Evening star., 1938-12-15
The Political Mill
Roosevelt Urged to Woo Conservatives
Back Into Democratic Party

vi dIo VIII ldlicu 10 support Au OF
the Roosevelt measures; out of dis
taste for the close manner in which
the G. I. o. has been associated
with the administration. The pro-
test votes were cast by Democrats
and independent voters-and, Of
course, by Republicans.
Unless steps are taken to close
Democratic ranks, these leaders are
fearful that Republican victory may
follow in 1910. That is what they
are trying to make the President
understand. They figure that it
would be comparatively easy mat
ter for the President to restore the
desired harmony-and they figure,
too, that it would be easiest thing
in the world for the President to
drive wedge deeper and deeper
into the Democratic party with dis
astrous results. They believe that
the Democratic party can go right
ahead and win-as the liberal party
of the country-provided the Presi-
dent will take steps to WOO back
into line the conservatives and the
independents.
Showed Power in South.
The conservative wing of the DEM
ocratic party demonstrated clearly
its power in the South-upon which
the party has had to rely always
for victory. If the President and
some of his advisers have any idea
that they can get along and win in
1910 without the support Of the
South they are likely to be disap-
pointed-particularly after the show
ing made by the New Dealers in
such States as Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania. During the primary elections
efforts to purge" Democratic Sena-
tors and Representatives in the
South failed miserably, even though
the President himself undertook to
deliver the dose.
|. In the coming Congress most OF
the key positions in both House and
Senate are held by Southern Demo-
Gratis. Speaker Bankhead halls from
Alabama, Vice President Garner
and Majority Leader of the House
4eoy IL Al oAAA L 1CAoS, dllo llIdlly VI
the chairmen of the most important
completes also are from the South.
For example, Harrison of Mississippi
heads the Senate Finance Commit
tee and Glass of Virginia the Ap-
preparations Committee; Doughton
of North Carolina is chairman of
the House Ways and Means Com
mittee. Many Of these men have
gone along with the Roosevelt New
Deal. but none of them relish the
purge" idea directed at their Sec
ton Of the country particularly.
None of them like the Presidents
ideas regarding the abolishment Of
poll taxes in the Southern States
or the big play the New Deal has
made to the Negro population.
Watch Appointments.
The appointments made to high
ohice-the President has vacancies
to fill in his cabinet and the Su-
preme Court and other high places
will be watched with the keenst
interest to see whether the Presi-
dent is relenting in any degree
toward the wing of his party which
has been unwilling to 60 along 100
per cent.
Democratic leaders now here In
Washington are talking of nominat-
ing for President in 1910 q middle
of-the-road Democrats Democrat
who stands somewhere between Har-
ry L. Hopkins, w. P. A. administra-
tor, and Senator Tydings of Mary
land or Senator Burke of Nebraska,
for example. They are not quite
clear who that Democrat should be.
In the cabinet there are only two
who might qualify-Secretary Cor
dell Hull of the State Department
and Postmaster General James A.
Farley. Senator Barkley of Ken