Evening star., 1931-06-25
The Political Mill
BY C. Could Lincoln.

Democratic leaders in the Congress
have called for an adjournment Of poll
tics IN so far as the Presidents pro-
posai Tor suspension of all inter-
World War, there are those who cannot
let 1t alone. William Randolph Hearst,
Tor example, has grabbed the proposal
as an issue on which to declare him
sell ana MS newspapers In favor of the
nomination and election Of former
President Calvin Coolidge to the presi-
dency next year. He also mentions the
need OF another Roosevelt" In the
Wnite House, in case Mr.. Coolidge
should not be available, using consciously
or unconsciously the language of SEN
ator George w. Norris Of Nebraska, when
the Nebraska Senator was presiding
over the Progressive" Conference held
mere last March. And, as in the case
OF Senator Norris speech, it is now in
terpreted that another Roosevelt" as
uSeo by Mr.. Hearst. means Gov. Frank
I'm y. roosevelt of New York. Hearst
agrees with Roosevelt, more or less, on
the water-power issue, as does Senator
MOTIFS. He also favors the election of
a PRESIDENT opposed to the eighteenth
amenoment. and Roosevelt Nils that
Dill. Mr. Hearst has allied himself,
except on occasion, with the Demo-
cratic party, and what he says now
may De interpreted as favoring the
nomination Of Gov. Franklin D. Roose-
Yelt by the Democrats next wear. and
tne nomination Of Calvin Coolidge by
the Republicans.
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Mr.. Coolidge himself has rather let
Mr: Hearst down. In his copyriphted
article published in the newspapers yes
CeToay. Mr.. Coolidge speaks quite kindly
~ a. '1e proposal Tor suspension Of
~ Sle oeot payments, pointing out that
IL Is In line with the policy of the
American Government to demand nav
ment OF the debts owed this country
IN accordance with capacity to pay"
perhaps Mr.. Hearst expects Gov.
1ooSeVeIt 10 come out against the Hoo
yer proposal for a suspension of the
payments of the intergovernmenta
oeots. II ne does, he Is likely to be
oLsapponteo. The Democrats have
Wisely determined not to align them
serves IN opposition to the Hoover plan.
Wnlch has struck a responsive note
throughout thu world and has resulted
IN removing some of the gloom. prov
ing In a measure that the depression
Is In no small part psychological. There
are plenty OF old Wilson Democrats
VINO consider the attitude now adopted
Dy tne republican administration as q
reVerSlon IN some measure TO the policy
OF the late President Wilson Gov.
roosevelt himself was an ardent Wilson
democrat, his Assistant Secretary of
the Navy during the World War and
Immediately thereafter the Democratic
nominee Tor Vice President on a plat
form that indorsed the Wilson admins
tration and Mr.. Wilson's policies.
~
The Democrats, generally speaking.
see no good reason, from the stand
point OF party politics, why they should
attack or oppose q plan which appears
to be generally popular in this country.
II the plan makes for better conditions
In this country as well as in countries
abroad, and business Is stimulated
.nereny. the Democrats would be In
an awkward position If they should be
shown In opposition to the plan. The
country Is more interested right now in
more business than 1t is in politics. If
conditions throughout the world do not
Improve, and particularly in this coun-
try, Notwithstanding the Hoover plan,
then the Democrats stand to gain
politically anyway.
Edward z. Smith, former State Sena-
tor and Republican political mentor
In Minnesota for many years, has sue
ceeded in irritating in no small degree
the Democrats and Farmer-IaboriteS In
his State. Mr.. Smith has suggested in
published interviews-indeed. has pre-
dicted-a coalition between the Demo-
Gratis and the Farmer-Labor people in
next years campaign, with the under
standing that the Farmer-Labor party
will not put presidential electors ticket
in the field, and that their recompense
for supporting the Democratic presi-
Dental electors Is to be all the State
ofnces and much Of the Federal politi-
cal patronage In the event of Demo-
cratic success in the presidential race.
The Democratic State chairman. J. J,
Farrell, insists there will be no traf-
ticking with the third party In next
years campaign, and that the Demo-
Gratis will offer a high-class State ticket
OF their own. The Farmer-Labor secre-
tary. Henry Teigan, also has entered q
denial TO the coalition charge.
The recent history Of Democratic and
Farmer-Labor maneuvering in Minne-
sofa, however, would indicate that there
was more to the charge Of coalition
than these gentlemen are willing to
admit. In 1928 the Democrats sought
to stage an all-party movement in
Minnesota to carry the State for Al
Smith. In that campaign the Demo-
drawn at the last minute and the Dem
ocrats indorsed the candidacy Of the
Farmer-Labor nominee, Senator Ship
stead. Every one recognized this was
a bid for Farmer-Labor support In the
presidential election. ShipStead was
overwhelmingly reelected, with votes
from all three parties, for he Is popular
in his State, but the Farmer-LaboriteS
did nothing for Smith. Last year there
was another effort on the part Of the
Democrats to hook up with the Farmer
Laborites, in which the Farmer-Labor
people again had all the better of It
and the Democrats came out at the
small end of the horn. The plan was
for fusion on Einar Hoidale, Democrat,
for the Senate; Floyd B. Olson, Farmer
Labor, for Governor. Hoidale lost out
to Senator Schall, Republican incum-
bent, and Olson was elected Governor.
It might seem that these results would
give the Democrats pause before they
sought another fusion with the Farmer
Labor party in Minnesota. But Mr..
Smith is of another view. He says:
"The coalition Of the Democrats and
Farnfer-LaboriteS, whether voluntary
or involuntary, whether expressed or
implied, whether it flows from open
covenants openly arrived at or whether
it flows from secret negotiations or in
audible conversations, 1T VIII be based
upon the ancient patriot call Of Addi-
ton, Division and Silence. just wait
until Raskob blows the fusion whistlei I
am simply making deductions from the
circumstances of the situation, and
there is no mystery about the origin
of John j. Raskob's great influence in
New York"
4 y
II Mr.. Smith can tease the Democrats
and Farmer-LaboriteS into opposition
in the campaign next year, SO much |
the better for the Republican chances. |
If they both put tickets Of presidential