Evening star., 1935-12-08
A Democratic Split?

The threatened effort to place an
independent Democratic candidate for
President in the field against President
Roosevelt has finally assumed tangible
form. Governor Eugene Talmadge OF
Georgia, one of the bitterest foes OF the
New Deal, has announced that meeting
of anti-administration Democrats Is TO
be held in Atlanta that the call for such
a meeting will go out within the next
ten days. Presumably this Democratic
grass roots" conference will undertake
to adopt set of principles and make
plans for an active campaign against
the denomination of the President as
the Democratic standard bearer OF 1895.
Although the meeting originates In the
South and is to be held there, the Georgia
Governor has indicated that prominent
Democrats from other sections OF the
country will be invited to attend. The
attempt to split the Democratic ranks
in the coming presidential campaign
will not be confined to the South. Prob
ably a good deal will depend upon the
extent to which Democrats elsewhere
than the South fall in with the plans
of Governor Talmadge for an nde-
pendent ticket. The Southern States
can scarcely be expected to draw away
from Roosevelt if he should be the
nominee of the Democratic National
Convention-as appears assured beyond
the possibility of a doubt.
There is not the slightest doubt that
Democrats in all parts of the country
are -fed up" with the New Deal. Many
of them have voiced their opposition,
among them the former Governor OF
Massachusetts, Joseph B. Ely; Alfred E.
Smith, former Governor of New York,
and Bainbridge Colby, Secretary OF State
in the Wilson administration. How
far they are willing to go, however, with
nlans for an independent Democratic
presidential ticket is another matter
Organization on large scale and money
for the conduct of such campaign are
primary essentials.
The Democratic high command has
scofed at the suggestion of third party
or an independent Democratic ticket.
It is inclined to make light OF Gov
ernor Tal1nadge. It believes that his
home State, Georgia, will follow Roosevelt
with an overwhelming vote. There seems
no doubt, however, that it would be con-
siderably exercised if Al Smith and
former Governors Ely of Massachusetts,
and Ritchie of Maryland undertook to
campaign against the reelection OF the
President.
From the Republican point Of view an
tndependent Democratic campaign
against President Roosevelt might be
attractive. On the other hand, the Re
publicanS would be equally pleased, and
perhaps more so, if these anti-adminiS-
tration Democrats would line up openly
with the Republican nominee for Presi-
dent. It is always difficult, however, for
men who have followed political party
for years to break SO definitely with 1t
as to declare themselves for the nominee
Of the old opposition.
The drive Of Governor Talmadge to
unseat the President will be followed
with interest. His scorching attacks upon
the New Deal and the Chief Executive
are effective with some Of the voters.
In some measure they fill the gap in the
opposition made by the death Of the
late Senator Huey P. Long Of Louisiana,
although Talmadge has so far failed
to build up a following as widespread
as that of Long. Nor is he in a position,
as was Long, to reach the national ear.
In the end the 1886 campaign will be
fought out between the Republicans and
the Roosevelt New Deal Democrats. Any
split in the Democratic ranks, however,
should be an asset to the G. o. P.
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