Evening star., 1932-07-28
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

veritable barrage Of Democratic
talk is to be let loose this week END
Tomorrow night Senator Pat Harrison
of Mississippi will 60 on the radio TO
answer. It is said, the speech delivered
by Secretary Ogden Mills of the Treas
ury some time ago, assailing the Demo-
Gratis and alleging that Gov. Roosevelt
of New York, the Democratic presi-
dentisI nominee, had nothing TO offer
the country in the way of constructive
plans for the betterment OF the coun-
trv. Gov. Roosevelt himself Is 10 oe
heard on the radio Saturday night, ex-
planning the Democratic national pat
form. and on the same night Chair
man James A. Farley of the Democratic
National Committee takes the air also.
The radio. it appears, Is to be used even
more than usually in this presidential
campaign. Gov Roosevelt has good
voice for radio talk and his supporters
intend tn make the most OF 1t. How
much OF this radio campaigning Is TO
be paid for out of the campaign chests
and how much is to be free of charge
might be an interesting question.
4 y
The newspapers today carry reports
that Gov Roosevelt and Gov. Joseph B.
Elv of Massachusetts,, who led the night
for the nomination Of Alfred E. Smith
In the Democratic National Convention,
had reached IAN agreement" in a two
and-a-half-hour conference at the
Governors mansion in Albany yester-
day. Both the Governors, however,
kept mum about the terms OF the
agreement, with the announcement tnat
Ely would issue statement on Mon
day which would make clear MS pos.-
ton. Perhaps the Governors were only
setting the stage and Wnettlng the pup
lie appetite for news IN delaying tnlS
announcement. Perhaps tnere were
others to be consulted before a state
ment was made. AL Smith himself may
be in the picture before TINS matter IS
| finally given full publicity. Inc retl-
cence Of Gov. Ely when 1t comes to
talking about the Democratic national
ticket and his own plans for the future
during the last few weeks has been
mystifying, to say the least. Not from
the day of the nomination of Gov.
Roosevelt up until the present has Ely
said he would support the ticket in so
many words. for publication. at all
events.
The Massachusetts, situation Is no
bed Of roses from the Democratic point
of view. The Massachusetts Democrats
were heart and soul for the renomlna-
ton of Mr.. Smith, and they sent
fighting delegation to the national con-
vention pledged to Smith. Gov. Ely
placed Smiths name in nomination and
made what was widely acclaimed as the
best nominating speech OF the conVen-
ton. Mr.. Smith has had the faculty
Of getting good nominating speakers In
the last three Democratic National
Conventions-Gov. Roosevelt made the
two before Gov. Ely was called on. For
a month Ely has bided his time. The
question may have arisen whether a
hop to the Roosevelt band wagon by
Gov. Ely would aid either of the Gov
ernors, provided the rank and file OF
the Smith Democrats remained sore.
Smith carried Massachusetts, by a mar
row margin in 1928 It remains to be
seen whether Gov. Roosevelt can turn
the same trick in this hitherto Repub-
lican State in 1882. He must have the
aid Of Gov. Ely and of the Smith ad-
herents in the Bay State, if he Is to
succeed. That explains the strenuous
efforts which have been made recently
by Chairman Farley to bring about
conciliation of Ely and the Smith
forces, not only in Massachusetts,. but
also in New Jersey.
Gov. Roosevelt is to speak in Co.
lumbus, Ohio, on August 20. This is
the speech in the Middle West to which
Chairman Farley Teie-Ied WIN he wa
in Washington this Wcck for confer
ence with Democratic Senators and
Representatives. 1t will be the Gov
ernor'S first campaign speech outside
of Albany, and marks the intention o.
the Democrats to make a great battle
for the big States Of the Miowest
illinois, Ohio and Inaiana. Ohio has
not gone Democratic in presidential
election since 1916, when Woodrow Will
son carried it by about 100000 votes,
| much to the surprise of the Democrats
| themselves. President Hoover carried
Ohio against Smith in 1928 by 763,00O
votes. In 1880 Ohio electsd White, a
Democrat, Governor, and Bulkley, a
Democrat, United States Senator In
diana gave Hoover a lead of 287 ,000
over Smith, and Illinois went Republi-
can by a majority of ass 900 in the
same election. In Illinois two years
ago Senator Lewis, Democrat, de-
feated Mrs. Ruth Hanna Mccormick
Simms by more than Toe. 1000 votes Mrs.
IL
however, in large part to factional Re
publican troubles and the rage of the
dry Republicans because she announced
she would be bound by q referendum
on the liquor question.
The Democrats are looking to hard
times and unemployment in these
great States Of the Midwest to win for
them In the coming election. They
believe that desire for a change -
any kind of a change, will influence
the voting In Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.
Furthermore, they believe that there
has been a wide shift in opinion in
Ohio and Indiana over the liquor ques-
tion, and in DownState Illinois, and
that their platform for repeal of the
eighteenth amendment will help them
in these States,
X X + Il
The appointment of former Senator
Atlee Pomerene OF Ohio, Democrat, by
President Hoover to be a member of
the board of directors OF the Recon
struction Finance Corporation has set
the political tongues awagging. Mr..
Pomerene Is to become chairman of the
board and also his appointment gives
the Democrats majority of the board.
The Democrats have been planning an
dSoauAI uPOH FTeSlOeIlI hoover ana LIle
Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
They have been prepared to charge that
millions Of dollars were being loaned to
insure Republican votes next Novem-
Der. The Presidents selection Of a
Democrat to head the board and also
to make the board Democratic in ma
Jority rather takes the gimp out of this
line OF attack. He is being charged now
by some of the Democrats with attempt
ing to place on the Democrats any blame
for the failure of the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation to aid in the re-
turn OF business and employment AS
a matter Of fact the President Is far
more interested in having the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation prove
useful and a success than in any failure
1t may have. 1t is only the Democrats
who can gain from failure, and that
because OF continuance of hard times.
The Democrats must watch their step
lest the country become convinced that