The Washington times., 1935-09-26
WILL CONFER
WITH LEADERS
ON TOUR
Expected to Challenge
Opposition in Two
Western Speeches
By GEORGE r. HOLMES
international News service staff
Correspondent


international News service staff
COrrespOndent)
President Roosevelt sets out TO-
night on a leisurely tranSconti-
mental journey that will carry him
through a score of States and af-
ford him an opportunity to per-
sonally appraise political and
economic conditions at this three
quarter mark in his Administra.
ton.
Officially, of course, there is
nothing political" with respect
to Mr.. Roosevelt's journey. He is
simply travelling across the cour-
try to keep an old promise to
attend the San Diego Exposition
and to inspect the great power
development at Boulder Dam.
Conferences Slated
But unofficially it Is a differ
ent story. Democratic leaders OF
a dozen or more States through
which his train goes have tele-
graphed for permission to board
the train and confer with the
President about conditions" In
that respect, Mr.. Roosevelt's trip
takes on a distinctly campaign
aspect. BY the politico insiders,
his journey is regarded as a pre-
1iminary survey Of the field a
year in advance Of the actual
campaign, and in reality the open
ing gun in Mr.. Roosevelt'S cam
paign for reelection.
The White House has been de-
1uged with requests for presiden-
tial stops and speeches. But only
two formal speeches have been
scheduled-one at Boulder Dam,
where Mr.. Roosevelt will have an
opportunity to reply to critics Of
his utilities program; and at San
Diego, where he is expected to
make a vigorous defense Of his
philosophy of government and
challenge the opposition to go to
the mat with him next year on
the record.
G. o. p. Easy on AAA
It is coincidence that Mr..
Roosevelt starts westward just as
the Republican high command
has concluded a meeting here at
which the talk was all of win
ming the West" The Republicans
exude confidence about their
strength next year along the At
1antic seaboard and in New Eng
land. But about the West, they
are inclined to be more cautious.
The AAA, which has put millions
of dollars in benefit checks into
the Western pockets, is one Ad-
ministration policy the Republi-
cans decided to go easy on.
The political aspect of Mr..
Roosevelt's trip, although, of
course, entirely unofficial, will be
emphasized almost at the start.
Tomorrow he will reach Cincin-
natl, just across the river from
strife-ridden Kentucky, the only
State to stage a gubernatorial bat
tie this year. Kentucky Demo
Gratis are torn with diSSension, the
result of feud which threatens
to put a Republican governor in
power. State leaders appealed to
the White House for a Presidential
appearance and speech in Ken.
lucky to bolster up the party
chances. The White House com.
promised by inviting the faction
lists to board the Presidential Spe-
clal at Cincinnati and ride through
part of Indiana in order to talk
things out.
May Abandon Cruise
Gov. Paul McNutt, of Indiana,
also will board the train in his
State for a conference about con-
ditions. There is some quarreling
among the Democrats of Indiana,
as well as in Kentucky.
Mr.. RooSevelt'S exact itinerary
has not been made public. But
from Cincinnati his train will
traverse Indiana to st. Louis,
thence probably to Kansas City
and Omaha, up to Cheyenne and
on to Salt Lake City, and thence
vic Boulder Dam to Los Angeles
and San Diego.
At San Diego, the President
plans to board a Navy cruiser for
q reStful 20-day cruise back to the
east coast, via the Panama Canal.
This feature Of the trip, however,
is subject to change without
notice. If war breaks out in Eu.
rope in the next ten days, or if
conditions oecome more critical,
Mr.. Roosevelt may abandon his
cruise and return to the Copital
on the same train that bears him
westward.
Extraordinary precautions are
being taken to guard Mr.. Roose-
velt on his trip. The recent shoot
ing Of Senator Huey Long, al
though entirely disassociated from
national politics, has had the
effect of making the Secret Serv-
ice even more precautionary than
usual.