Evening star., 1934-08-13
The Political Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

Probably no one doubted that Presi-
dent Roosevelt's swing through the
West on his return trip to Washington
from Hawaii had political significance.
However, If any one had such doubts,
they must be dispelled by now. First,
speaking in the Far Northwest. the
President outlined 4program of hydro
electric power development, to be ac-
companied. it is supposed, by huge
influx of new population and new
industry. That may well dazzle the
eyes of the people in Washington,
Oregon and other States of that re-
gion. Next he placed his seal of
approval on Senator Bob La Toilette
of Wisconsin, progressive Republican
in 1892 and a supporter of Roosevelt
against former President Hoover and
now an independent progressive in
his effort to be reelected to the
! Senate. And almost at the same time
he announced his naturalization OF
| silver.
1t certainly looks as though Mr..
Roosevelt had lost none of his po-
litical acumen during his months trip
| to the Hawaiian Islands. The ad-
ministration is intensely anxious to
hold on to the West, country which
| in the past has been strongly Repub-
lican. 1t wants to hold on to the
Republican progressives, believing that
with an alliance between the Demo-
Gratis and the progressives it can beat
the Republicans in that section Of
the country just as it did two years ago.
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Democrats are radiating confidence.
from Chairman Jim" Farley of the
Democratic National Committee, on
down the line. And why shouldn't
they? The administration is pouring
millions of dollars into the pockets of
the farmers Of the country at a psy-
Geological time.
1t is succoring the drought-stricken
farmers in many States of the West
with hundreds of millions more. 1t
has given the silverites and the in
| f1ationists something to cheer about
in the new naturalization OF silver.
| 1t has hundreds of thousands of new
names on the Government pay rolls
and is spending billions for public
works. If the party cannot win under
the circumstances in the coming con-
gressional elections, 1t must be because
| the Democrats are bunch OF nitw1tS.
With President Roosevelt leading
them. it would be difficult indeed to
support the charge that the Demo-
Gratis were engaging in any political
nitwittery, whatever may be said about
their economies.
| X \ 4 X
The President could have intro
duced his order for the nationaliza-
ton Of silver weeks ago had he de-
sired to take immediate advantage OF
the silver act of 1884. The admin
istration's course with regard to silver
has been to advance step by step.
However, <ather feeling its way be-
fore engaging in anything drastic.
It has resisted the demands Of the
most ardent silverites. in Congress and
out, and at the same time 1t has
thrown one sop after another to the
| silver people. First, there was the
international silver agreement, entered
! into during the London Economic
Conference. Then came the execu-
| tive order for the purchase of newly
mined silver in this country at some
thing over 81 cents an ounce. Then
the passage Of the silver purchase
act last Spring, and finally the ma
tionalization of silver under the act.
| X X *.*
The Governments operations in
silver are undoubtedly somewhat in
| nnl1,,1afad hOt t1
to increase the use Of silver coins and
also to increase the issue OF silver
certificates. However, all of this Is
far different from the circulation of
so-called fat. poney. with &c, metallic
reserves back OF It. 1t may be called
sound imitation, If there Is such q
thing. Furthermore, the Government
stands to gain very considerably by
the newest silver operation. II 1t
takes over the silver at 50.01 cents
an ounce and then issues currency
against it at the value Of $1.29 cents
an ounce, it Is clear that there will
be a big gain to the Treasury of the
United States, just as there was when
the gold stocks of the country were
nationalized and the gold content
of the dollar was fixed anew. The
plan is to bring the silver reserves
up to Is per cent, with the gold re-
serves at rs per cent of the total
metallic reserves against the cur
| rency of the country. 1t is estimated
| that the Government will have to
acquire about 1880, 1000, 900 ounces of
silver to do this If the price of
silver goes up greatly. as the silverites
believe it will, the gain to the Gov
ernment will not be so great as 1t
will in the silver it now obtains from
Matchmaking the stocks already on
hand.
| In about q month the voters of
Maine will go to the polls to elect
a Governor, United States Senator,
the States Representatives in the
House and various State and local
officials. Maine Is traditionally q
Republican State. 1t was one of the
six in 1882 to give a majority to
former President Hoover. The
chances are that it will 60 Republican
this year. But the mere victory of
the G. O. P. will not be enough to
satisfy the Republican leaders. The
party must win by an impressive
count If it really is to mean much
of anything. Senator Hale has been
renominated and 1t is confidently
expected that he will be reelected.
What the Republicans desire is to
regain all the seats in the House and
to elect a Republican Governor by
good margins. If they do, the Re
pubhcans will begin to believe that
there is really swing back from the
Roosevelt new deal to Repubicanism.
Both sides are working hard to make
the best possible showing, realizing
the psychological effect on the rest
Of the country.
There Is talk still of former Sen
ator Jim" Reed of Missouri getting
into the senatorial race in that State.
If he does, the campaign in Septem-
Der and October Is likely to be a lively
affair. The Democrats have nomi-
mated Judge Harry Truman of Kan
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