Evening star., 1938-09-18
Squaring Away.


enters new phase. Party primaries
end this week. The nominations for
Senate and House all will have been
completed. For weeks and months the
Republicans have chuckled as the Demo-
Gratis fought among themselves. The
attempts of President Roosevelt to
purge his party of the Tydings the
Smiths and the Georges-and his fail
ure-have brought broad smiles to Re-
publican countenances.
From now until November 8, election
Gay, the Republicans must play active
parts, leaving their choice seats on the
side lines of the primary contests among
the Democrats. They must decide, among
other things, whether they will cast
their votes for the anti-administration
Democratic members of Congress-for
1ydings in Maryland, for Clark in Mis-
souri,, for Van Nuys in Indiana and for
O'Connor in New York, for example.
Earlier in the year, such coalition"
was warmly advocated by some of the
Republicans.
The warmth of feeling for these anti
administration Democrats, however. has
faded as the months have passed and
the G. o. P. has put forward candidates
OF its own to oppose them. Even now.
however, many Republicans will think
kindly of these independent Democratic
spirits who opposed the Presidents court
and reorganization bills and other meas
ures. They may even go to the length
OF voting for them.
The congressional primary elections
have settled the question as to whether
conservative Democrats It those who
would not 60 along 100 per cent with
the President-were to be eliminated,
They are not-not now, at least. They
have been renominated, while some of
the pets of the White House have fallen
by the wayside, as for example, Repre-
sentative Maury Maverick of Texas. Sen
ator Pope of Idaho and Senator McAdoo
OF California. That, perhaps, is to be
the most important contribution made
by the elections of 1888 For it has been
determined that the voters in MANY
States in all parts of the country are not
to be dictated to by President Roosevelt
or by any one else as to their nominees
for the national legislature.
The general elections in November
however, may well determine the future
OF the Republican party. If the G. o. P.
makes good showing, the party may
revive. 1t may even find a candidate for
the presidential nomination in 1910 who
Will command the respect and support of
great mass of the people. It is ex-
ceedingly important for the welfare of
the country that the minority party be
revived. One party dominating and die
tating does not make for good govern
ment, whether the party in power be
Republican or Democratic.
AS things now stand, the Republicans
appear to have real chances to make
some gains in the Senate and many more
in the House, though not enough to take
command in either house. Much will de-
pend upon the extent to which the DEM
ocrats are able to heal the wounds caused
by bitter primary contests. Much more
will depend upon the extent of influence
OF Federal spending on the electorate be-
tween now and November g. The admin
1stration is pouring hundreds of millions
OF dollars into the States. That kind of
thing was effective in 1884 and 1896. 1t
may we'll be effective in 1888.
On the other hand, the poor have been
getting poorer in this country, notwith-
standing the temporary relief accorded
by Government doles of one kind or an
other. And some of the people have been
getting richer, and they are not by any
means the economic royalists," so
dubbed by the President. The taxes
which have been taken in huge handfuls
from the great middle class of the people
have been spent ineffectively, so far as
permanent recovery is concerned. The
workers and the farmers are beginning
to waken to that fact.