Evening star., 1939-08-05


begin to form their lines in ad-
vance of a national convention. One
Is to select delegates for an "unin-
structed" delegation, and the other
Is to boom for a prominent citizen
of the State in question as favor
lite SON."
The fact that "favorite son" dele
cations are often regarded as merely
a first or second ballot proposition,
to be used for trading purposes
when there is need for the votes
of particular State, has made this
method less Objectionable than the
"uninstructed" idea. The latter is a
bit outWorn anyhow as most every
so-called uninstructed delegation is
privately instructed for some candi-
date.
Jumps Gun on Opponents.
1t is significant that Senator
Tydings has announced his candi-
dacy. He is by no means unfriendly
to Vice President Garner, nor would
he be hostile to any other conserva-
tive candidate, but at this stage of
the game, Mr.. Tydings is really as
serting his leadership in Maryland
and keeping political opponents
from starting in ahead of him to
capture the delegates.
"Favorite son" delegations may
be expected from Indiana, of course,
where EX-Gov. McNutt has an
nounced his candidacy, and from
Montana where Senator Burton K.
Wheeler is the candidate. Texas,
to be sure, will be behind Vice
President Garner, with Jesse Jones
possibly as second choice. Iowa may
compliment Senator Gillette, where
as Virginia seems certain to be be-
hind Senator Harry Byrd.
1t would not be surprising to see
the New York delegation voting for
Postmaster General Farley or Gov.
Lehman if by early 1910 the Presi-
dent has announced that he will
not be candidate.
The supply of favorite sons is linn
tied only by the number of Senators
and Governors, if not members of
the House, who dominate the poll
tics OF their respective States. 1t is
often asked why the members of
Congress or Governors 60 in for the
"favorlte SON. idea, but the fact is
1t is one way to assume leadership
In State and to keep outsiders
from getting a toehold in local DO
litical affairs
Too often, for example, when a
rival candidate sends workers into
given State, the bright idea occurs
to some ambitious person to use the
opportunity to enter the primaries
as candidate against the Senator
or Representative in question.
Stay Clear of Battle.
1t has been a more or less un-
written rule in politics that national
campaign managers seeking to line
up votes for their respective candi-
dates keep out of so-called "favorite
son" States. The idea is to main
tain friendly relations SO as to cul-
tlvate the opportunities for a second
or even a third choice position in
the event that the "favorite SON.
WlthdraWS early in the balloting,
Most significant is the fact that
the Tydings candidacy is announced
just about year after the Presi-
dent entered Maryland to try to
defeat the Senator for renomina-
tion. The unsuccessful purge"
campaign left Mr.. Tydings stronger
than ever and in a position to fight
openly against the nomination of a
New Dealer. This is one of the
after effects of the unfortunate
purge strategy which will not be
soon erased from the Democratic
party.
Might Win in Compromise.
Although Senator Tydings un-
doubtedly had in mind a more firm
hand on the Maryland delegation
by announcing his candidacy, there
are certain contingencies in which
he might become compromise can
didate
He stands well with his colleagues
in Congress and this is essential to
the selection of any presidential
candidate of either party nowadays.
He has fought consistently on the
conservative side and if the party is
going to record itself as distinctly
anti-NeW Deal, the Maryland Sena-
tor is logical choice.
1t is doubtful, on the other hand, |
whether the conservatives forces can
compel the selection of a conserva-
tive, any more than the New Dealers
can force the choice of an out-and- |
out New Dealer. Some middle-of-
the-road candidate of the Cordell |
Hull type might be able to get the
nomination if the President does not
rum