National Affairs: Senatorial Joke

In 1924 Washington politicos tittered at the latest Senatorial joke. Blatherskite Coleman Blease had been elected South Carolina’s Democratic Senator, in itself funny; and his soap-box campaign oratory had unseated Blatherskite Senator Nathaniel Barksdale Dial then in office. The joke was that Senator Dial was displaying cry-babyish tendencies over his defeat, was, in the language of the street, “bellyaching” around the Senate and vexing Democrats (particularly the unfortunately irrepressible Pat Harrison) by eulogizing President Coolidge* and voting Republican on close issues. Finally Senator Dial dolefully turned over his seat to the succeeding gentleman from South Carolina, returned home.

This summer he campaigned again for a return triumphant, en revanche, on no particular issue save that he would very much like to be elected in place of present able Senator Ellison D. (“Cotton”) Smith, who naturally desires to retain his seat. Speaker Edgar A. Brown of the South Carolina House of Representatives likewise ran.

Last week in the Democratic primary an inconsiderate South Carolina constituency eliminated Senator Dial from the “runoff” primary† to be held Sept. 14 between Messrs. Brown and Smith.

Entertaining indeed, this South Carolina political system. Of course, there is but one party— Democratic; and the State Democratic Committee controls the entire procedure, pays all bills, arranges speaking programs, allots expenses on a pro-rata basis. Aspirants speak seriatim the same night in the same place, a method obviously conducive to personalities and retorts discourteous. In this “joint debate” system the old-style ranters of the Dial-Blease ilk rave, rage, fume, spume, howl— over imaginary issues. Under these conditions Washington really expects long-haired sombreroed political buffoons—and that is just what Washington sometimes gets, although Senator Smith is a happy exception.

* The President, appreciative of eulogies later appointed Mr. Dial to a position on the Muscle Shoals Commission at $30 a day and expenses. The appointment, however, failed Senatorial confirmation due to the votes of vexed Democrats.

† In South Carolina, as in Texas a “run-off” primary is held for the two candidates polling the highest vote in the original primary if no one candidate gets an absolute majority over all other contenders.