Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-20
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

In 1928, before the Republican and
Democratic National Conventions were
held, Senator Borah Of idaho insti-
tuted the campaign QUESTIONABLE. He
sent to all the Republican candidates
for the presidential nomination q series
of questions to determine just where
they stood on the eighteenth amend
ment. 1t was in reply to this oues-
tionnaire that President Hoover coined
his now famous reference to the con-
stitutional amendment, declaring 1t an
experiment noble In purpose and far
reaching in effect" Incidentally, the
strongest opponent Of Mr. Hoover for
| the nomination. former Gov. Frank Q.
Lowden of Illinois, ignored the Borah
! QUESTIONABLE completely, which did
ator when the Republicans gathered in
Kansas City to pick the nominee.
Il
It looks now as though new
wrinkle might be found in the pre-
convention campaigns Of 1882. Gov.
Frank D. Roosevelt of New York,
widely discussed as the probable nomi-
nee Of the Democratic party, has had
one question fired at him. 1t had noth-
ing to do with his position on pro-
hibition, waterpower, the moratorium,
the tariff or farm relief. It was much
more personal It asked whether he
were physically TT to be President.
Having suffered an attack OF infantile
paralysis in 1921, and being unable TO
walk without the aid Of braces and
crutches, 1t was quite evident that such
a question would be raised during the
preconvention campaign, and II Roose-
welt were the Democratic choice for
President. in the general election cam
paign later. So Gov. Roosevelt sub
mitted himself to an examination made
by three physicians, selected by the
head of the New York Academy Of
Medicine. They have given him a
clean bill OF health. But despite this
health certificate, the discussion Of
Gov. Roosevelt's physical ability to
carry on q national campaign and to
hold down the arduous job Of President
Is likely TO 60 on.
II that Is the case, what Is there to
prevent supporters of Gov. Roosevelt
from calling upon the other Democratic
candidates for the presidential nomi-
nation to submit also to physical OK
.
D. Baker Of Ohio, for example, and
Gov. Albert c. Richie, and Senator
Joe" Robinson of Arkansas, and the
half dozen others to go before an ex-
aiming board Of physicians. And II
Roosevelt is the party nominee and the
| Republicans start whispering cam
paign against him on account Of his
health, they might 60 further and de-
mand that the Republican candidate
xko kxyo r0aa
of physicians.
| Liberty, in its last issue, broke the
news of the Roosevelt examination by
three physicians. 1t did not, however.
| give the full text of the report made
| by the physicians, but merely their con-
illusions. The text was made public in
Albany on Saturday by the Governor.
1t says:
I'VE have today april 2s) examined
Franklin D. Roosevelt. We find that his
organs and functions are sound In all
respects. There is no anemia. The
chest is exceptionally we'll developed
and the spinal column is absolutely
normal: all its segnlents are in perfect
alignment and free from disease. He
has neither pain nor ache at any time.
Ten years ago, Gov. Roosevelt SUI
| fered an attack Of acute infantile
, paralysis. the entire effect Of which was
expended on the muscles OF his lower
extremities. There has been progressive
recovery of power in the legs since that
date: this restoration continues and Will
continue.
I'VE believe his powers Of endurance
are such as to allow him to meet all
the demands Of private or public Life"
~
James A. Farley. chairman Of the
| Democratic State Committee OF New
| York and Rosevelt's campaign manager
| in 1880 in the gubernatorial campaign
is lust back home from tour OF the
| West, in which he talked to leading
| Democrats in that section Of the coun-
| try regarding the coming campaign. He
| brings back the word that the western
| Democrats look with more favor on
Roosevelt than they do on any OF the
other Democratic presidential pos
| sibilities. Like other observers, he adds
that the man most talked Of in the
West In connection with the Democratic
nomination. after Roosevelt, Is Newton
d. Baker of Ohio. Mr.. Farleys trip.
beyond a doubt. was in the interest OF
, the Roosevelt candidacy. Furthermore
II gave Mr.. Farley an excellent oppor-
tunity to make personal connections
with the Democratic leaders IN the West
in the light Of the coming campaign.
He might yet be called upon to direct
the national campaign, II Roosevelt De
the nominee of the Democratic National
Convention next year.
The South and the West are In pretty
much the same boat when 1t comes %
supporting candidates for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination in 1882.
| Neither the South nor the West, par
to see AL Smith nominated again. Yet
they are fearful that If the convention
] were tied up any length Of time, there
might be a swing back to Smith again.
They believe, therefore, that II they
swing to Roosevelt early in the conven-
! ton that danger will be out. They are
convinced that In the end the party
must take an opponent Of the eighteenth
amendment, and of all the opponents
| Of the dry laws they seem to prefer Mr..
Roosevelt. They believe that in order
! to carry the big Eastern industrial
States, a wet Democratic candidate
must be put forward and for that rea-
son they are going to make the sacri-
! Ace" Not ali Of them, to be sure, but
| the great bulk There will be a lot Of
| talk Of Southern favorite son candidates,
| but 1t will not be serious.
* ~
The Roosevelt camp has been greatly
encouraged by a prediction made by
former Democratic National Committee
man Joseph F. Guffey of Pennsylvania
that the keystone State would send an
almost solid delegation to the national
convention supporting Roosevelt for the
nomination. He insisted that 66 out OF
the 70 delegates from the State would
be first, last and all the time lor the
New York Governor. If this happens,
it looks impossible to stop the Roose-
welt nomination.
y X