Evening star., 1934-10-28
NATIONAL ISSUES SEIZE
OHIO VOTERS INTEREST
Vic Donahey Holds Edge Senator Fess G. O. P.
Stalwart, But Race for Governor
Seems Close.

he Is up against one of the greatest
personalities Ohio has ever produced.
The people Of the State have con-
fidence In Donahey His support
knows no party boundary line. The
organization element Of his own party
has never been for him. He has never
been willing to play the politicians
game. But for every vote he has lost
in the Democratic party for this reason
in his many State campaigns, he has
always secured two from the Repub-
hcans to make up for it. His sup
porters on both sides of the party line
readily admit he does not compare in
education and ability with Senator
FeSs, but counter with the statement
that "Donahey is honest and in
sympathy with the common people"
Donahey is not a good public
speaker. He has done more speaking
in this campaign than ever before, but
that is not much. He refuses to have
any of his speeches mailed out to
voters at the expense of any one but
himself and sends them only to those
who ask for them. He has no head
quarters and no hired workers.
My record and the record Of Sen
ator Fess are well known to the voters
of Ohio" he says, "let them base their
decision between us on those records"
This is his reply to a proposition
from the Republican State Campaign
Committee for a joint debate with
Senator FeSs.
Personal Fight Avoided.
Nothing of a personal nature has
been used on either side, except per-
haps that Senator Fess voted to over
rule presidential veto on the act
to restore public salaries to approx
mately their former levels and that
he had his two sons and daughter
in-law on the Federal pay roll.
Donahey has refused to declare that
he will support President Roosevelt's
policies in all particulars, though
pressed to do so. He has gone no
further than to say that he regarded
the President as honest and sincere,
that he was in general sympathy with
what he was trying TO dc and would
gladly support him in all he proposed
for recovery purposes that met his own
approval, but that he would never
sign any blank notes or checks"
Sentiment seems to be overwhelm-
ingly for Donahey, though Senator
Fess has improved his situation. It
is too much to expect, however, that
the great lead Donahey has can be
greatly reduced, and the defeat of the
Senator seems assured, possibly by as
much as 100000 votes. The improve
ment in Senator Fess' position Is
probably due to a recession in the
popularity Of President Roosevelt.
Confidence in the New Deal Is be-
ginning to subside in this State, prob
ably because Of the lack of tangible
results.
State Situation Different.
As to the State tickets, the situa-
tion is different. The fight there
turns about the two candidates for
Governor, former Secretary Of State
Clarence ]. Brown and former Rep
resentative Martin L. Davey leading
the Republicans and Democrats, re-
spectively. Both men have been am
bilious to fill this Office for several
years and both are adept in political
management. Both have opposition
within their own parties-enemies
made in former campaigns.
Davey is engaged heavily In busi-
ness and as such was both personally
and through companies that he con-
trolled a large borrower from banks
in the Northern part of the State
that we're closed for liquidation. The
Republicans have raised the question
whether it would be wise to have
Davey, as Governor, appoint the
State bank superintendent, who
would have to try to collect from the
Governor his debts to the banks and
the liability on his stock.
Paul Herbert, the Republican candi-
date for Lieutenant Governor, has
pressed this matter hotly against
Davey. who has declared that after
the election he will sue Herbert for
libel. Herbert has only reiterated
what he said and urged Davey to
bring suit at once.