Evening star., 1932-10-03
The Political Mill
BY G. Could Lincoln.

L
CHICAGO, October 2, ls32.-Gov.
Roosevelt. the Democratic nominee for
President, is home in Albany today
after his big adventure in the West. and
some time before midnight President
Hoover will start his journey to Des
Moines, Iowa, the heart Of the dis
gruntled corn belt. Gov. Roosevelt
reached home without stubbing hts toe
politically. For the most part, he fed
his audiences on pleasant speeches
which promised much but without con-
crete plans for carrying out the pledges
The farmers of the West have yet to put
their hands on any tangible proposal
for their benefit SO far as their surplus
crops are concerned. 1t remains to be
learned what President Hoover will tell
the Iowa farmers and through them the
rest Of the agricultural West. The Re-
publican campaign leaders are expect
ing great things from the Presidents S
speech. They look for a favorable con-
trast between the Hoover speech and
that dealing with the farmers problems
by Gov Roosevelt. Further. they
are hoping that the President will IN
still In the Republican workers and
voters the courage to carry on in this
campaign which Is badly needed. Un-
Ger the leadership Of President Hoover
the Republican campaign may take .
new and more vigorous turn this week.
The word brought back by trained
observers who journeyed West with Gov.
Roosevelt is that. while he made no mis-
takes, neither did he prove a shining
light. a rabble raiser or another Roose-
Walt " hxff fI1a ftAVv t. 4
T. r. II the West takes him to its
heart and votes for him, it will be be-
cause Of the demand for a change-any
kind OF change-and because it blames
the depression on the present Repub-
lican administration. That is the word
that comes back with the Roosevelt
train. The people of the West have not
been thrilled by Franklin Delano Roose-
welt. Yet they like him. pleasantly
enough, and admire the courage with
which he has fought hissway back to
full participation in affairs.
Roosevelt goes home to meet the
savage opposition Of the Democratic
organization in greater New York, un-
less all signs fail Tammany, it
appears, Is planning to pursue relent-
less opposition to the Governor, not
withstanding the lip service which has
been rendered him by John F. Curry,
McCooey of Brooklyn and others. The
organization. it is said, intends to have
It's way in the matter OF nominating a
Mayor Of New York and a Governor Of
the Empire State. even if it has to
scuttle the ship for Roosevelt and Gar
ner. Perhaps these troubles may be
ironed out. Perhaps Mr. Curry will call
on the hight and in the end 90 along
with Roosevelt Roosevelt proved too
strong for Curry in the Democratic Ma
uonal Convention and won the presi-
dental nomination over Curry's opposi-
tion. He may turn the same trick and
be elected President without the aid Of
Curry or even the 47 electoral votes OF
New York State. II Roosevelt wins his
way into the White House under those
circumstances, he may be expected to
use whatever power the national organi-
zation has to crush Curry tn New York
City.
just when the Roosevelt Democrats
thought that they had the Jimmie"
Walker case out Of the way, along came
the court and decided that mayoralty
election must be held in November
Possibly the Court OF Appeals will re-
verse this decision. II it does, then the
danger Of having Walker head the city
ticket In New York will be at an end
lor another year-certainly until after
the presidential campaign Tammany
may not nominate Jimmie" The Little
Mayor" as Governor Roosevelt has re-
ferred TO Jimmie" on occasion, has
been shown up In . terrible light in re-
cent weeks by the present acting mayor,
Mckee. Tammany might have a hard
time making the city swallow Jimmie"
again. After all, the citizens of New
York are not anxious 10 have their
money squandered. even by Jimmie"
Walker.
Speaker Jack Garner, Roosevelt,s run
ming mate. has been vindicated. He
said he was sure that Al Smith would
support the Democratic national ticket.
Mr.. Smith, as editor of the New Out
look, has announced his desire to see
the Democrats win But what an an
nouncement! 1t drew from Senator
Thomas j. Walsh the comment that Mr.
Smith might have been more gracious
about 1t. He might have, indeed.
At last the Republicans are to get
Calvin Coolidge into action in this cam
PdA6h. ~ That tlle
President will speak at a mass meeting
in Madison Square Garden October IL.
The Democrats have sought in recent
months to show that Mr.. Coolidge was
responsible in part for the crash in 1929
because when he was President he did
not. they say. try to head on the specu-
lation by the public, nor take steps to
halt the manipulation of securities. Yet
the American people remember Mr..
Coolidge as the man under whose ad-
miniStration they had great prosperity.
plenty Of jobs and high wages They
are still inclined to listen to the man
who. after all. personifies to them hard
headed common sense and thrift.
=
The campaign Of the Republicans Is
to convince the voters who still have
jobs and who still have property that
the Democrats have nothing to offer
except q continuance CT hard times.
whereas II President Hoover and the
Republicans are kept in office. the pro-
gram which they have already insu-
tuted will bring back at least meas
ure of prosperity. If President Hoover
personally could be heard by all the
voters he probably would win the cleo
ton even now. He may still do so.
for he has good case. But the Re
publican campaign managers admit
today that it is uphill work and they
are not sure victory can be accom-
pliShed with so short q time remaining
before election day.
Gov Roosevelt has a fair for award
ing titles. For example. some years
back he dubbed Al Smith ''the Happy
Warrior" and the name stuck to Mr..
Smith. although he is no longer happy,
but still warrior. A few days ago,
while in Nebraska. the Governor called
Senator George w. Norris that very
perfect gentle knight Of progressivism. .
Just how that will 60 down with the
Nebraska farmers remains to be seen.
The regular Republicans will never
agree that Norris is either gentle or
knightly. They say he does not know
the first principles of loyalty. Roose-
welt. however, sees in Senator Norris
loyalty to principle rather than to
party.
Tust how long the RentIbfican pro-