Evening star., 1938-07-06
PRESIDENT AVOIDS
ROLE IN PURGE
Evidence Grows He'll Tour
Mainly in interests of
Administration Men.

U1 tIlC OcIIAOCIdIlC parry.
Although the President has in
sisted that he, as party leader. has
the right to work for reelection Of his
supporters as well as the defeat Of his
Democratic opponents. there was con-
siderable evidence that the greater
part, If not all, of his efforts on his
transcontinental tour will be devoted
to boosting the primary campaigns Of
four or five administration Senators.
Senator Burke, Democrat, of Ne
braska predicted yesterday that the
administration would confine itself to
seeking the defeat of Senators Tydings,
Smith and George in the Democratic
primaries in Maryland, South Caro-
lima and Georgia.
Strategists Are Determined.
At his press conference yesterday,
however, the President told reporters
he did not know whether he would
even stop in South Carolina, where
Senator Smith is seeking renomina-
tion against two New Dealers. There
was little doubt, however, that the
New Deals board of strategy will make
a determined effort to defeat the trio
singled out by Senator Burke, even
though the President may decide not
to incur the risks of openly CAM
paigning against them
Some significance also was at
tached to the Presidents assertion
that he had formed no opinion on
the party primary in Colorado. Sem
ator Adams, who has opposed some
administration measures, is opposed
there by Judge Benjamin Hilliard,
who announced his candidacy after q
White House conference
Senator johnson, Democrat, of
Colorado said recently he would sup
port Senator Adams because the White
House favored the latter's candidacy.
Mr.. Roosevelt took issue with that
statement, however, declaring he had
given no consideration to the Colorado
race and had expressed no opinion
on it. In his recent radio address,
Mr.. Roosevelt said he felt he was
justified in intervening in primary
contests where there had been clear
misuse" Of his name.
The President also declared he had
give no consideration to the situa-
ton in Indiana where State Demo-
cratic leaders have invited Senator
Van Nuys to seek denomination in the
party's convention next week Senator
Van Nuys had expected to be denied
denomination because he fought the
court bill, and was prepared to run
rs an Independent.
The invitation to Senator Van Nuys
was interpreted by Senator Burke to
mean that the Democratic factions in
Indiana are ready to make peace. The
party organization, he suggested.
feared split might result In the elec-
tion Of Republican Senator and
might damage the chances Of former
Gov. Paul v. MsNutt In the 1910
Democratic contest.
Mr.. Roosevelt will not stop in In
diana during his forthcoming trip.
Neither is he listed for any speeches
in Nevada, where Senator McCarran-
another court bill foe-is seeking re-
nomination.
At the time that Gov Townsend Of
Indiana prescribed Senator Van Nuys
in the heat of the court fight a year
ago. other Democratic Senators Of the
anti-court bill group rallied to the
Senator's support. They openly
threatened to campaign in his be-
half If he were forced to run as an in
dependent.
Prospect Now Removed.
The prospect of such campaigning
Is removed, now that the Governor has
withdrawn his mo denomination" fiat
against Senator Van Nuys, with the
approval of Senator Minton of In
diana. New Deal supporter Even
should Senator Van Nuys fail of nomi-
nation in an open" convention, a
post-convention bolt would seem un-
likely. If the Senator goes into the
convention, as Indicated he will be
virtually bound to support its nominee.
It has been whispered that certain
anti-court bill Democrats passed the
word to Indiana sponsors of the Nc
Mutt presidential boom that if the
fight on Senator Van Nuys was
pressed, McNutt boosters could expect
1910 reprisals in various States. Such
. warning could very possibly be of
more interest to McNutt boosters in
Indiana than the undeclared attitude
of the White House toward Senator
Van Nuys' denomination.
The strategy of the McNutt cam
paign for a place in the 1910 presi-
DENTAL picture has been to keep the
candidate aloof from party fighting.
The prospects of engendering hostility
to him this early in the race through
pushing the effort to oust Senator
Van Nuys may have played an i'm
portant part in reshaping the Demo-
cratic political scene in Indiana.
Puts White House on Notice.
Whatever the underlying reasons
for Townsend-Van Nuys rapproche-
ment, however. it puts the White
House on notice that New Deal inter-
vention in Indiana is neither wanted
nor expected.
If Senator Van Nuys is down on
administration lists for purging, quick
and direct aggressive action against
him either by President Roosevelt in
person or some of his aides is called
for, and indications are that it will
not be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, Representative Martin,
Republican, of Massachusetts,, chair
man Of the Republican Congressional
Committee, said collapse of the
purge" indicated "the trend is our
way" He predicted with more con-
fadence than ever" that Republicans
would gain 76 House seats next fall.
The voters. he said. will go with
the people who give them more and
better jobs" and added that admin
istration policies as a whole have
failed to bring better days to a ma
jority of the people-13, 100000 are
unemployed"
Commenting on the Presidents as
sertion that the South now presents
the Nations mo. / economic problem"
Chairman Hamilton of the Republican