Evening star., 1938-08-28

Charles Nicholson.
stand-bys in Boston are a unit in urg-
ing the Democrats of Maryland to re-
nominate Senator Millard Tydings
1t is theory, but only a theory
in certain States, that when a voter
enrolls in one particular national
party he commits himself to support
the nominees of that party. The Re-
publican national committeeman of
Georgia, whose political Importance
is equal to the military eminence OF
colonel on governors staff, last
week gravely advised the minority
party in that State to 60 into the
Democratic primaties and plump for
Senator George When Committee
man Arnold was himself the Repub-
lican candidate for Senator from that
State he polled something like per
cent OF the total vote.
Altruism In the G. o. P.
OF course. the Republicans are actu-
ated only by the highest patriotic
purposes in butting into Democratic
family jars. They generously feel
that the ma ajority party cannot solve
its own problems. so with rare al
truism they are intervening.
The insignificant Republican vote
in Georgia cannot affect the outcome
of the Democratic primary. but it
shows where the hearts of those whose
natural desire it is to make trouble
for the present administration lie.
They see their only hope of bringing
back the old regime OF the Hoover
period lies in discredting the present
government and the tacit perjury
involved in voting in a Democratic
primary is not going to interfere with
their holy purpose
Out in Idaho 10000 Republican
votes did compass the defeat OF Sem
ator Pope. Now I wonder how many
Of this number will vote in the cleo
ton for Congressman Clark, the sue
cessful candidate for the senatorial
nomination?
am told that the same process Is
being employed in Maryland to pre-
vent David Lewis from taking the
nomination away from Senator Tyd-
ings, and again am moved to specu-
lating on how many of those of the
reactionary brotherhood will support
the Senator in the event of his get
ting the nomination as against their
own candidate for the senatorship?
II I were discussing people OF less
altruistic instincts and purposes than
the Republican high command. I
might even wonder If so obllque a
strategy as conniving in setting up
somebody they might hope to beat,
were one Of the motives for the de-
parture?
There Is no disguise Of the employ
ment of the expediency of tempo
rarily shifting sides to influence DEM
ocratic primaries. Such consistent
Republican propagandists as Mark
Sullivan and David Lawrence openly
admire the process in their newspaper
columns. They call it coalition
That is likewise the term employed
by Senator neutrality-suspicious.
hopeful-in discussing the problems
of his party. Frank Knox, with
possibly some of the candidatorial
virus still working in his veins, pro-
claimed it in Illinois.
All of these people are horrified at
the idea of President Of the United
States attempting to influence his
own party in its selection Of candi
dates for legislative posts. where they
will determine on the worth Of ma
tional policies. But they sincerely
approve of Republicans obtruding into
Democratic family rows, with \ SIM
liar purpose. 1t might seem to
person of ordinary balance that the
head of party had at least as much
right to be concerned with the actions
of that party as have those who
are going to fight the Democratic
candidate on election day.
What do you think would be the
viewpoint OF these valiant spokes-
men Of the G. o. P. should the Demo-
Gratis undertake the same method of
pre-primary campaigning in States
where Republican has a chance?
Their indignant shrieks would shatter
the universe, with the charge that
President Roosevelt was not only
attempting to dominate his own party,
but was trying to boss the Repub-
licans as we'll incidentally, is 1t
possible that somebody might recall
the incident of Senator Foraker of
Ohio whose scalp another Roosevelt
in the White House went after-and
got?
The Republican strategy is, after
all, only the counsel of despair. They
know they have no chance to make
gains worth while in the present cam
paign, 50 they are seeking what to
them Is the next best thing-to put