Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-01

Advent of October ushers In the con-
gressional campaign 100 per cent.
From now until Tuesday, November 4,
the political welkin will ring with a
vengeance. Heavy as the firing has
been already, 1t was merely o skirmiSh
compared to the battle royal TO be
waged during the next flve weeks. Not
since the 1918 off-year election, in
which Woodrow Wilson made his ILL
starred effort to win q Congress sympa-
thetic with his war and peace policies,
has there been a campaign Of such in
tensity and bitterness. To date, apathy
has prevailed nearly everywhere, except
in spots where passions ran high in
primary fights. With election day near
ing, interest Is rising rapidly. Results
are awaited with almost unprecedented
concern by both Republicans and
Democrats. There is deep-seated be-
lief that 1890 will be barometer for
1882.
- X ~
History may describe the pending
fray as the campaign OF the mimeo-
graph and microphone. Never before
have the two parties utilized on so ex-
tensive q scale the typed statement
and the radio for opinion-molding pur-
poses. The net result is the practical
obliteration of the old-time mass meet
ing and stump speech. All over the
country candidates are harangulng
their voters along traditional lines, but
wherever possible they are broadcasting,
in order to reach tens of thousands at
one volley, instead Of few hundreds
which attend rallies" The Repub-
lican and Democratic high commands
at Washington are concentrating on
news releases" or what the press gall
lery irreverently calls handouts" and
on the radio. Broadcasting facilities
have been placed at the disposal OF
both parties this year free, gratis and
for nothing They are taking liberal
advantage of them. In 1882 time and
space on the wave lengths will cost
! real money.
This observer is Just back from a dash
into the Middle West. In this typical
cross section of the American people in
terest is discoverahle in only two ques-
tions-business depression and prohibit
ton. There's boundleSs eageruess to
know Washington's view OF the outlook
for better times. Largely as result OF
the Democrats merciless propaganda,
blame is widely attached to the Hoover
administration for the slump now SKID
ding into its second year. Here and
there one encounters indications that
| the President is not coming under quite
so ferociouS attack as in the past. The
explanation is that Hoover has been
| knocked" so violently that a reaction
| in his favor has set in. He will disap-
point a multitude of expectant ears all
| the way from the Atlantic to the MisSis-
sippi If he does not say something worth
while about business to the bankers at
Cleveland tomorrow.
4 X n 4
At Boston on October 6 Mr.. Hoover
will face two of the most powerful Or
carnations in the United States-the
American Legion and the American
Federation of Labor. Neither of them Is
bone dry. For some reason, 1t has
escaped general notice that Representa-
tives Cramton and Hudson, Republicans,
of Michigan, were denied denomination
last month mainly because the new ex-
service mems anil prohibition ofgani-
zation, the American Veterans Associa-
ton, singled them out for slaughter
Two years hence, according to present
| plans, the association will clear for ac-
| ton against all dry congressional can
didates regardless of party. The lights
on Cramton and Hudson were waged as
a testNbf the body's strength. The Fed
Grafton of Labor will 60 formally en- rec
ord at Boston in favor of ais per cent
beer. Whether the President will select
| either his Legion or federation speech
as the vehicle for an up-to-date pro-
nouncement on "the noble experiment"
decidedly remains to be seen.
4 + + 4
| II anybody has doubts as to the over
ShadOWing Importance OF the world
series. radio arrangements for October
8 should remove them. It was originally