Mad Mann

The loud slamming of the White House's front door shortly after March 4, 1929 was responsible for reverberating echoes about political Washington last week. The slammer was President Hoover; the slammee was a bristly-haired, thick-necked Tennessee lawyer named Col. Horace Mann.* A skillful organizer and patronage broker for the G. O. P., South, Col. Mann used to play poker with President Harding, no stickler in politics. He did useful jobs for Calvin Coolidge in 1924. An ardent Hooverizer, he turned up in Kansas City in 1928 with enough Negro delegates on his list to ensure the Beaverman's nomination on the first ballot. During the campaign he took $25.000 from the Republican National Committee, set up separate headquarters, herded in Hoovercrats by none too creditable means. He induced Mr. Hoover to speak at Elizabethton, Tenn. and when the Republican nominee broke the Solid South, Col. Mann claimed large credit for his carrying Virginia, North Carolina, Texas. Florida and Tennessee.

By all the rules of politics, Col. Mann expected to be No. 1 Man in the G. O. P., South after Mr. Hoover took office. But he was to be disappointed because the President planned a great political reform below the Potomac. The "white trash"' which constitutes Southern Republicanism must be replaced by a better element. The old barter of Federal jobs must cease and only worthy citizens appointed to office. The White House door was firmly closed on Col. Mann and his traditional ideas of Southern patronage.

Last week Col. Mann, still mad clean through, reappeared in Washington, this time as the leader of a vague anti-Hoover movement. In his headquarters in the Munsey Building he was ready to work openly against the President's renomination. He had no financial backing that anyone could see and what he claimed as "regular Republican" support remained anonymous. What he seemed to lack most of all though was a candidate to put up against the President. Said he:

"That's the joker in our deck. If the next Republican convention renominates Mr. Hoover it will be an utterly useless gesture and result in certain and calamitous defeat."

G. O. P. Meeting. In Washington at the call of Chairman Fess assembled the Republican National Committee to select next year's convention city. A likely choice: Chicago, with a $125,000 cash bid.

"Get Rich with Ritchie". To Chicago to address the Illinois Manufacturers' Association went Maryland's Governor Albert Cabell Ritchie in accordance with Rule No. 6 of How to Become President (The candidate must move about the coun-try). He visited the Board of Trade where business in the grain pits ceased for four minutes while he was given an ovation. One grain broker helped Governor Ritchie follow Rule No. 4 (Identify yourself early and firmly with a national issue) by coining a campaign slogan: "Get Rich with Ritchie."

Baker Boom. Fortnight ago the potent Cleveland Plain Dealer declared for the Democratic nomination and election of Newton Diehl Baker who does not encourage his Ohio friends' efforts to put him into the White House. Last week Martin L. Davey, "tree surgeon" and onetime Congressman, started a "Draft-Baker" movement in Ohio. Modest Mr. Baker again spurned the chance to be a presidential candidate, favored delegates pledged to Ohio's Governor George White, declared bread, not beer, would be the 1932 campaign issue.

*No kin to the late great Educator Horace Mann of Massachusetts and Ohio.

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