Evening star., 1932-09-15
The Political Mill
By G. Gould Lincoln.


ment of the bonus and given his rea-
sons. How long will his Democratic
opponent, Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt,
be able to refrain from giving his posi-
tion on this important matter, which Is
to come before Congress at its next
and succeeding sessions? Former Gov.
Alfred E. Smith of New York only this
week in his article in the Saturday
Evening Post has declared that 1t Is
due the American people that the can
didates for the presidency state their
positions on this issue Of immediate
payment.
The statement opposing the bonus
payment by President Hoover was made
on the eve of action in the American
Legion Convention on the bonus. 1t has
been regarded as certain that the Le-
gion would vote Overwhelmingly for the
cash payment of the bonus. The Presi-
dents statement may be regarded.
therefore, as an appeal to the veterans
themselves to place the interests of the
entire country ahead Of their own pri-
vate interests or as placing the Legion
naires on record that he will oppose
them and veto the bonus bill II they
succeed in having 1t put through Con-
gress at the coming session. 1t may
also be regarded as an appeal to the
great body Of taxpayers Of the United
States, veteran and non-veteran alike,
who must bear the burden Of an imme-
diate payment Of the bonus at time
when the country Is in financial straits.
X
Gov. Roosevelt was asked on his spe-
cial train travelling West whether he
favored or opposed the bonus payment
now. His reply was he had no comment
to make at that time. A telegram was
sent him by some Of the American
Legion members from their convention
in Portland. If he refrains entirely
from stating his position on the bonus.
Roosevelt will be accused Of fearing to
take a position on a question that is OF
real interest to the American people.
On the other hand, II he declares him.
self in favor of the payment now Of the
bonus, he will find himself opposed by
a lot of people who believe, as does Mr.
Hoover, that this cash payment now
would be detrimental to the whole
country and would be Of only temporary
benefit to a certain group OF citizens.
II Roosevelt declares himself opposed
to the payment OF the bonus, then so
far as the Legion is concerned in this
political campaign Roosevelt would be
no better off than is President Hoover.
1t looks like a tough nut to crack IL
would be ideal for Roosevelt II he could
continue to leave his position on the
bonus in the air. But If ne is able TO
do that, it will be political miracle.
4 X
The announcement that Gov. Albert
c. Ritchie OF Maryland would write for
i,,o o.
cratic Case" originally to have been
written by Alfred E. Smith, indicates
that at least one Of the aspirants for
the Democratic presidential nomination
in Chicago last June is willing to go TO
the front Fundamentally for the Dem
ocratic national ticket. No statement
from Mr.. Smith has yet been made
clearing up his refusal to go forward
with the plan 10 write the article. MI.
Smith has taken issue with Gov.
Roosevelt in the last few months so
often on important. public issues that
he apparently is not willing to give his
Endorsement to the presidential can
didacy of Roosevelt. He accused Roose-
welt of seeking to align class against
class in the present economic crisis In
this country. He charged that Roose-
welt was a demagogue, although he did
not use Roosevelt's name. And now ne
has sought to place Roosevelt on record
on the soldiers bonus. 1t is clear that
Mr.. Smith may have other reasons for
opposing Roosevelt's election than the
purely personal ones Of pique and dis
appointment at his own defeat for re-
nomination for President.
*x
The editor of the Lawndale Press,
IicIn iy,
has suggested a slogan for the Repub-
lican national campaign. 1t is Back
Hoover and Hoover Will Bring Us
Back" The editor is Howard W. Money.
The slogan has a good ring to it, and
is exactly in line with the Republican
campaign. The only criticism is that
it will recall to the voters over and over
again that they and the country are in
a position which demands bringing
back" That is just the thing that Is
hurting the Republican chances today
more than anything else.
The voters apparently are expressing
their disapproval with things as they
are in the primary elections. They are
taking raps at the lin" in Congress.
This happened In congressional elections
in Maine, now completed. It happened
in Georgia yesterday, where Repre-
sentative Crisp. one of the ablest Demo-
Gratis in the House, was turned down
by the voters and comparatively young
and untried man. Gov. Russell, was
overwhelmingly nominated for the Sen
ate in his race against Crisp for the
nomination. Down in Louisiana an
other veteran Democrat in Congress,
Senator Broussard, was turned out,
denied the denomination which went to
Representative Overton. a protege of
Senator Huey Long. There were local
conditions in Louisiana, with Long S
faction intent on defeating Broussard,
which affected the primary election.
Judge Crisp had to face the fire OF
anti-manufacturers' sales tax group. for
as acting chairman of the House Ways
and Means Committee he had strongly
advocated such a tax during the last
session of Congress.
The Republican invasion of Egypt,
Illinois Is faithfully recorded in ths
Egyptian Republican. 1t is a victory
waterway cruise through this section OF
the State which has been called Egypt"
from time immemorial. headed by big
Bill" Thompson. former mayor OF Chi
cago, who is working hard for the sue
cess of Len Small, Republican nominee
for Governor, and incidentally for his
own political recrudescence. Big Bill
took terrible tumble few years ago
when he was turned out of office. and
the hope of most Chicagoans was that
he was through politically. But the
elements he controlled have rallied to
him again, and he was one of the fac
tors in the defeat of Mrs. Ruth Hanna
Mccormick Simms in the Senatorial
campaign two years ago. With true
Thompson style, he helped Mrs. McCor-
mick to defeat his old enemy, former
Senator Charles Deneen, for the Re-
publican Senatorial nomination and
then deserted her and gave his fol-
lowing to Senator James Hamilton
Lewis, Democrat. in the November elec-
ton Of that year.
y \ 4
II reports from Illinois are correct
the Small campaign IS largely in the
interest alone of Small and without any
effort to aid the Republican national
ticket. Thompson's invasion Of Egypt
with his boat, the steamer Cape Girar-
I~.,, Ill ~ y,iaco = fI,ic v,rooro