Evening star., 1938-06-09
NEW DEAL s FOES
UN|TEDBY PURGE
Seven Court Bill Opponents
Face Voters This Year
in Senate Fights.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Administration efforts to rid Con-
gress of unfriendly Democrats-no
matter what the outcome at the polls
may unite the Roosevelt forces in
the 1889 session even more closely.
Many Of the Senate foes of the court
bill and other Presidential measures do
not come up for reelection this year
They will serve as the nucleus of the
anti-administration group in the new
Congress.
These men already have demon
strated on two occasions that they
would aid Democratic colleagues who
face administration opposition in their
denomination campaigns.
Leaders of the group, such as Sem
ators Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana,
and Burke, Democrat, of Nebraska,
rallied quickly to the aid of Senator
Gillette, Democrat, of Iowa, when w.
p A. Administrator Hopkins indorsed
his principal opponent.
Van Nuys Independent.
A few weeks earlier they had pledged
campaign assistance to Senator Van
Nuys, Democrat, of Indiana, another
court bill foe, who will run as an in
dependent because Indiana Demo-
cratic chieftains decided to deny him
place on their ticket
Senator Wheeler, Senator Burke and
others of their associates interpreted
Senator Gillette's primary victory as
evidence that indirect administration
opposition would not necessarily turn
voters against Senators who fight
some White House measures.
Seven Democratic opponents of the
court bill, besides Senator Gillette, are
seeking denomination to the Senate
this year. Members of the anti-admin-
istration bloc predicted a good chance
Of success for a majority of them. y
Legislators who believe the party
split cannot be narrowed by any No
vember election developments adopted
this reasoning:
If most of the anti-administration
Senators win, they will feel even more
at Liberty to oppose the Presidents
recommendations. II most of them
lose, their holdover associates will seek
to carry on the opposition more vigor-
ously than ever.
Five to Run in Primaries.
Senator Gillette is the only one of
the Democratic court bill foes who has
been in a primary to date. The ques-
ton of Senator Van Nuys' renomina-
tion will come up formally at the In
diana Democratic convention July H.
IL. Another of the group, Senator
Lonergan Of Connecticut, will be up
for denomination in q convention in
September
These five will run in primaries:
Clark of Missouri, August 2; Smith OF
South Carolina, August 80; McCarran
Of Nevada, September 6; Tydings of
Maryland, September IL; George of
Georgia. September IA.
Senators Tydings, George and Smith
already have opposition which appears
to have administration backing.
Reports were current here that Post
master General Farley, who thus far
has rather frowned on the party
purge" policy of some of Mr.. Roose-
velts advisers, might display a Nindly
attitude toward Representative David
j. Lewis of Maryland, who is out
against Senator Tydings, and to Dis
trfct Attorney Lawrence Camp of At
!anta, who Is opposing Senator George.
Neither Senator George nor Senator
Iydings would comment on the re-
ports, except to say they would await
developments.
Johnston Opposes Smith.
Senator Smiths New Deal opponent
Is Gov. Olin D. Johnston of South
Carolina. who announced his can
didacy Immediately after a visit with
President Roosevelt.
Senator Lonergan has no announced
opposition so far. Senator Clark has
four opponents, including Willis H.
Meredith, former speaker of the Mis-
souri, House, and Joseph T. Davis, st.
LOUIS attorney, who are New Deal sup
porters.
Senator McCarran is opposed by
candidates pledging support to the
President, but how strenuous contest
he faces remains to be seen.
movement to aid the reelection Of
liberal Senators regardless of party
lines was seen by some informed per-
sons in the Endorsement by Senator
Norris, independent, of Nebraska of
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota. Senator Norris has been
closely allied with the President, but
he said he had not consulted admins
tration officials before backing Senator
Nye.
The latter, opposed for denomination
by Gov. William Langer, previously
had been indorsed by Senator Bone,
Democrat, of Washington, who is as
strong q supporter of the President
as Senator Norris.