Evening star., 1938-08-16


But many people have wondered
just what magic there was in the
presidential wand that it could be
welded so lightly and still have all
the effect which the press reported
1t has been source of puzzlement
just why rival candidates struggled to
get recognized at the back platform
Of the presidential train or to be
referred to as my friend"
The answer is that, under the newly
developed use of public power to
influence elections, the "tip-off" as
to which candidate the administra-
ton wants must come directly from
some one higher up, some one with
authority. Only the President can
convincingly point out the admins
tration's 'yes men"
New Technique Developed.
There have. been, for example.
instances in which rival candidates
claimed presidential support These
cases have to be handled rather deftly.
The new technique is to cry out that
the administration is being misrepre-
is being wrongfully used.
This method has been used twice
in primary contests. In Iowa, James
, Roosevelt denied that he was sup
porting one candidate and took occa-
sion to refer to the other as his
friend" In Virginia, Secretary
Ickes used the denial formula by
{cs,,;pn etofar,opt covipo Peprocopt-
ative Smith-not favored by the
Observation-Disclosures claiming credit
for P. w. A. grant.
Sometimes the system is operated
in such way as merely to prevent
some candidate from uSurping admin
istration influence. Sometimes it is
operated to point out just whom the
administration regards with favor
Only in two instances-Kentucky
and Georgia-did the President on
his recent trip discuss in detail the
oualificat tions of the rival candidates
This was because Of special circum-
stances surrounding each contest and
to make sure that the Federal Office
holders clearly understood the situa-
ton. Thus. in Kentucky. a distinc-
tion had to be made between two
liberals. In Georgia. Mr.. Roosevelt
didn't look at Senator Georges liberal
record, but into his heart"-a sort
of political psychoanalysis.
But the "tip-of" system primarily
Is a method whereby the Federal ad-
ministration publicly reminds the per-
sons on the civil service list and the
beneflciaries of Government favor gen.
orally that they are expected to follow
the wishes of the party boss-the
President himself
Acts in Leader Role.
Mr.. Roosevelt doesn't acknowledge
the title boss" OF course, but he
uses again and again the word lead
er" in much the same fashion. AS
leader of the party he feels he has
a right to designate candidates. No
party leader hitherto has ever gone
80 far.
The Federal machine is sizable
part of the vote nowadays and is al
most the controlling influence in
party primary The w. P. A. and
P. w. A. can influence a considerable
number of votes. When the execu-
tives of these agencies observe the
boss" coming to their States and
speaking with favor Of one candidate
as against the other, this ''tip-off" is
SUFFICIENT to enable them to UNDER
stand their obligation on primary day.
Many complaints have been received
OF improper influence upon w. P. A.
workers, but the most notable exam
pie of such influence is the way the
word is passed down the line on the
W. P. A. jobs as to what the Presi-
dent wants done. The fact that he
makes a public demonstration of his
likes and dislikes renders the elec-
tioneering task of the w. P. A. ex-
ecutives rather easy. Knowing the
enormous ramifications of the Fed
eral machine, the important thing is
to know just what the President wants.
1t requires only photograph in the
newspapers or a brief mention-the
Federal workers, who are afraid to
lose their Jobs if they don't obey their
boss. do the rest.
- The tip-off is new thing in poll
tics, but it is an essential part of the
system whereby Federal jobs and Fed
eral funds help to create Nation
wide political organization with power
TO kill off or elect candidates in the
primaries.
Copyright. 1889