Evening star., 1932-09-12
Roosevelt Goes West,

GOV. FRANKLIN -. NOOSSVe-t OF new
York, the Democratic presidential
nominee, today starts on his tour Of
the West, whose electoral votes appear
essential to his success at the polls in
November. His followers rely upon the
pleasing personality OF their candidate
and his name. and above all on the
disgruntled farmers Of the great West,
to give Gov. Roosevelt more than an
even break In that section Of the coun-
try. So he will journey all the way to
California, making stops In . score or
more of the Western States and deliv-
ering some Of the major addresses Of
his campaign.
Whether the trip through the West is
good strategy only time will tell. The
West has proven dificult territory for
presidential candidates in the past. A
slip on the part Of the candidate and
more damage may be done than can
be remedied later. Some Of Gov. Roose-
velt's advisers have urged him to stay
out Of the West, holding that that sec
ton is for him anyway and will vote for
him In November. Leave well enough
alone, they have clamored. But this
Young Lochinvar. out Of the East. has
after his bride himself.
With storm signs for the Democrats
gathering more and more in the North
and East, Roosevelt's determination to
WOO the West may after all be entirely
good politics. The Democrats still point
to the fact that it was the States OF
the West and the South which made
the reelection of President Woodrow
Wilson possible in 1916, when New
York and New Jersey turned their backs
on the Democratic candidate and prac-
tically the entire East did the same.
Mr.. Wilson at that time carried many
of the stalwart Republican States OF
the West and capped them of with
California. Today the Republican
nominee for President is q Californian,
and Roosevelt is carrying the fight right
to the home State of President Hoover
It Is possible and even probable that
he will be turned back by the Repub-
ucans in California But at least he
will have had the satisfaction Of max
ing the fight.
The Western Democracy rallied almost
solidly to Roosevelt In the pre-conven-
ton campaign. California, 1t is true,
sent q delegation instructed for Speaker
Garner. But it was a delegation that
afterward made the nomination OF
Gov. Roosevelt possible. Furthermore,
Garner Is Roosevelt's running mate and
If he is really popular in California
he should add strength to the Demo-
cratic national ticket. The progressive
Republicans Of the West, at least those
who follow Senator Norris Of Nebraska.
are inclined to turn to Roosevelt, whom
they look upon as progressive. The
diflculty Of the candidate has been to
garner the progressive strength Of the
West while at the same time holding on
to the conservative strength OF the
East. II 1t becomes necessary, the
Democrats may risk their all upon
combination of the South and the West,
although today they continue to insist
that the States Of the North and East
are favorable to their candidate.
It was Horace Greeley who years ago
advised go West, young man, 90
West" It Is advice which has been
followed since with great success by
many young Americans. There Is q
lure In the great States Of the West.
Fortunes, political and otherwise, have
been reaped by those who were willing
to stake their all. Today Franklin D.
Roosevelt may be stalking his entire
campaign on his invasion of the West.