Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1938-09-08

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

WASHINGTON.-It has been
matter of frequent reference among
observers how President Roose-
velt's supporters or subordinates, or
spokesman for him, have caught the
brunt of opposition criticism. Mr..
Roosevelt personally has been un-
der the direct fire of his enemies
on only two occasions. He played
his political cards so that, when
some plan blew up, it 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 it ,cas 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 Uhich the storm CEN
tered about Mr.. Rooseuelts o,Un
head. 1t is likely to be the mosr
farTeaching in its result. The
Roosevelt prestige is bound to
be damaged whether he wins or.
loses iOhen the score finally is
totaled, and, as far as can be
seen no,U, he will not be able to
avoid IL.
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-
bic in such an attempt. 1t was not
long before the germs were grow
ing. Mr.. Roosevelt's pat on the
back for Senator Buckley of Ohio,
and his bold omnand 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, 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 Nc 4doo,
Face Slap for O'Connor
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 liberal"
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