Six Primaries

As political quarterback Franklin Roosevelt returned on the U.S.S. Houston last weekend toward his "humiture"-ridden, politically fermenting country, he could have added up his political score, based on the week's primary elections in six States, about as follows: Kentucky--an all-important, extremely satisfying New Deal touchdown in the renomination of Majority Leader "Dear Alben" Barkley for the Senate (see p. 10).

Tennessee --a safety in the defeat of Senator George L. Berry, a questionable New Deal asset, by a "100% Roosevelt man," in a contest fought on local issues (see col. 1).

Missouri -- a field goal against the New Deal in the renomination of Senator Bennett Champ Clark. This adverse score was light because Senator Clark was not actively fought by Roosevelt & Co., and his two 100% New Deal opponents were worthy political nobodies. The heaviness (400,000 majority) of the vote for Senator Clark, who opposed the Court Plan, Reorganization and other Roosevelt legislation, could be ascribed to his strong Favorite Son position. Comfort for the New Deal could be found in the victory of Judge James M. Douglas of St. Louis, candidate of New Dealish Governor Stark for the State Supreme Court, by 117,000 votes over Judge James V. Billings of Kennett, candidate of non-New Dealish Boss Tom Pendergast of Kansas City.

West Virginia -- an easy first down, but scarcely a score, for the New Deal in the renomination of all six incumbent Representatives, all New Dealers. Three were unopposed, three opposed only weakly.

Virginia -- a field goal and a first down against the New Deal in the renomination of Representative Howard Worth Smith of Alexandria and the defeat of Representative Norman R. Hamilton of Portsmouth. Mr. Smith's opponent was William E. Dodd Jr., 32, son of Franklin Roosevelt's former Ambassador to Germany, picked to run against Judge Smith by Roosevelt henchmen who consider Judge Smith too independent (he helped delay the Wages & Hours Bill). Candidate Dodd was given a campaign manager from Attorney General Cummings' staff, an endorsement by C.I.O.'s John L. Lewis (whose Alexandria home is in the district).

Secretary Ickes attacked Representative Smith for him. His slogan was: "A vote for Dodd is a vote for Roosevelt." But young Mr. Dodd was unknown, inexperienced, no political fireball. Mr. Smith, after four terms in the House, has a potent personal organization, allied with Senator Byrd's. He promised Virginians only that he would continue to vote his convictions, suh, as a good Virginian should. They renominated him by 3-to-1 over young Son Dodd.

Representative Hamilton's defeat was closer, about 19-to-17, by Colgate W.

Darden Jr. of Norfolk, whom Representative Hamilton unseated two years ago. In their contest, the New Deal issue was less clear-cut, Mr. Hamilton only accusing Mr.

Darden of being a member of Senator Harry Flood Byrd's machine, who might be anti-Roosevelt.

Kansas produced no score for or against Franklin Roosevelt in the immediate primary game, since the New Deal's Kansas candidates were virtually unopposed. But in the Republican voting came a possible portent for November--the nomination of onetime (1929-31) Governor Clyde M. Reed for the Senate in a heavy G. O. P. vote. Superficial but spectacular was Mr. Reed's defeat of Rev.

Gerald B. Winrod, tract-selling Wichita evangelist whose "intolerance" (TIME, Aug. 1) would have made a splendid target for Democratic Senator George McGill this autumn should Mr. Winrod have been nominated. With two other Republican candidates up for the Senate, about 300,000 Republican votes were cast, or 140,000 more than Kansas Democrats have cast in their hottest Senatorial fights.

Last week's light Democratic vote (about 100,000) was no criterion, but in Clyde Reed, colorless Senator McGill should have a stern opponent in November.

Aged 67, friend of farmers and Labor, celebrated for his independence and liberalism as publisher of the Parsons, Kans.

Sun, he will have as his ticket mate (for Governor) Lawyer Payne H. Ratner of Parsons, an energetic friend of Alf ("Fire Belly") Landon and Republican National Chairman John Hamilton. Senator McGill's mate will be Governor Walter Huxman, whose renomination was unopposed, whose campaigning ability is not superlative. To Democrats, the defeat of "intolerant" Mr. Winrod and nomination of able Mr. Reed may well presage Senator McGill's downfall.

Purge? Thus the Roosevelt primary score for the week showed, net, a few points to the good. But no great progress had been made by the Roosevelt Purge, which when Franklin Roosevelt started on his political & fishing trip four weeks ago was supposed to be his big plan for the 1938 primaries. This week, Franklin Roosevelt, landing in Florida, had to decide whether to press or abandon the Purge against the three most-mentioned candidates for purging: Senator George in Georgia, Senator Smith in South Carolina, Senator Tydings in Maryland. A guide for Mr. Roosevelt was last week offered by Dr. George Gallup's Institute of Public Opinion. Dr. Gallup polled citizens on the question: "If you had been a member of Congress during the last two years, would you have supported every bill recommended by President Roosevelt?" Returns: yes, 23%; no, 77%.

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