Biscuits Passed

A Nazarene preacher named S. T. Brogdon, out to be Governor of Texas, closed his campaign for the Democratic nomination last week. So did State Attorney General William McCraw of Dallas, Railroad Commissioner Ernest O. Thompson of Amarillo, Oilman Tom F. Hunter of Wichita Falls, seasoned campaigners all. And so, to the grief of all these gentlemen, did Flour Salesman Wilbert Lee O'Daniel of Fort Worth (TIME, July 25). At Kilgore, on the night before primary day, Candidate O'Daniel struck up his hillbilly band, introduced Children Pat, Molly & Mike, who sang "Please Pass the Biscuits, Pappy," declaimed: "It's going to be the handwriting on the wall for these professional politicians. . . ."

Texas Democrats proceeded to write in a fashion beyond the blackest dreams of old politicos to whom Amateur O'Daniel was a radio freak two months ago, a passing nuisance as late as four weeks ago. On returns from 242 of 254 counties, the No. 1 political phenomenon of 1938 appeared to have received a clear majority, thus to have won the Democratic nomination (equivalent to election) without the formality of a runoff. One of the minority who did not vote for Mr. O'Daniel was Mr. O'Daniel. He had not paid his $1.75 poll tax because "no sensible man" would lay out money to vote for politicians. To fulfill his campaign promises, Governor-Nominate'' O'Daniel must find $42,000,000 a year to give every Texan over 65 a $30-per-month pension, and bring tax-wary industry flocking into Texas. Said he: "I'll just take it from the folks that's got it!"

Equally arresting news from Texas' primary was evidence that Franklin Roosevelt sometimes can neither turn his incumbent foes out of office, nor keep his incumbent friends in. Last fortnight the touring President called Representatives Maury Maverick of San Antonio, William Doddridge McFarlane of the 13th District, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Marvin Jones "my good friends." Of this blessed trio, only Mr. Jones survived.

No sycophant either to Franklin Roosevelt or C.I.O., Maury Maverick in two terms placed himself well to the left of the President, got into A.F. of L.'s bad graces by espousing much liberal legislation approved by C.I.O. At home, he rashly antagonized Mayor Charles Kennon Quin's San Antonio machine and the potent Irish-Catholic vote. Last week Attorney Paul Joseph Kilday--an Irishman, Roman Catholic and Quin machinist--beat Maury Maverick by 546 votes in 49,312 votes cast. Said Maury Maverick: "Lincoln got beat four times. I guess I can take it once."

Opposition to Roosevelt policies was proven not necessarily poison to Texas Democrats. House Judiciary Chairman Hatton Sumners, who fought the Court Plan and Reorganization, squeezed through for his 13th term. Fort Worth's Fritz Lanham, who voted against Reorganization (but was nevertheless backed by Son Elliott) defeated a "100% Roosevelt" opponent.

Net significance of the Texas returns was that in a State primary local issues and local personalities can always overshadow national issues and even the personality of Franklin Roosevelt.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.