The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-20

OebvVAOs &SA VAAS AA00ANS$ VI he finds himself on the d supreme for so many years; ironic because he actually is only a pawn in a struggle in which he figures prominently but in which he has no real personal stake.
 For behind the fierce political conflict churning up Texas De- mocracy, the real issue is not the fate or fortunes of Jack Garner, but who will control the state organization-the Old Guard groul that has boSsed 1t for an era, or the New Deal militants who have surged to the front in recent years.
 GARNER OUT
 The battle was joined a few days after Roosevelt's smashing 8 to Illinois victory, when Rep. Sam Rayburn, Democratic floor leader and an old Carney crony. went to the White House and made this proposal:
 Jacks licked and we know it. It's no use to rub 1t in or have a fight in Texas. Why not call off your friends who arc out for a third-term delegation, and wen agree to a fayorite son delegation that will give Gar ner a first.ballot complimentary vote and no more"
 The President was uninterested. He told Rayburn that he had not intervened in any other state fight, and had no intention of calling off the Texas New Dealers. They had as much right to campaign for what they believed in as the New Dealers in other states.
 Rayhurn then asked permission to send a wire ot Texas, to the effect that he was authorized to say that the President did not ap- prove of the third-tern campaign being waged for him. Again Roose- welt vigorously shook his head.
 A few days after Rayburn's failure, Jesse Jones, willy Federal Loan administrator, tried his hand at the same strategy, but with no better success,
 NEW DEAL TERMS
 Texas New Deal leaders, na- turally informed of the undercover maneuvers, promptly intensified their fight.
 This is concededly a tough one, as under Texas law delegates are chosen at a state convention and, with the exception of the larger cities, the Old Guard controls most of the county organizations. But the bi gace up the third-termers' sleeve Is the ardent desire of Gar ner's friends to avoid a knock down-and-drag-out fight in his home state.
 The New Dealers are bearing down strong on this fact. They have served notice that unless Q satisfactory compromise is of fered. they will fight to the last ditch.
 Their terms are these: they
 are willing to give Garner a complimentary vote as a "fav-
 orite son" candidate, but there- after the Texas delegation must
 take orders from the New Deal-
 CTS. In other words, control of the delegation will be i'm the
 hands of the liberals, and not the Old Guarders who ran Gar ner as a "st0n Roosevelt" can-
 didate i'm Wisconsin and Illi- nois.
 The argument of the New Deal- CTS is that while in Texas the Old Guard Is boosting Garner only as a 'fovorite son" candidate, at the Chicago conventional they are In control of the allegation they will revert to form and play bali with other anti-Administra- tion clements, to fight either Roosevelt or his choice if he de- cides not to run.
 The New Dealers are standing pat for a pro-RooSevelt delegation on the ground that if there were a popular ballot in Texas such a slate would win hands down. UNHAPPY SAM
 Unhappiest man in the bitter melee is kindly, peace-loving Sam Rayburn, who is torn between his loyalty to Roosevelt and his close personal friendship with Garner and the old leaders.
 Left to himself, Sam would play ball with the New Dealers. But his old Texas cronies are putting terrific pressure on him. and ht is in the distressing situation {