Evening star., 1938-06-05
SENATOR BERRY
BACKS GILLETTE
ON PRIMARY EVE
Indorseri of Wearin's Rival
Held Until Recently to Be
Staunch New Dealer.
FOES DISPUTE VIEWS
OF PRESIDENT ON FIGHT
Harmony Statement Hit as Plan
to Imply White House Is
Neutral in Contest.

BACKGROUND
Senator Gillette Is opposed bv
Otild D. Wedrin in the IotDa Demo-
cratic Senate race. Harry L. Hop
ktns' remark that he iDould be for
Mr.. Wearin II he .poted In Io,pa
brought the Ne,o Deal into picture.
James Roosevelt referred to Mr..
Wearin as my friend" in telegram.
BY the Associated Press.
DES MONIES, Iowa, June 4.-Iowa,s
Democratic senatorial primary CAM
paign ragged into its waning hours
tonight with both the Wearin and
Gillette camps insisting on conflicting
versions Of President Roosevelt,s views
Of the contest.
Meanwhile A. A. Couch, president of
the Iowa State Federation of Labor.
made public telegram from Senator
George L. Berry of Tennessee indors-
ing Senator Gillette. Mr.. Couch pre-
viously had issued statement sup
porting the incumbent.
until, recently, Senator Berry had
been considered New Deal stall
wart. One Of the motivating infiu-
ences in forming labor's Non-Parti-
san League, staunch supporter of
the administration. he later was
appointed to succeed the late SEN
ator Bachmann at the request of
President Roosevelt. During Senate
debate on the work relief bill, how
ever, he voted against the admin
istration in favoring the Hatch
amendment to restrict political
activity by w. p. A. administrative
employes.)
Wearin Hits Statement.
Asked for his opinion on "har-
mony" statement written by Senator
Clyde L. Herring. Democrat, Of Iowa,
to solidify the party behind the win
ner, Representative Otha D. Wearin
asserted:
1T is perfectly obvious that the i'm
plication in the proposed peace pact
Is to make the people think the Presi-
dent had withdrawn his support from
my cause"
In Washington today Senator Her
ring said he had hoped the state
ment would unite Mr.. Wearin and
Senator Guy Gillette, senatorial pri-
mary antagonists. after the voters Sc
lect nominee at the polls Monday.
Mr.. Wearin refused to sign the pro-
posal. Senator Herring added.
Mr.. Gillette earlier today had an
nounced that he would support the
winner in the fall.
Eicher Assails Pact.
Representative E. c. Eicher, Demo-
crat, Of Iowa, several days ago issued
statement denying what he said was
report that President Roosevelt had
suggested the peace pact. He ex-
pressed surprise" over the claim that
the President had given any such in
dication of neutrality"
Mr.. Gillette, an anti-court plan
Democrat, and Mr.. Wearin, called my
friend" by James Roosevelt, son of the
President, are two Of the five candI-
dates seeking the senatorial nomina-
tion. Mr.. Wearin has been indorsed
by w. p. A. Chief Harry L. Hopkins
Representative Wearin has been
outspoken in his claims OF presidential
support throughout the campaign.
Senator Gillette insists the President
is neutral. Representative Wearin
says the party needs loyal admin
istration Senator" in Senator Gill
lette's place in Washington. The In
cumhent says he is intensely loyal"
to the President, but has added that
ANY one who is either 100 per cent
for or against the New Deal either is
blindly partisan or lacks informa-
ton"
Republican Race Quiet.
The issue has split the Iowa Demo-
cratic party, ruler of tall-corn politics
since the New Deal sweep of 1892,
from its Federal patronage sources
down into the Statehouse.
Meanwhile quiet Republican sena-
torial race drew to close with most
Of the last-minute G. o. p. missiles
aimed at the quarreling Democratic
contestants. Aside from an OCCASION
al barb directed at Representative
Lloyd Thurston for supporting some
New Deal measures, former Senator
l.. j. Dickinson has centered most of
(see IOWA, Page A-4.)