Evening star., 1938-02-06

\N/ the coming political year-the
contests in which third of the
Senate and all the House will seek re-
nomination and reelection. With very
few exceptions, all will be candidates to
succeed themselves. A few will retire
voluntarily The present article is con-
fined to the 27 Democratic Senators who
will come up for reelection.
Already, new candidates are being an
nounced. Rarely if ever has the political
year begun so early-and the early activity
is caused by the dramatic Importance of
the issues
The issues come down mainly to one
1t has to do with the Democratic party
and President Roosevelt To state this
issue simply, We should divide the Demo-
cratic Senator'S into two groups. One
is the thlck-and-thin New Deal Demo-
Gratis, those who habltually support Mr.
RooseVelt-those to whom Mr. Roosevelt's
wish is the principal justification for their
votes in the Senate. The other group
consists of those Democratic Senators who
practice some degree Of independence
who to some degree make distinction
between Democrat and New Deal"
and who adhere to Democratic tradition
when Democratic tradition is in conflict
with New Deal innovations.
Cleavage Touches Voters.
These are two distinct groups of SEN
ators. The cleavage between them runs
through the House also, and down to
the body OF Democratic voters. And the
question which the coming year will de-
eide is, which of these two groups Will
have most success in the Democratic
primaries?
II the primaries are prevailingly Won
by New Deal Democrats, If they prevail
lngly win denomination and reelection
IN that event Mr.. Roosevelt Will continue
to dominate the party. He Will dominate
until two years later. at least And he
will IN that year, 1910. dominate the
Democratic National Convention and name
the next Democratic nominee for the
presidency whether Mr.. Roosevelt him.
self or some one whom he chooses.
On the other hand, if the traditional
H4N'AAAihLS4N VIII VIC Gl uIGIl6S,
II they succeed easily in getting renomina-
tlon and re-election-in that event it
Is the traditional Democrats who will
dominate the party, dominate the national
convention in 1910, and determine who
shall be the Democratic nominee for
the presidency. In that event. Mr.. Roose-
welt Will retire from Office and largely re-
tire from power. Yet, even if the tradi-
tlonal Democrats win this years primaries
and determine the next presidential nomi-
nee, 1t is doubtful if they Will nominate anv
one directly hostile to MIR. Roosevelt.
They would nominate some one who is
not New Dealer, but who at the same
time is not clearly repugnant to Mr..
Roosevelt. Even if the traditional Demo-
Gratis bring an end to the New Deal.
they Will try to keep Mr.. Roosevelts tacit
goodwill.
Primaries Begin in April.
The primaries in which this struggle
will be fought out begin in April. They
continue, in the various States. through
the spring and summer. until late Sep
tember. 1.-TWO important States, Indiana
and Connecticut, retain the old convention
system, and senatorial candidates are
named by that process) The dates of
the primaries in some of the more i'm
portant States in which Senators are
to be nominated are:
Illinois, April IL. Nevada, Septem-
Indiana May 3. ber 6.
South Dakota, Maryland, September
May 3. 8 to IS.
Pennsylvania, New Hampshire,
May II. September 49,
Iowa. June 6. Washington, Sep
Florida. May 8. tember 49,
North Dakota, Utah, September l3.
June 28. Arizona, Septem-
Oklahoma, July -, ber 49,
Missouri, August 2. Colorado, Septem-
Kansas, August 2. Der l3.
Tennessee, August 4. Georgia, Sep
Kentucky, August 6. tember g.
Ohio, August 9. New York, Sep
Idaho, August 9. tember 20.
Arkansas August 9. Wisconsin, Sep
South Carolina, tember 20.
August 80.
California,
August 80.
The outcome of those primaries will be