Evening star., 1932-07-19
Mr.. Garner's Job.

Nomination CT the speaker OF the
House for their vice presidential candi-
date has raised a problem for the Demo-
Gratis. Usually the party candidate for
President has been left to deal with the
nominee of the Republicans for Chief
Executive: to set the pace and make
the issues in the campaign. But this
years Democratic nominee fer Vice
President takes different view of the
situation. Arriving at Dallas, Texas. the
Speaker told an admiring throng, Il can
deal with Hoover" He added Il am
big enough, considering his weakness. "
1t begins to look as though Mr. Gamers
conception OF this campaign places him
in the role Of defeating President Hoover.
Just where Gov. Franklin d. Roosevelt
OF New York, the Democratic presiden-
tial candidate, fits into the picture re-
mains to be developed, at least in Mr..
Gamers mind.
Perhaps the prodding Of Mr.. Garner
into the principal role Of the Demo-
cratic national campaign is, after all.
just Republican plot. Some Of the
@. o. P. would be delighted to have
Gov. Roosevelt swap places in this
campaign with Speaker Garner. For,
no matter what Mr.. Garner may think
about the matter. these Republicans do
not believe that Mr.. Garner is quite
big enough to take care of President
Hoover. And there may be some Dem
ocrats who have similar suspicion.
At any rate, there is growing in
clination on the part of other Demo-
Gratis in Congress to wish that their
vice presidential candidate would not
undertake to set himself up in the
public eye as the whole Democratic
party in the National Legislature. They
to the fiasco in the House over the tax
bill when it was reported by the Ways
and Means Committee and the Speaker
was accused of seeking deep dug
out until the fracas was over. They re-
member his leadership on the economy
bill, which petered out in the House and
had to be revived in the Senate; his
fight to have the Government make
loans to individuals, and the cold chills
run down their backs when they think
Of the reception he may get in sec
tion of the country which casts the
greatest number OF electoral votes.
But Mr. Garner seems to be prepar-
ing for an active campaign, If the re-
ports from Texas are correct. Just
where he Is to speak has not yet been
announced. However, he intends to
make himself heard, and unless all signs
fail the Republican press intends to
give him full opportunity. The Speaker
will be sixty-three years old at his next
birthday, soon after election day. His
years sit lightly upon him. He can fit
about the country without great strain.
Whether he will condescend to lock
horns with the present Vice President,
Charles Curtis, who is his opponent at
the polls, remains to be seen. Mr.
Curtis by the way, notwithstanding the
fact that he is nine years the senior Of
the Speaker. is no slouch as a traveller
and campaigner. Four years ago Mr.
Curtis, without undertaking to declare
after he was nominated that he him
self intended to take care of Al Smith
the Democratic presidential nominee,
proved effective on the stump. Mr.
Curtis, like Speaker Garner, had been
aspirant for the presidential nomination
and had landed in second place. Mr.,
Garner may find. after all. when the
campaign is going strong that he will
have his hands full Just handling the
G. o. p vice presidential candidate,
who also halls from the wide open
spaces of the Middle West.