring, Democratic national commit
teeman for Iowa. The Gillette support
was too much for the outlanders to
overcome, even though the weight of
the relief administrator, Hopkins, was
thrown in favor of Representative
Wearin. There are $500 w. p. A..
workers in Iowa.
The strong. silent man in this con-
test was Henry A. Wallace, Secretary
OF Agriculture. Mr.. Wallace, outstand-
ing Iowan in the New Deal galaxy, de-
clined to take stand for Mr.. wearin,
despite pressure brought to bear upon
him from administration sources. His
very silence gave encouragement to
the Wearin forces. The Secretary of
Agriculture is reported to have presi-
dental aspirations in 1940 1t remains
to be seen whether he has injured or
helped his chances by his failure to do
the White House bidding in this mat
ter.
The victory of Senator Gillette may
have its effect upon the administra-
tion's legislative program. Just as the
victory of Senator Pepper in Florida
on May 3 gave impetus to the wage
hour bill and saw it through the
House in big way, the Gillette VIC
tory may stiffen the backbone of the
opponents of the measure which is
now in conference between the Senate
and the House. Last year, when the
swage-hour bill was before the Senate,
Senator Gillette voted against it.
The wage-hour bill Is not popular
with the farmers and Iowa is one of
the great agricultural States of the
Union
Senator Gillette did not put himself
forward as an anti-RooSevelt candi-
date for the Democratic nomination.
Far from it. He insisted that he be-
lieved in the President, believed the
Presidents declaration he was neutral
in the contest. Obviously this was
good tactics. No matter how much
the President might work against
Senator Gillette in secret. unless the
President made some direct open
statement for Representative Wearin
and against Senator Gillette, there
was was no convincing way of attack
ing Senator Gillette's contention that
the President was keeping hands of.
Representative Wearin did all he
could to make it appear that he had
the presidential blessing He an
nounced his candidacy originally after
a visit to the White House and claimed
administration support. He made the
most of statement given the press
by Harry L. Hopkins. w. p. A. admin
istrator, in which Mr.. Hopkins said
If I could vote in Iowa, would vote
for Mr.. Wearin on his record" He
gave wide publicity to a telegram sent
last week by James Roosevelt to a
Federal ofAce holder in Iowa in which
the son of the President referred to
MY friend, Otha Wearin"
Hopkins Statement Resented.
The Hopkins statement caused great
resentment III the Senate Charges
were made by Senator Wheeler and
other Democrats who have opposed
parts Of the Presidents program that
the relief organization was being
prostituted for political purposes. Ap-
parently the Hopkins statement was
no real aid to Mr.. Wearin in Iowa,
either.
The victory Of Senator Gillette gave
hope and renewed confidence to Sem
ators Adams Of Colorado, Clark Of
Wyoming, George Of Georgia, Loner-
gan OF Connecticut. McCarran of, Me-
vada, Smith of South Carolina, Tyd-
ings Of Maryland and Van Nuys of In
diana All Of these Democratic gentle-
men are up for denomination this
year. and all Of them either openly
opposed the Presidents court bill or
were counted against 1t In the final
analysis. In nearly every instance,
New Deal candidates. describing Them
selves as 100 pen cent Roosevelt fol-
lowers, have entered the lists against
these Senator'S So far no serious con-
tender has come forward against Sem
ator Clark or Senator LOnergan.
The contest between Senator oil-i