The Kennewick courier-reporter and the White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1938-1939, 1938-09-29
ECONOMIC H1GHL1GHTs


The Presidents purge" of recall
citrants in the Democratic Party
has been an almost complete failure.
That fact is now admitted by
friends as well as enmies of the
New Deal.
Every important Senator against
whom Mr.. Roosevelt spoke in his
recent sweep about the country has
been renominated-and in every
case a handsome margin. The
President was apparently especially
eager to get rid of Senators George,
Tydings and Smith, all Of whom
have opposed various White House
sponsored measures, including the
famous judicial reorganization bill.
Senator Smith won with hardly a
struggle. Senator George was re-
nominated easily over a field OF
three-and the Presidents candi-
date, Lawrence Camp, ran a poor
third. And Senator Tydings was
given an overwhelming accolade by
Maryland voters. sJ.=...-
Some men close to the White
House say that Mr.. Roosevelt was
not purposed-that he did not ex-
pect his purge would succeed, and
did not especially care, and that he
looks on it as being simply the OPEN
ing gun in long-pull struggle to
rid his party Of congressman whom
he feels are not liberal. This may
or may not be true. What is defin-
itely true is that the failure Of the
purge has tremendously weakened
Mr.. Roosevelt's political prestige
and authority.
Had the purge been success, Mr..
Roosevelt would have completely
dominated the next Democratic
convention. Ninety out Of q hun
bred delegates would have gone to
It with but one thing In mind-to
vote as the President wished. He
could have had himself renominat-
ed for third term or, had he not
wished that, dictated the choice OF
his successor. Now, however, there
seems to be at least an even chance
that the next Democratic conven-
ton, while 1t will not be anti Roose-
welt, win not be controlled by the
President. The unpurged senators
viii control large blocs OF voters.
They win have strong following
Of men who are resentful Of White
House dictation. Furthermore, the
fact that the purge has failed viii
undoubtedly encourage other con-
gressmen, who have been sitting on
the fence waiting to see how mat
tiers turned out. to bolt the traces.
In all probability, the next con-
eress win be far more independent
than the last three. It knows that
the voters are not willing to do
whatever the President desires. It
knows that opposition to White
House measures is not necessarily
q sure route to political oblivion.
Thus, it seems certain that the
country will shortly witness some
dramatic and stirring battles be-
tween the Executive and Legislative
branches Of the government.
In the meantime, considerable
speculation IS going the rounds con-
corning possible results Of the purge
on the Presidents official family.
It is known that Jim Farley was
opposed to It from the beginning
Mr.. Farley Is practical politician
Of great gifts and wants order and
peace within the party. The fact
that he left for Alaska and remov-
ed himself from the political fronts
during the Presidents tour IS con-
sidered extremely important in ex-
pert circles. Some say that the
President win have to make q
choice between keeping Mr.. Farley
or keeping his left wing advisors,
such as the famed team. Of Cohen
and Corc0ran. Dispassionate OBJ
servers tend to the view that Mr..