The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-09-09
Presidents Supporters Catch
Brunt Of Opposition Criticism
Roosevelt Personally Under Direct Fire of Enemies Only
Twice; Interference in State Primaries Now Subject
of Bitter Controversy; Prestige Will Be Hurt.
BY WILLIAM BRUCKART
wNU Service, National Press Bldg, washington D. O.

velt's supporters or subordinates, or
spokesman for him, have caught the
brunt of opposition criticism. Mr..
Roosevelt personally has been UNI
der the direct fire of his enemies
on only two occasions. He played
his political cards so that, when
some plan blew UP, II was some
subordinate or supporter whose
neck was found out too far. The
President, Of course, found himself
as the target when he proposed
packing the Supreme court with six
additional justices of his own choos-
ing and when he sought reorganiza-
ton of the government, but, general
ly speaking, the Roosevelt prestige
has avoided damage, until now.
Which brings us to the bitter
controversy oUer presidential in
reference in state primaries, and
the second stage-Mr. ROosevelfs
declaration that IL sUas a viola
ton of public morality for Re-
publicans to enter Democratic
primary. This controversy is the
most heated and has the broad
est implications Of any Of the
three in which the storm GEN.
tered about Mr.. Roosevelt's DUN
head. 1t is likely to be the most
tar-reaching in its result. The
Roosevelt prestige is bound to
be damaged whether he wins or
loses when the score finally is
totaled, and, as far as can be
seen no,u, he will not be able to
aUoid it.
I remember having written, when
the President made his cross-coun-
try trip in the dual capacity of Pres
ident and head of the Democratic
party, that it appeared difficult to
disassociate the two capacities. I
predicted at that time, two months
ago, that there were germs of trou-
BILE in such an attempt. It was not
long before the germs were grow
ing. Mr.. Roosevelt's pat on the
back for Senator Buckley of Ohio,
and his bold command to the Demo-
cratic voters of Kentucky to send
Sen. "Dear Alben" Barley back to
the senate brought a shower Of ripe
verbal eggs onto the head of either
the President or the head Of the
Democratic party. I did not know
which personality was naming the
favorite Democratic candidate in the
primaries then, nor do yet know.
From all Of the information from
those states since, I gather that the
voters in the primaries did not know
whether they were voting to sup
port the President of the United
States or the head of the Democrat
ic party.
Pat on Back for McAdoo,
Face Slap for OConnor
Then, on to the Middle West and
the Far West, the pat on the back
for Senator McAdoo, who has oppo-
sition for the Democratic senatorial
nomination in California; and, next,
in Georgia where Mr.. Roosevelt ut
tered the now famous God bless,
you, Walter-but you're no iberap'
to Senator George, to be followed
by a direct endorsement of Law
renee Camp for the senatorial NOM
ination against Mr.. George. Later,
Mr.. Roosevelt gave vicious politi-
cal slap in the face to Rep. John
O'Connor, in New York, and at
tackled Senator Tydings in Maryland
by saying that Representative Da-
vey Lewis ought to have the Demo-
cratic nomination.
In addition to these direct inter-
ferences in state primaries, Mr..
Roosevelt's subordinates-men like
Relief Administrator Hopkins and
Secretary Ickes-horned into prima-
ries in Iowa, Oregon, Idaho and else
where. They were well licked in
Iowa and Idaho, and it was the re-
suit in the latter state that has
brought up the second stage of the
controversy.
Idaho's Senator Pope used to say
that if any constituent wanted to
know his position on a given ques-
ton, it was necessary only to in
quire whether the President was for
or against it. Apparently, the vot-
ers in Idaho did not like that; they
preferred a senator to vote their
views rather than one who consist
emily voted the Presidents view.
Anyway, they nominated Represent
alive Clark, in their Democratic pri-
mary. He had something in ex-
cess of $500 more votes than Mr..
Pope.
The licking administered to SEN
ator Pope did not taste well to the
President or the coterie of New Deal
advisors. Senator Pope obviously
did not like it either, and he did the
childish thing of emitting loud and
noxious squawk that the nomination
was taken from him by Republi-
cans. He said they went into the
Democratic primary and gave Rep
resentative Clark their votes in suf-
fcient number to override the will
of majority of the Democrats in
the state. Senator Pope went to
Hyde Park, N. Y, to weep out his
STORY m, fho choi,IdarS If Mr. noo~>