Evening star., 1934-09-16
ELECTION BATTLE
BEGUN IN OHIO
Fess Fires Republican Open.
ing Gun by Reiterating
Roosevelt Attack.
BY EDWARD CARL wREDE.

bI EDWARD CAhL WREDE.
MARION, Ohio, September 15.-With
the smoke of the Ohio primary bat
ties scarcely out of the air, the open
ing guns of the general election fight
have already been fired in the Buckeye
State as Senator Simeon D. Fess, Re-
publican nominee for the United
States Senate and conceded spokes-
man for the National Republican
Committee, opened his campaign for
reelection at Findlay, Ohio, few
days ago by reiterating his former
statements that a continuation of the
Roosevelt regime means dictatorship
state socialism, radicalism and viola
ton of the Constitution.
The statements of Senator FeSs were
quickly challenged by Representative
Brooks Fletcher, Democrat, of Marion,
who, from the same platform and be-
fore practically the same immense
audience, took exceptions to the Re-
publican senatorial candidates criti-
cism, charging, In return, that Senator
Fess has offered mo constructive
plan" as a substitute for the New
Deal. Fletcher, candidate for re-
election, countered Fess' pronounce
ments by lauding the Roosevelt
policies and declared that much oi
the recent criticism of President
Roosevelt and the recovery program
has not been founded on facts, but, on
the contrary, much of this destructive
criticism has been viciously false, and
if the public could be deceived into
believing such criticism the result oi
this misguided belief would be tragic
to contemplate.
Fess' Blasts Reflected.
Senator Fess' blasts against the
Roosevelt administration have beer
reflected in the recently Re-
publican platform by the Ohio Repub.
lican leaders, Democratic spokesmer
state. The Republicans will battle fol
their candidates in the general elec.
ton on a platform that calls for
drastic and sweeping reforms in both
State and national government.
Democratic party leaders of the
State declare that the basis for the
Republican platform and the criticism
against the policies of the Roosevelt
administration are closely allied with
the statements Of Senator Fess anC
the Chairman of the National Repub-
lican Congressional Committee as
enunciated by the National Republi-
can chairman. The platform of the
Ohio Republicans has been labeled by
the Democratic State chairman as
"just a silly nothing"
Further rebuttal of the charges
against the State and national ad-
ministrations is expected from the
Democrats in Ohio, who will meet in
convention at Columbus September
18 to write their platform on which
they will meet the challenge of the
Republicans.
Although defeated in the primary
for the senatorial nomination by Vic
Donahey, Representative Charles West
is still regarded as an important factor
in Ohio politics He has been selected
| as temporary chairman of the forth
coming State convention in which
capacity he will give the keynote ad-
announced.
The speech of Representative West
on the national situation at the State
convention will be made several days
before the appearance in Columbus
of Postmaster General Farley, who ha.
| accepted an invitation to speak at the
dedication of the Columbus post Office
the entire program to be in the nature
of political rally. 1t is understood
the Farley speech, now scheduled fol
Saturday, October 13, will have con.
siderable significance because of tht
election issues that are now in tht
minds of the Ohio voters, and which
| will be discussed by the Postmaster
General, it is indicated by party lead.
erS at Columbus.
Also it has been announced by
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