Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-10-20
urWdsflin{3ton Letter

By v pD4ley

Washington, October 19-These are
distracting days for the small army
of men and women dependent on the
outcome of the Presidential election
for their livelihood. Veteran observ-
ers are in agreement that the situa-
tion calls for prediction of a "close
vote" or a narrow margin of victory
either way. Others returning from
surveys usually ardent partisans are
confident and probably honest in their
convictions that their party will force
Landslide" Meanwhile the people
are besieged by campaign spell-bind-
ers making final excursions into
doubtful territory soliciting votes for
their standard-bearers.
Changes in taxation methods will
be proposed at the outset of the next
session of Congress. The present sys-
tenn which was revised in June has
not yielded the anticipated revenue.
1t is reported that the general sales
tax has gained supporters during the
summer. An effort will be made to
substitute the broad base of a sales
tax for the special levies now in force.
The American Bar Association is one
of the leading groups seeking alter
alton in the tax structure. Pending
these changes these same groups will
demand marked reduction in Federal
expenditures. In many localities can
didates for the Senate and House are
asked to define their position on econ
omy measures.
Hardheaded legislators seeking re-
election are taking steps to minimize
the unemployment problem for them
selves. Realizing that words will
build no walls in the aftermath of the
elections, incumbents whose chances
of reelection are slim now prepare a
raft by obtaining tentative jobs with
law firms or corporations. Their ap-
peal for employment is based on their
claims of influence with their former
colleagues, assuming that the returns
at the polls are against them. Only
those who take flight from reality
ever consider themselves invincible in
politics.
Always seeking the best of omens,
the political soothsayers are some
what perplexed as to the reliability
of prediction polls. The measure
ment of voting sentiment hinges
largely on the method employed in
sending out ballots. Some polls util-
ize telephone directories for a mail
ing list. Others print ballots and use
their own subscription lists as typical.
There is no question that one or two
tests in other campaign years have
been fairly accurate. There are many
drawbacks to these surveys as many
recipients Of ballots are not qualified
as voters and their expressions have
no value. The ideal method would be
to take the list of registered voters
but few canvasses are taken this way.
Straw-votes are interesting and may
show how the political winds are
blowing. An accurate study of voting
tendencies would be disclosed in the
reports of precinct workers to the
ward and county bosses.
A committee of organized lawyers
have made report to their member
ship which virtually reopens the pro-
hibition question. The political work
ers had succeeded in soft-pedalling
the wet" and dry" item as an cleo
ton strategem. The vital problem of
economic recovery and partisan plans
dealing with it had superseded the
bothersome liquor matter. fractional
OWNERS insist that prohibition senti-
ment makes considerable differences
with the national tickets. 1t is GER
tain that party funds have been raised
with the subject as a persuasive argyll
ment. The expensive Wickersham re-
port which figured prominently in