The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-08-15
SALES DRIVES
OF TWO MAJOR
PARTIES BEGUN
Eastern Campaign Offices
of Democrats and G. 0. P.
Swing in Action.
BY OTIS PEABODY SWIFT
United Press stan Correspondent

United Press stan Correspondent
NEW YORK, Aug. 15.-The two
major political parties today began
a nationwide merchandising cam
paign to sell their respective pres
identiaI candidates to the voters.
Their campaigns, Of course, have
been under way for some time but
not until today we're both parties
permanently at home" in national
sales headquarters in New York.
On the sixth floor Of the Waldorf
Astoria hotel, in a suite Of SEEM
ingly endless connecting bedrooms,
Republican eastern campaign head
quarters swung into action this
morning
Its efficient machinery answers
the challenge Of Democratic ma
tional headquarters, which has a
suite Of connecting salesmen's sam
pie rooms in the Hotel Biltmore.
Between these two hotels-sep-
arated by few short blocks of
sWagger Park avenue-one may see
how a President is made.
Basic Technique Is Same
No national advertising agency
no public relations counsellor, ever
approached a job with more eff1ci-
ent zeal, schooled technique or elab-
crate machinery than do the gentle
men of the hotel suites, out to sell
their candidates to the people of
the United States,
Democratic or Republican, the
basic technique essentially is the
same.
Each has its nest of connecting
rooms, busy with typewriters, con-
ferenCes and hustle.
Each has its multiplicity of pub
licity bureaus, speakers bureaus
mailing rooms, conference rooms,
women's divisions. But there the
similarity ends.
The Republicans do the thing in
the stately new Waldorf, with poise,
modulated voices and nOiseless
typewriters; the Democrats do it in
the brave and gay old Biltmore with
more dash and excitement.
Discreet, tempered and Well-in-
formed, Republican headquarters
takes its hills in silent second, has
floating power to spare on the
straightaway, bellies, with factual in
formation, the family perfumed
atmosphere in which it works.
Democrats Gears Grind
In these quiet halls, Senator Felix
Hebert of Rhode Island, eastern
campaign manager, holds sway. A
lean, tight-buttoned figure, he has
high forehead, thin nostrils, sem
sitive lips and quizzical, sagacious
eyes.
To Hebert reports George Aker-
son, eastern publicity director
Once Akerson was President Hoo
ver's secretary; now he is an of
fetal of motion picture company,
lent to the presidential campaign.
John @. Tilson Of Connecticut,
head Of the speakers bureau, COM
pletes the triumVirate here.
Gears may grind bit at Demo-
cratic headquarters, but there APP
pears to be more action. Everybody
is busy. A steady drum-fire of
tipping comes from the inner offices
Big Jim Farley chairman of the
Democratic committee foot 2, is
the dynamo of Democratic head
quarters. Coatless, red face, his
bald spot shining in the heat, he
dashes about the suite.
Mrs. Roosevelt Has Office
No visit here would be complete
without glimpse into the bare
cubby hole that houses Charles
Michaelson, permanent publicity
chieftain of the Democrats. His
stubby figure is hunched in an at
titude of thought; his eyes peer
darkly behind trimmed spectacles.
But his vitriolic pen is something to
contend with. He once was Wash
ington correspondent for the old
New York World.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt also
has an Office nearby, but it's per-
sonal and not political. A secre-
tary there handles her New York
interests, her charities, details of
the furniture business she conducts
as hobby.