Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21

tI1dG Lie beHlOCTdtlC BONeTIlOT Oh
i that State, Franklin d. Roose-
welt, is in process Of being put
forward for the Democratic presi-
/ Dental nomination, now a little less
than three years ahead Of us. 1t says
that Gov Roosevelts hat today is in
the national political ring" 1t cites as
steps in the process of calling Gov.
Roosevelt to the attention of the coun-
try: First, the "trust-buSting" speech
which the governor made at Tammany
Hall on July 4; second, another utter
ance by the governor denouncing trusts,
mergers and combines; third, Gov.
Roosevelt's official inquiry into the re-
cent merger of New York State power
corporations-and various related steps
taken by him which have tendency 10
set up issues for national presidential
campaign.
First of all, one assumes the state
ment that Gov. Roosevelt's hat is in the
| ring to be correct; 1t sounds most prob
able, and there is no reason to doubt it.
One assumes also that local political
conditions within the Democratic party
in New York City and State are such as
give Gov Roosevelt the support OF his
State for the presidential nomination.
AS to that, an outsider can know little:
here also one can merely say that it
seems most probable-much depends
on the attitude ex-Gov. Smith may take.
Finally, one assumes Gov. Roosevelt ex-
poets to be reelected as governor. That
he should get the approval Of the people
of his State. in the form of reelection
as governor is an mportant-though
not necessarily indispensable-ste In
his progress toward the presidential
nomination.
Path Is Apparently Clear.
From the point of view of Washing
ton, from the standpoint of national
politics. Gov. Roosevelt, as the potential
| presidential nominee of his party.
| sounds even more than probable Few
aspirants for the presidential nomina-
| ton of either party in recent years has
had a path so apparently clear. Gov.
i Roosevelt has few obstacles and al
most no formal rivals-quite possibly no
ri, al at all. And Gov. Roosevelt is ex
| traordinarily favored with respect to his
/ opportunity to put forward national
| issues, to identify himself with these
/ issues in the national mind. and to be-
come the spokesman Of them on a
nationwide scale.
One can begin the list of Gov. Roose-
| velt's political assets with his relation
! to what he-and many others as we'll
| call the power trust: his relation to the
whole broad field of public utilities and
| the regulation of them.
| Gov. Roosevelt has plan about pow
er. The plan has to do with the de-
| velopment of the water-power resources
| of New York State. AS such the plan,
! and the problem, is local. But in almost
every one of the 48 States there is a
similar problem. attended by similar I'M
rest about public utilities In general.
Consequently the partisan Of Gov.
Roosevelt is right who says:
The plan of Gov. Roosevelt should
hold the interest of every citizen of the
United States, for if it is adopted it will
serve as model for water-power de-
velopment in every section of the coun-
try. 1t is likely to change the whole
theory of the regulation of public
utilities. II successful it will have a
direct bearing on the Federal Govern
ment's development of the Colorado
River basin and the future of Muscle
Shoals. It is being fought not only by
the powerful public utility corporations
in New York, but by every power COM
pany in the country"
The plan in detail is not material
here. 1t is sufficient that if Gov. Roose-
welt. with the fulcrum of his position
as governor of the largest State, makes
himself the champion of new relation
between the State and the power COM
panies: II he makes himself the exponent
4 OF new theory Of regulation of public
utilities-in that event he is certain to
impress himself on the country. That
there is a potential political issue OF
national proportions in the group OF
questions called the power problem"
there can be no doubt whatever.
Eliminates Young as Rival.
Incidentally Gov. Roosevelt. by identi-
flying himself with the peoples side of
a movement against the power COM
panies. eliminates the man who is al
most his only potential rival for The
Democratic presidential nomination
The potential rival is Owen D. Young
Mr.. Young, by his recent association
with the settlement of the PREPARATIONS
problem in Europe, merely took one
more Of the many steps which have
commended him to the country as
being presidential timber" One can
speak of Mr. Young as great man,
and the facts bear out the phrase.
But Mr.. Young, as business man in
private life, is a director of several Of
the largest public utility corporations
in the country. as we'll as the General
Electric Co. 1t is understood that in
his role of director of public utilities
Mr.. Young has liberal and enlightened
attitude about the relation between the
public and the power corporations. II
is even understood that Mr.. Young Is
sympathetic to the plan Of public con-
troll over power put forward by Gov
Roosevelt.
But as matter of practical politics
it would be impossible to differcntiate
between Mr.. Young as a liberal and
public-spirited Democrat and. on the
other hand, Mr.. Young as director OF
power corporations. If Mr.. Young were
a candidate for the presidency, the
epithet power magnate" would be flung
at him. At least, 1t would If power
the Democrats are to make the power
question an issue, then Mr.. Young is
eliminated as a presidential possibility
BY the mere pressing forward OF this
: issue. Gov Roosevelt, in perfectly
legitimate way, eliminates almost his
only rival.
Indeed, one does not need to put II
in a way so ungracious to Gov. Roose-
. welt. without any initiative from the
governor, Mr.. Young Is eliminated BY
the facts. While large section of the
country feels as 1t does about power
corporations and public utilities, 1t Is
rot expedient for the Democratic party
! TO give its presidential nominat ton ia
man who, however able ami high
minded, is an official Of several of the
very largest power corporations.
Power" Would Be Popular Issue.
It is reported that some of Mr.
Young's friends want him to rid him.
self of his corporation connections, sc
as to make him available for the Demo
cratic presidential nomination. AS IL Il
) put by Mr.. Frank Kent, in the Demo
cratic Baltimore Sun:
| "It is interesting that some Of Mr.
Young's warmest friends should be nov
urging q severance of his corporate con.
nections and identification for the mex