Evening star., 1940-04-19
Guffey Fight for Life
Is Issue in TUESDAYS
Pennsylvania Primary
Most Of Organization Out
To Get Him; New Deal
Held Dubious of Him
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Star Stan Correspondent.

PHILADELPHIA, April 19.-Penn-
sylvania's primaries next Tuesday
have only one high light-the con-
test for the Democratic senatorial
nomination between Senator Guffey
billed as "the No. Roosevelt Demo-
crat," and Walter A. Jones, the
mystery man. According to the most
nearly impartial observers, the race
Is close.
The Guffey-Jones fight is hang
over from the Pennsylvania Demo-
cratic nightmare of 1898, when
Senator Guffey split with the organ
ization headed by State Chairman
David Lawrence and joined with
John L. Lewis and the c. I. o. in
an effort to nominate for Governor
1t. Gov. Tom Kennedy, one of Mr.
Lewis right-hand men in the United
Mine Workers of America. Senator
Guffey was licked, but later the
breach seemed closed and the Sena-
tor was made campaign manger.
He did not do so well, for the Re-
publicans elected Gov. James and
reelected Senator Davis.
Now Mr.. Lawrence and the rest
of the Democratic State organiza-
ton, or most of it, is out to get Mr..
Guffey If they can, charging it was
Senator Guffey who made the Re-
publican victory possible. Senator
Guffey and his friends strauously
deny the charge.
The present primary, with its
mud-slinging, is not likely to do the
Democrats any good in November.
The Guffey Strategy.
DR.. Luther A. Harr, Guffey CAM
paign manager, is banking a lot on
the fact that Joe" Guffey is a 100
per cent Roosevelt man, an ardent
third-termer. j. David Stern, Phila-
delphia Record publisher, is backing
Senator Guffey strongly. In a 'front.'
page editorial today Mr.. Stern said:
"A vote for Guffey is a vote for
Roosevelt-and against war" Dur
ing the campaign Senator Guffey
has pledged himself never to vote to
send single American boy overseas
to fight in foreign war and to
fight on with President Roosevelt
and the New Deal.
The whole effort is to plaster the
Roosevelt label so fast to Senator
Guffey that the Democratic voters
will forget all about the factional
fight and "vote for Roosevelt"
Dr.. Harris comment on the Jones
candidacy is that Mr.. Jones is an
unknown" to Pennsylvania voters,
that he has been in the State little.
and that he was the best Dave
Lawrence could get" to make the
race against Senator Guffey. And
DR.. Harr, who claims for Senator
Guffey all but one of the States 81
counties, falls back on the old politi-
cal maxim, you can't beat some
body with nobody" The only coun-
ty which DR.. Harr says the Senator
probably will lose is Allegheny,
which includes Pittsburgh, Senator
Guffey's home city. It happens
also to be Dave Lawrence's home
and the Democratic organization is
strong there.
Colleagues Speak for Guffey.
Senator Guffey has imported many
Of his Senate colleagues to speak for
him during the campaign, including
Majority Leader Barkley of Ken
tuckey. Senators Schwellenbach Of
Washington and Pepper of Florida.
The Jones managers say that i'm
portation of these speakers is con-
fession of weakness"
oh ole n
Pennsylvania is the fact he has been
chairman of the States Turnpike
Commission, where he is said to have
done a good job. He has been vari-
ously called an oil operator and an
oil lobbyist
The great prayer of the Guf1ey
supporters, despite their assertions
that Senator Guffey has the nomi-
nation "in the bag" is that President
Roosevelt will make a public state
ment declaring himself for the Sen
ator's denomination. They figure that
would cinch the matter. If any one
deserves a pat on the back from
the Chief Executive for faithful
service it is Mr.. Guffey He has
never wavered. Whatever the White
House has wanted he has wanted.
He was also one of the original
third-term boomers.
Guffey's Strength Doubted.
There seems to be some doubt,
however, in administration minds
in Washington that Senator Guffey
would be the strongest Democrat
in the general election in Novem-
ber. Jack" Kelly, Democratic city
chairman for Philadelphia, came
back from Washington some weeks
ago with a story to the effect that
whatever happened In the primary
the President and tho Pennsylvania
leaders would sit down during the
summer and pick the strongest
candidate, get the primary nominee
to withdraw and allow the state
committee to substitute their choice.
It kicked up quite a sensation.
Since that time Mr.. Kelly has as
sumed a neutral attitude in the
senatorial contest-although he has
no love for Senator Guffey.
Also, back in February an effort
was, made to get Senator Guffey to
accept the promise of appointment
as controller general, job now held
by former Senator Brown of New
Hampshire, who has been extremely
Ill. Mr.. Lewis, according to the
story, was instrumental bringing this
proposal forward. But Senator
Guffey after a day of reflection,
turned it down.
Money is a prime election day
necessity in Pennsylvania to pay the
workers and the watchers Par
ticularly is this so in Philadelphia.
The Guffeyites have looked with
hope toward Mr.. Lewis for $4,000
1t Is said. But Mr.. Lewis reply,
according to one who claims to have
the inside story, was mot even 80
cents" However, Mr. Kennedy is
an assistant campaipn manager for