Golden Swill

"If you want to swap all you're getting now from the Federal Government for a set of balanced budget books down in Washington, then vote for Happy Chandler. But if you want 10 keep on getting what you're getting, and get some more, too, then vote to keep me in the Senate." --Majority Leader Alben W. Barkley at Lowes Crossroads, Ky.

"I'll get more for you in six years than ol' Alben got you in 26 years." --Governor Albert B. Chandler at Mayfield, Ky.

Such was the political hog-wallow to which Kentucky's two leading statesmen openly descended last week, two days before the end of their primary contest for Mr. Barkley's seat in the U. S. Senate.

Mostly they had kept their campaign on a more polite level, letting their henchmen prod WPAsters for Barkley votes, old age pensioners and State jobholders for Chandler votes.

The voters of Kentucky, of course, disdained all swill trough promises. They rose even above personalities, in which the grinning, song-singing, slaphappy, 40-year-old Governor had a distinct edge over the slow-footed, slow-witted, 60-year-old drayhorse Senator. While "Happy" Chandler sang There's a Gold Mine in the Sky, voters remembered the plea of Franklin Roosevelt, author of all their benefits, to send back to the Senate his dear, distinguished colleague Mr. Barkley.

On a hot, clear Saturday, more than 500,000 voters went to the polls between 6 a. m. and 4 p. m. (7 p. m. in Louisville).

Kentucky law forbids vote-counting on Sunday but as early as midnight Saturday it was apparent that "Dear Alben" Barkley was preserved to his President. Despite C. I. O.'s endorsement, he lost a lot of miners' votes in eastern and southern counties but his home counties of western Kentucky backed him solidly and the northern counties, where Flood Relief and WPA benefits had been lavished most heavily, deserted Governor Chandler. On Monday came Louisville's tabulations, and the Barkley margin climbed above 50,000.

Then "Happy" Chandler telegraphed Senator Barkley: "President Roosevelt said he desired your return and a majority of Kentucky Democrats agreed to return you.

I bow to the will of the majority. . . . No excuses, alibis or regrets."

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