Evening star., 1938-07-02
The Political Mill
Harrison's Backing by State Committee Hints That
Roosevelt's Purge May Fail.

the presidential nomination. He viii
control the Indiana delegation like no.
body's business Suppose the President
and the New Deal inner circle do not
wish MIR. McNutt nominated? Then
the Indiana delegation win make cause.
in all probability, with other hostile
delegations. McNutt,s most intimate
friends and supporters say he will be
candidate for the nomination against
any New Dealer put forward by the
President-that the only candidate he
will not oppose is the President him.
self II MIR. Roosevelt allows his name
to go before the convention.
New York May Slip.
In New York, the Presidents own
State. there is an element in the DEM
ocratic party which might not go along
with the kind Of candidate which the
President and his advisers pick. This
Is particularly true II Gov. Lehman
becomes Senator, as he now seeks to
do. If the New Dealers try to run
Representative John O'Connor out of
the House and fail. he and other Tam
many members Of the delegation in the
House may be difficult to handle.
New Jersey. neighboring State, with
q large delegation In the national con-
vention, has its Frank Hague. Mayor
OF Jersey City and Democratic boss
of the State, not to mention its Gov.
Harry Moore. These gentlemen will
control the Democratic delegation
beyond doubt. The President in his
recent fireside chat took q crack at
Mr.. Hague and the tactics which he
has employed against the Committee
OF Industrial Organization in Jersey
City. 1t Is likely the Mayor will do
the Presidents bidding when It comes
to nominating . presidential can
didate.
Possibly the New Dealers are seeing
things at night when they fear that
the forces which they term reaction
ary. or at least hostile. in the Demo-
cratic party will be able to control
the next Democratic National Con-
vention. But they are at present In
tent, If they can do 50. upon prevent
ing any such happening It Is their
main reason for seeking the purge"
Of the party.
Risks Purge Failure.
II the purge" does not work-if
the Smiths. the Tydings, the Georges,
the Coxes, the Summers, and all the
rest OF the Senators and Representa-
tiyes for whom the New Dealers are
cunning, are returned to Congress
then, indeed, the New Dealers will
be worried
A big test Of the presidential power
to dominate party primaries comes
In Kentucky on August 6. when Sena-
tor Barkley, indorsed by the Presi-
dent for denomination, goes to the
mat with Gov. Happy" Chandler.
Chandler is no anti-New Dealer-he
merely wants the place held now by
Barkley. But a Chandler victory
would be interpreted as a blow at
the administration. A Barkley VIC
tory will give the New Dealer "purg-
ers' great encouragement. The con-
test has become symbolic. II the ed
ministration loses in this contest, 1t
may draw in its horns and be very
careful about what other primary con-
tests 1t enters.
Even earlier, IN Oklahoma where
the primary takes place July IL the
administration will have q chance
to show what it can do. There it is
supporting Senator Elmer Thomas for
denomination and the night has been
dubbed . New Deal and anti New
Deal contest. Virginia's primary
takes place August 2 and there some
New Dealers are seeking the scalp
OF Representative Howard w. Smith
because Of his opposition, as men,
Der OF the rules committee, to several
administration measures.