Evening star., 1938-01-21
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

"sssSSA w oASNSVN CAACAAoCAvOC- WAAA
reelection this year-all they had to do
was to support the President and his
program. 1t was implied that If Sena-
tors were good" then they might ride
along without worry about their own
future. For some Of these good" Sena-
tors, however. there has been q sad
awakening. Take, for example, Sena-
tors Barkley Of Kentucky, Dieterich Of
Illinois, McAdoo Of California and Berry
OF Tennessee. These gentlemen, who
have gone down the line for the admins
tration and its policies, already have other
Democrats swapping at their heels There
are indications that other administra-
tion supporters will have their troubles,
too, before the primaries are all over.
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What is the administration going to
do? Is 1t going to throw its influence
behind its supporters In Kentucky, Illi-
nois and other States-or Is 1t to keep
hands of and let the chips fall as they
will in the Democratic primaries? If it
follows the latter course, other Demo-
cratic Senators will have to revise their
estimates, will have to think Of their
own political fences rather than what the
administration may want them to do.
The case Of Senator Barkley, Demo-
cratic leader of the Senate since the
death Of Senator Joe Robinson of Ar
kansas. is one Of those unhappy things
that crop up in politics. A short time
ago, 1t looked as though his renomina-
ton and reelection to the Senate were
as certain as death and taxes. He had
been chosen leader Of the Senate, very
much with the approval of the White
House. He was discussed widely Is a
possible candidate for President in 1910.
Now he has ambitious and youthful
Gov. Happy" Chandler, on his trail.
Furthermore, because he is leader of tho
majority In the Senate and has direction
OF legislation, he Is charged with trying
to engineer through the upper House
the anti-lynching bill Kentucky is q
border State, but at the same time many
OF Its citizens feel very much as do their
neighbors in the Southern States about
the anti-lynching bill. Any apparent
support which he may give to that meas
ure may cut into the Barkley strength.
~
Gov. Chandler has not vet formally
announced his intention Of running for
Senator-but he has shown every indi-
cation OF doing SO. In some qua. tiers it
Is believed that Mr.. Chandler is throw
ing bluff and that he will not finally
go up against the Democratic leader OF
the Senate, with . record of Is years in
the House and Senate back Of him, not
to mention the support of the admin
1stration. If Gov. Chandler is to be q
candidate, 1t is expected he will an
nounce before long. although he could file
as late rs the middle Of June. The opin-
Ion OF observers is that while the fight
would be hot, Barkley would be the win
ner IN the primary in August.
y 4 y \
Senator Dieterich, who recently an
nounced he would be candidate to sue
ceed himself. Is on hot spot due to fac
tlonal d1nerences among the Democrats
IN Illinois. Gov Horner is strongly op-
posed to him. The Kelly-Nash organi-
zation in Cook County (Chicago) is fear
ful OF supporting Senator Dieterich, be-
Heving his candidacy would tear the
party wide open. The organization has
onered Michael L. Igoe, United States
attorney, as compromise candidate. It
Is up to Gov. Horner to say whether he
Will 60 along. Mr.. Kelly, the Mayor of
Chicago, wants to run to succeed him.
sell next year. Gov. Horner, on the
other hand, is determined to support
Prosecuting Attorney Courtney for
Mayor. II taking Mr.. 1goe for Senator
means leSsening the chances of Mr..
Courtney, the Governor, 1t is said, will
never agree. He has a candidate of his
own for Senator.
Senator Dteterich, Mayor Kelly and
Mr.. Nash. the Democratic national COM
mitteeman, insist Mr.. Courtney could not
be reelected. If he were nominated
they fear that at least four downstate
democratic Congress seats would 20 by
the board also. Gov. Horner is Just as
conndent that Senator Dieterich could
not be . winner, and it is indicated
ne would do all in his power to beat
him. It has developed into something
OF Nazi-anti-Nazi row. Unless there
Is some degree Of harmony and agree
ment brought about among the Demo-
Gratis In Illinois, the Republicans might
nave chance Of regaining the State.
POSSIBLY the administration may take
care OF Senator Dieterich by appoint-
ment to Federal office.
~
When Gov. Harry A. Moore appointed
John Milton, right-hand man of Mayor
Frank Hague of Jersey City and vice
chairman OF the Democratic National
committee, to succeed himself as United
states Senator, he stirred up Labor's Nom
Partisan League and others, particularly
the friends Of the c. I. O. It is doubt
lu4 however. that any serious effort will
be made to keep Mr.. Milton from taking
his seat In the Senate. Senator Berry
OF Tennessee, who was head of Labor's
Non-PartiSan League before he entered
the Senate as Democrat to succeed the
late Senator Bachman. disclaims any
knowledge Of an effort to prevent the
seating Of Mr.. Milton. The Senate is
the sole Judge Of the qualifications of
Its members. It could, If it so desired
ask MIR. Milton to stand aside when he
appears next Monday to take the oath
OF ONCE until committee, presumably
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions, investigates.
Gov. Moore retired from the Senate
to become Governor. He has a host nj
friends In the Senate, and an appointee
OF his would be given every considera-
tion, 1t Is believed. However, the fierce
fight which Mayor Hague Is making
against the G. I. O. in Jersey CITY has
reused much resentment in some Quar-
ters. If the issue were projected into
the Senate, 1t would be a Spectacular
contest, to say the least-if the merits
the floor. N'0 W
Frank Hague's prominence in the
democratic party, in addition to his
being the Democratic boss of New Jer-
sey as well as of his own particular
Dalhw1ck, has brought the fight over