Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-11-11
VOTE DEBTS HELD
CONFINED TO VETS
Immense Majority Enables
Roosevelt "To Write His
Own Ticket"
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

BY MAXIM SULLIt AN.
The immensely of Gov. Roosevelt
victory makes it extremely wholesome.
Support of him was so widely distrib-
uted that it must have included a ma
jority, or at least great many, of
practically every geographical group in
the country and every group in the So
cial structure. No group can feel de-
feated. Almost it is possible to say that
every one won. No group needs to feel
fear of being victim of the, winners
retaliation.
One consequence of the sweeping
quality of the Democratic victory is the
independence it confers on Gov. Roose-
welt.
There is no parallel in American his
tory for the breadth of the franchise
which this election gives Gov. Roosevelt,
the freedom of action it confers upon
him. AS respects the nomination. he
may have quite small number of debts
to pay to individuals who helped. AS
respects the election, however, he owes
no debt to any one except the people
No one of the leaders and groups that
lined up behind him can claim any
special consideration.
If Senator La Toilette claims he
helped with Wisconsin, the answer is
that 10 WisconsinS could be subtracted
from Gov RooSevelt'S electoral vote and
he would still be victor If eX-Gov
Smith claims he helped with MaSsachu-
sets, the answer is that 10 MaSsachu-
sets could be subtracted and Gov.
Roosevelt would still have a majority.
The same is true of every leader of any
type-Senator Norris and Nebraska,
Frank Hague and New Jersey.
Didn't Need Tammany.
1t is true of Tammany in New York,
because four New Yorks could be sub
tracted from Roosevelt's electoral vote
and he would still have a comfortable
majority. If the whole Progressive Re
publican group claims consideration as
faction, the answer is that Gov. RooSe-
welt cid not need them.
If any of the Eastern conservatives
expect anything for the campaign con-
tributions they made, the answer is that
very probably, as 1t now appears, Gov.
Roosevelt could have won without any
material campaign fund at all
If the South makes any sectional
claim, the answer is that all the South
ern States twice over could be deducted
and Gov. Roosevelt would still be Presi-
dent
If the West makes claim. the answer
| is that every State west of the MiSsis-
sippi could be subtracted.
If the farmers claim special consid-
! Grafton, the answer is that every farm
ing State could be taken away from
Gov. RoOseVelt's vote and yet leave him
victor.
If the veterans claim the new PreSi-
dent must support their demands on
the Federal Treasury, the answer is that
the veterans vote could be subtracted
and still leave Gov. Roosevelt a winner
Owes Duty to Vets.
To all this there is perhaps one ex-
ceptiOn. 1t can hardly be said that the
vets could all be Subtracted from the
Roosevelt voters and leave him victor
Whether that be true or not, Gov.
Roosevelt owes to the vets not a debt
but a duty. No President elected by so
| immense a majority on a platform call
ing specifically for beer Immediately
and repeal of the whole eighteenth
amendment promptly can fail to give
! quick energy to that one among the
many actions to which he is pledged
Yet another freedom and another
| leverage of power conferred on Gov
! Roosevelt by the sweeping quality of
his victory is the practical Wiping out
of Republican leadership. The Repub-
licans practically are without power to
resist or embarrass Gov. Roosevelt until
! after and if he makes some serious
mistake.
Only by some future and problematic
arising of disapproval of the new Presi-
dent among the people can the Republ-
can party begin again to grow. As for
| Republican leadership there is prac-
| tically nothing left of 1t. Mr. Hoover
! for four years will have the nominal
Office which ex-Gov. Smith when in a
! similar position described as "titular
head of the party. But every Republi-
can worker and leader will assume, for
! the present at least, that no candidate
| SO badly defeated as Mr.. Hoover is
! likely to be nominated again. Not among
Republican Senators, Representatives Or
governors of States, as they stand after
his election. is any individual who
stands out as the probable leader Of the
Republicans during the coming four
years.
The freedom from limitation con-
| ferred upon Gov. Roosevelt, the breadth
of the franchise he enjoys. is remark
able. He can, in phrase from the con-
| temporary classics, write his own
| ticket"
Police recently broke up Communist
! low dan ND q