Evening star., 1932-03-21
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

OhkOta, tAle hOOfeIi6cS emerge with
9 Of the IL delegates to the Repub-
lican National Convention, according
to the dispatches from the West. Two
Of the delegates chosen are those pro-
posed for election jy the non partisan
group Of Republicans, with which
Senator Frazier and Senator Nye
usually train. But in this instance
neither Senator Frazier nor Senator
Nye was q candidate for election as
delegate to the National Convention,
and they are reported to have main
tanned q hands-on policy. President
Hoover's name was not entered in the
presidential preferential primary in
North Dakota, separate fair from
the election of the delegates. He left
that field to France, former Senator
from Maryland. who has raised the
banner of revolt against Hoover lead
erShip in the Republican party, end to
Gen. Jacob S. Coxey, who led Coxey's
army to Washington during the busi-
ness depression in the COS. Had SEN
ator Hiram johnson of California per-
mitted himself to be drawn into North
Dakota as a contender for the Repub-
lican presidential nomination, Mr.. Hoo
ver's friends would have been up
against another problem entirely, and
they would have had to consider much
more seriously whether to enter his
name in the presidential preferential
primary. Now, 1t appears, it matters
little who won the preference vote
since the delegates are to be Mr..
Hoover's.
And 50 the Hoover denomination band
wagon moves smoothly along. gathering
delegates in New Hampshire, North
Dakota and intermediate points without
very serious opposition. From the South
come the expected reports that the Re
publican delegations to the national
convention will be favorable to the re-
nomination Of the President Even in
South Carolina, where two factions, one
Of them supposed to be anti Hoover,
have been fighting for Republican con-
troll, 1t is reported that both factions
have chosen delegates ready to vote for
Mr.. Hoover'S denomination All the
talk OF revolt against the Hoover ad-
mlnlStratlon and determination to
place another presidential candidate in
the neld than the President has faded
out. Yet few months ago there was
much OF that kind of conversation. The
truth of the matter appears to be an
upward swing Of the Hoover stock has
taken place and along with it an up
ward swing of the prospects of the
G. o. P. What has Just happened in
North Dakota is indicative of what has
been going on around the country.
Kansas is getting in line again, accord
ing to such veteran politicians as David
Mulvane, Republican national commit
teeman, and year ago the voters of
Kansas were rip-rearirg mad and ready
to vote Democratic.
The Republicans have got their second
wind, so to speak. They are talking
much more hopefully about their pros
poets next Fall. They needed conf
dence first of all, and this they seem
to have picked up in a measure They
are not likely to overlook the fact, how
ever, that they face the hardest battle
they have hsd for many years. But if
they had TO have a financial panic and
business depression during the present
administration, it was much better for
the Republicans that it happened IN
1929 than in 1881.
X
Roosevelt Democrats in New York
what part their candidate should play
personally In the Democratic national
convention In Chicago. Should he be
included in tie list of delegates at large
from New York or should he Just 60
to Chicago as potential presidential
nominee? They would like to know
what Alfred e. Smith Is to do, whether
re aims to go as delegate to the ma
tional convention or sit on the floor and
take active part in the proceedings of
the convention. 1t would be q strange
situation II both these prominent Dem
ocratic leaders were members of the
Empire States delegation to the
party's national convention this year,
both candidates for the presidential
nomination. Roosevelt could go to
Chicago without becoming a delegate
and still obtain access to the conven-
ton and to debate, if desire, through
the expediency of a proxy for cne of
the elected delegates who will support
him, II occasion should arise. Both
Roosevelt and Smith have been high
lights in the Democratic national con-
ventions of 1924 and 1923. At both those
conventions Roosevelt made the speech
nominating Smith, and at the former
convention Smith himself delivered an
address. He did not go to Houston,
where he was nominated in 1923.
+
Roosevelt today Is eulogized In a poll
of Senators and Representatives taken
by the NatiSnal Popular Government
League as having clean slate on the
power question. At the same time, from
the Roosevelt headquarters in New York
is issued a statement quoting William
H. Woodin, president of the American
Car & Foundry Co., chairman of the
board of the American Locomotive Co.
and director of the Federal Reserve
Bank, declaring that big business" has
nothing to fear from the New York
Governor If he is elected President.
Roosevelt seemingly looks well to both
the progressives and conservatives If
these statements are to be credited.
Here Is quotation from Mr.. Woodin's S
remarks:
What, If anything. has big business
to fear from Gov. Roosevelt as Presi-
dent? Absolutely nothing-and I saw
this with all conviction and as my de-
liberate Judgment based not alone on
a close study Of his acts and utterances
during the many years he has been in
official life and therefore in the public
eye, but as well upon my knowledge
and appreciation of those qualities of
heart and mind that go to the makeup
OF the man and determine what. for
want OF a better word, we call his
character
II understand that a propaganda
has been set in motion, quietly and COW
ertly but persistently, designed to in
still the fear that the Governors atti-
tude and policies are inimical to big
business, so called. Such propaganda
Is unfair, Of course, but characteristic
1ally political and is undoubtedly in
spired by his competitors within both
the major parties for the nomination
that now seems likely to be his. To
any one who knows Roosevelt as I
know him the suggestion is absurd
unless by big business is meant bad
business. In him bad business. whether
big or little, will find a relentless and
dauntless enemy"
y
The National Popular Government
Leagues poll deals with the opinions
advanced by 81 Senators and members