Stage & Screen Senator?

Stage & Screen Senator?

One of the most distinguished pillars of the Democratic Party in Rhode Island is Mr. Peter Goelet Gerry. He is a graduate of Harvard, a member of the bar, the husband of the onetime Edith Stuyvesant Vanderbilt. But for the fact that 1928 was a very Republican year Mr. Gerry would probably still be a member of the U. S.

Senate. This year he felt certain of getting the Democratic nomination to oppose Senator Felix Hebert--and 1934 looks hopefully Democratic. Last week, however, the distinguished onetime Senator had an unpleasant shock. A person named Goucher (pronounced Gooshay) had announced that he too was going out for the Democratic nomination. Mr. Goucher is also distinguished. His paternal family is of old French stock. His great-grandfather and two great-grand uncles were the founders of Goucher College for Women in Baltimore. He was the 14th in a family of 17 children; his schooling had extended only up to the third grade; he had been a cabin boy and a music hall singer; his wife was an actress whom he married when she was 14; and he owned a sausage factory in California. Ordinarily such a candidate ought to be sausage meat for Mr. Gerry. But this opponent could not be ignored for his political talents were famed and he was known to the world as Eddie Dowling. Mr. Dowling-Goucher's career is more remarkable than Mr. Gerry's. It began as a choir boy in Providence. It went on as a musicomedian with his wife Ray Dooley. It continued as a playwright (Sally, Irene & Mary, Honeymoon Lane). It cut over into the movies, first as an actor, then as producer. And it returned to Broadway last January when he produced Big Hearted Herbert. He has also penetrated political high places. Last autumn when President Roosevelt saw the screen version of Buried Alive, Producer Dowling dined at the White House. It was not Mr. Dowling's first food at the Roosevelt table. He has been a Roosevelt backer since 1928. He was a Roosevelt lieutenant at the Chicago Convention in 1932, and subsequently chairman of the Stage & Screen Division of the Democratic campaign. He wrote a song: "Row, Row, Row with Roosevelt." He campaigned through the Midwest and was a spellbinder on the stump, a master of all the Irish arts of bringing tears to the eyes of his hearers when he told of Franklin D. Roosevelt's great heart. Last year he quietly stole a march on the professional politicians, got his brother, William Goucher, appointed U. S. Marshal for Rhode Island. Boss Farley was reported to have said that Democrat Dowling could have whatever he wanted. Month ago a dinner was given for him in Philadelphia, at which such speakers as Henry Morgenthau Sr., Frank Comerford Walker, executive director of the President's National Emergency Council, Mint Directress Nellie Tayloe Ross, Internal Revenue Commissioner Guy T. Helvering, Joseph F. Guffey, Pittsburgh Democratic boss, and many another bigwig paid him tribute. The President sent a special message by Mr. Walker: "Please convey my best wishes . . . particularly to my good friend, the honored guest, Eddie Dowling." Last week Mr. Gerry said nothing, and Howard McGrath, Rhode Island Democratic Chairman, did not scoff at Candidate Dowling. He said politely: "The convention is open to all comers."

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