Evening star., 1932-05-12
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

oCdnumg ngure IN the business ana
industrial world, is having his day as
a possible compromise candidate for the
Democratic presidential nomination
Thus q third New Yorker Is thrown
into the melee. He can get nowhere
until Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt and
the former Governor, Alfred z. Smith,
have fought, bled and died In the Dem
ocratic National Convention. Mr..
Young however, is in the process of
grooming. Whether he will ever emerge
q full-fedged candidate remains to be
seen. He has, personally, insisted he
is not candidate. But he Is beginning
to talk mighty like o candidate" For
gested that, after all, the old "equaliza-
ton fee" plan Of farm relief might be
tried with success; that some kind of
modifled soldiers bonus legislation be
put through. and finally that the plan
for $4,000, 900, 900 construction pro-
gram be undertaken by the Federal
Government to aid employment and
that $300,000,000 be appropriated out
OF the national Treasury to help the
distressed men and women in this
country. All of these proposals have
been firmly opposed by President Hoo
yer and the Republican administration.
Y
II the Democrats are seriously intent
upon putting forward a great business
man to lead them in the coming cam
pa1gn as their candidate for President,
why pick one who is willing to take On
the panaceas which have been trotted
out, which have failed of approval and
which have the disapproval of the busi-
ness world In general? Mr.. Young's
espousal OF the cause of the equalization
Zee Is just about as incongruous and
made by the titular leader of the Demo-
cratic party. Alfred E. Smith, on Gov
FRANKLIN D. Roosevelt because Gov.
Roosevelt dared to speak for the little
man" and the forgotten man."
II mas been apparent for long time,
however, that certain interests in the
Democratic party and out of 1t have
been intent on one thing-defeat Of Gov.
Roosevelt for the Democratic nomination
Tor President. The Roosevelt opposition
has been greatly encouraged In recent
weeks by two primary elections-one In
massachusetts,, where Al Smith was VIC
torious, and the other in California,
where the drys put Speaker Garner in
the running again by defeating both
roosevelt and Smith. Nevertheless, the
Roosevelt delegates to the Democratic
national convention continue to in
crease. This week West Virginia,
ARIZONA and Wyoming delegations in
struggled fer Roosevelt have been added
70 the list supporting the New York
Governor.
The puzzle for the Democrats oppos-
ing Roosevelt is to find a candidate who
can be nominated and can be elected
after they have ditched the New York
Governor. Mr.. Young would be the
selection OF some of the Democratic
leaders undoubtedly. He has unques-
toned ability. But how would the
Democrats from the West view his can
didacy, even though he may have de-
clared himself for the equalization fee?
There is talk in Chicago and Texas of
Melvin A. Traylor, president of the
First National Bank of Chicago also
But Mr.. Trayk4. despite his Qualifica-
known to the voters. Furthermore. are
the various candidates In the field op-
posing Roosevelt willing to step aside
for the sake of either Young or Tray
lor? These other candidates are anxious
to prevent the nomination of the New
York Governor. it is true, but they arc
also hoping that the lightning will
strike them, not Mr.. Young or Mr..
Traylor.
One Of the latest attacks on the
Roosevelt organization is that leveled
against Senator A!Den Barkley OF Ken
lucky, slated to be temporary chairman
of the Democratic National Convention
and to deliver the keynote speech. Sen
ator Barkley has been attacked because
he voted in the Senate Finance Com
mittee for q $2-a-ton import tax on
coal, one Of the so-called tariff taxes
In the pending revenue bill. It is urged
that Democrat who has sponsored
such q tariff tax cannot well attack
the Republican tariff law in keynote
speech to the Democratic National Con-
vention and 10 the country. Perhaps
he cannot. But there are lot Of other
prominent Democrats In the same boat
with Senator Barkley on that score
Many Of the Democrats in the Senate
and House have voted for high rates
of tariff duty on products of their
States and districts. In the Senate
Finance Committee, for example, there
were Senator Connally of Texas and
Senator Gore OF Oklahoma voting for
an import duty on oil and supporting
the duty on coal which has gotten Mr.
Barkley into hot water, at least tenn
porarily, There were scores of Demo-
Gratis in the House who voted for these
Import duties, and there will be many
other Democrats In the Senate also
supporting them.
However, the anti-Roosevelt Demo-
Gratis, who do not like Barkely both
because he declined to be a favorite
son candidate for President in Ken
lucky and lined the State delegation up
Tor Roosevelt and because he was the
selection OF the Roosevelt following for
temporary chairman Of the national
convention, are taking an opportunity
to slap at Roosevelt through Barkley
Strangely enough. it was through SEN
ator Cordell Hull's strong opposition to
these tariff amendments to the revenue
bill that the criticism of Barkley was
first given publicity. Senator Hull is q
supporter Of Gov. Roosevelt for the
nomination. But he is unalterably op-
posed to the high-tariff idea and to
these tariff amendments in the revenue
bill.
What the Democrats will do about
Senator Barkley and his Craftsmanship
OF the Democratic National Convention,
now this matter has been brought out
In the open, remains TO be seen. Some
of the Roosevelt leaders merely pooh
pooh the idea of displacing Barkley,
and insist there Is nothing to the drive
against him. Senator Hull is not in
clined to 60 through with an effort to
displace Rarkley. Furthermore. II the
tariff taxes in the revenue bill finally
should be stricken out, what was done
in the Senate committee or even on the
Senate floor by individual supporters Of
these taxes Is not likely to hnger long
in the memory of the voters, But in
the meantime there is to be lively
beating of some Democratic breasts.
The Democrats who have themselves
voted for high duties on long staple
cotton, on goat hair, on candy and on
many other commodities during past
discussions Of the tariff in Congress are
not likely to throw stones. They live
in glass houses.