Evening star., 1932-08-07
CONFIDENCE SHOWN
BY GOV. ROOSEVELT.
Governor Believes He Will
Defeat President Hoover
This Fall.
Continued From First Pase.)

ing more smoke then they've emitted
since Hoover prosperity" first set in.
Making due allowance for all the
psychological benefits the G. o. P.
will derive from the aspect Of return
ing prosperity If 1t persists up to cleo
ton day, Gov. Roosevelt is convinced
that the Nations economic distress Is
far too deep-seated-the country's
memory too long and too painful-to
permit the Hoover administration to
escape condemnation on November 8.
Any other verdict by the voters would
be so complete reversal Of American
tradition, precedent and the rules OF
the political game that the Democratic
nominee cannot bring himself to
imagine It can conceivably come to
pass.
Links Repeal With Economies.
Albany is aware that repeal and beer
tnsistently appeal to many respected
Democratic leaders, especially from the
wet North and East, as their party's
winning tricks and those which must
be played soon, aften and vociferously
il victory Is to be assured They have
not sold this idea to Gov. Roosevelt
Repeal and Volstead modification, as
demanded in the Democratic platform,
are branded by him as Democratic
policies" which must and will COM
mand appropriate attention, along with
other policies laid down at Chicago,
but the Governor has no intention OF
putting liquor conspicuously out in
front, as some Of his supporters think
he should do. Mr.. Roosevelt links re-
economies program because of the
revenue-raistng possibilities wrapped up
in them.
The Atlantic seaboard hustings on
which Gov. Roosevelt appears are likely
to hear more Of his liquor views than
when he ventures across country into
the South and West-a swing around
the circle which Is under considera-
ton but not yet decided. Meantime,
he stands simply on his declared pledge
to ask Congress-if he becomes Presi-
dent-to move in the direction Of re-
peal and beer, If the present Congress
has not done so beforehand. The
Governor conveys the definite impress
sion that there Is no Democratic virtue
in harping on the liquor proposition
beyond this simple categorical program.
Some one told him that President
Hoover still thinks the dry side Of the
prohibition controversy Is politically
the winning side. Gov. Roosevelt takes
| issue with that view. He points to
recent primary votes in Southern States
as unmistakably indicating the wet
| trend.
Not Radical on Utilities.
Anti-power zealots, like Senator Nor
ris. who have climbed aboard the Roose-
| velt bandwagon, may be due for little
dISlluSionment when the Governors
power views are submitted to the coun-
try Mr.. Roosevelt Is plainly bent upon
diSabusing the countrys mind, espe-
cially the capitaliStic world, Of the
thought that he Is an irresponsible
radical" on utility and public owner
| ship questions. The Governor con-
demnS the financing methods employed
by some large utility holding corpora
| tions, but he distinguishes between
soundly financed companies and those
| which go in for excessive capitalization
and high-pressure the public into buy
ing watered stocks. He favors system
of requiring all utility companies with
| publicly owned securities to disclose
details Of their earnings, their capt.
talizations and the interlocktng rela.
tionshipS between operating and hold
ing companies. Generally speaking
Gov. Roosevelt thinks pitileSs publicity
| should apply to all companies with pub
| licly owned securities, utility and non
! utility corporations alike.
Mr.. Roosevelt denies that he faVors
or has ever favored, public ownership
Of utilities in general. In New York
State he has always held that II the
State Is merely empowered to generate
electrical energy and regulate profits
which private companies derive from
retail sale Of current, curb over cor
porate rapacity is automatically pro-
vided. The Governor indicated to the
| Associated Press in an authorized
statement this week that he considers
return OF 7 to per cent on its in
| vestment 'to be a reasonable expecta-
ton by any power company" In the
same statement it was set forth thai
Gov. Roosevelt contemplates no attack
upon the principle Of holding company
organizations, though he strongly as
sails what he believes Is abuse Of power
| in the case of some utility holding cor
porations.
Favors Debts Conference.
It has escaped general notice that
Gov. Roosevelt Is on record in favor o
a washington conference on war debts
Addressing the National Grange Feb
ruary 2 last, the Governor voiced thu
view that it is the normal and natura
| +h;ro For TrpclA Gan N invite niJ