Evening star., 1932-02-14
Continued From First Page.)

CONTINUED From First Page)
Murray. for the State organization
favors him--Murray figures in the Sit
uation so far as a rather forlorn out
slider. Also, Roosevelt. through being
the favorite of the organization, will
have ample machinery for getting his
case before the people and getting out
the vote on primary day. Murray has
almost nothing of organization or cam
paign machinery.
But suppose the question should arise
whether Roosevelts views on economic
issues are really as liberal as most Of
the Western Democrats demand Sup
pose comparison should be made be-
tween Roosevelts liberalism and Muir
rays radicalism. Murray repudiates
the idea he is a radical, but the WORD
is as convenient a one as the present
writer can find to describe Murray's,
let us say. unusual views on some pub
lie questions) Murray is kin to the
present political spirit of most of the
West. He is running frankly as the
friend of the distressed and discon-
tented. He believes times will be worse
in June than they are now. and on
that prediction he bases what hope he
has Of getting the Democratic nomina-
ton cor at least making a considerable
commotion in the Democratic conven-
tom. Murray believes in cheap money,
makes that an outstanding point in
the program with which he proposes
to save the Nation.
Suppose, in the North Dakota CAM
paign, the respective views of Roose-
velt and Murray. the respective shades
of their liberalism should become an is
sue. be widely exploited and hold con-
trol OF the minds of the voters as they
go to the polls. 1t would be a material
incident in the campaign as a whole.
with influence on Democratic national
action in June. if it should turn out in
North Dakota that Murray beats RooSe-
welt, or even makes formidable show
ing against Roosevelt.
Leaders Hesitate.
The lack OF exact public knowledge
about RooSevelt'S convictions and atti-
tude toward public questions consti-
tutes one of the reasons why many of
the major leaders of the Democratic
party in the Nation hesitate about CIV
irg assent to nominating him. Talk
with these leaders reveal that they are
troubled in mind. They would like to
go along" with the project Of nomi-
I11tlIlR ROOSSNoll IL 1OT llO USlIcI IcdSOll
than that he is so far on the way. In
personal sense they have nothing
against Roosevelt; they like him. But
they are troubled by uncertainties in
the public understanding of his atti-
tude on public questions. They think
the picture of Roosevelt's position on
many questions is indefinite and dim;
and they fear that when his attitude on
every question is made clear. as it must
be in the ultimate campaign for the
presidency. the party may suffer.
They do not accuse Roosevelt OF
carrying water on both shoulders. nor
! of any other form of deliberate balanc-
ing. They merely think that the pic
ture of him as a public man has not
sufficiently emerged. They think il
! possible Roosevelt may have straight
edged convictions, but they do not
know, and they think it important
Roosevelt's convictions should be
! known before he is nominated. and
before the movement to nominate him
goes much further.
That, roughly, is the state Of MIND
of majority of the Democratic leaders
who are of national Importance. A
some Of them put it, IF he's radica
enough to suit North Dakota, how car
| he be conservative enough for New
| York;" Putting the same doubt ir
terms of another issue. they say, I'll
he's net too wet for Georgia. how car
he be wet enough for New York;
Roosevelt will have TO be clear anC
definite on prohibition, otherwise Smith
will prevent him from getting the nom.
ination.
The Democratic Race.
| Roosevelt will have more delegate.
than any other candidate. Next to him
Smith will have the largest number
The aggregate of the strength of tht
other candidates will be more thar
abundant to prevent the nomination o.
| Roosevelt. Most of these non-Roose.
| welt delegates will follow the common
| leadership of and be in sympathy with
the major leaders of the party. Suct
men as ex-Gov. Smith, ex-Gov. Cox
who was the nominee in 1920; John w
Davis and Others of similar experience
and elevation. II name these as types
without imputing particular views t.
them) If these decide at the time o
the convention that 1t Is not desirable
to nominate Roosevelt, they will hav
plenty of delegates to enforce their de
cision
If the major party leaders had Il
make their decision today, it woul,
probably be against nominating Roose
welt. Certainly they would lean ia
that way. The one consideration tina
will at all times make them pause l
a wonder whether any other cand!dat
can carry New York State as surely a
Roosevelt presumably can. II the lead
ers could be assured that Speaker JOIN
Garner Of Texas could get as man