Evening star., 1935-12-08
NEW DEAL TO FIGHT.
FOR ALL SECTIONS.
Washington Observer Says
Eastern Convention Ap-
peaIS to Roosevelt.
BY THEODORE C. WALLEN.


A multiplicity of political develop
ments has operated to shake down the
presidential campaign situation In the
last fortnight While the Democrats
claim an advantage in the South and
West the Republicans in the North
and East, everything outside the solid
South will be fighting ground, and
the Republican attack very likely will
dip below the Mason-Dixon line at
points.
Practical politicians on both sides
view as absurd the talk about the
Democrats making their stand in the
West and South against the North
and East For the Democrats to COM
nit themselves to any such strategy,
despite the rising business and indus
trial opposition to them, would be
tantamount to admitting that the
chances were strongly against Presi-
dent Roosevelt's reelection.
Woodrow Wilson, to be sure. was
reelected in 1916 by combination Of
the South and West against the North
and East but it was the only time
since Andrew Jackson's election in
1928 that such combination had
prevailed, and even then Mr.. Wilson
needed a dash Of help from New
Hampshire and Ohio. However much
confidence President Roosevelt may
have In his "hold" on the West he is
too shrewd a politician to stake his
chances on such limited ground.
Plans New York Fight.
Knowing that his home State Of
New York has voted for the losing
presidential candidate only once (1916)
since 1868, he is determined TO make
a hard fight there in any event and
meanwhile to be trying for other
large electoral blocs in the East. even
If convinced that the tide has been
running against him in this area.
The movement to have the Presi-
dent renominated in Philadelphia is
in line with this strategy. 1t received
a setback in the Democratic failure
to carry the city election there last
month and it is meeting further re-
sistance in the reluctance of Phila-
deIphia business men to underwrite
the expenses of the Democratic Ma
tional Convention. But the thought is
there just the same, symbolizing the
Presidents willingness to take q
chance on the West while giving this
attention to the East.
Publicity Advantage Seen.
Holding the Democratic convention
on the Eastern seaboard would lend
itself to some presidential dramatics
that would not be practicable at
longer range. More important. the ad-
ministration. lacking extensive sup
port in the Eastern press. feels that
= 1t would gain a distinct publicity ad-
vantage in the East by holding its
convention in this territory.
The Republicans are no more dis
posed to let the West go by default
than the Democrats are to take
chance on the East. 1t is enough for
r the Republicans to remember that
Charles z. Hughes carried the whole
3 North and East except New Hamp-
shire and Ohio and still failed to
carry the country. Just as the Demo-
Gratis privately concede that the New
Deal has slipped badly In the in
: dustrial Northeast, the Republicans
realize that they have an uphill fight
to win back the traditionally Republi-
can West in the face of the New
Deals crop-reduction checks.
With leading industrialists now tax
ing the field openly against the New
Deal, the administration is following
a cautious course. In an essentially
, two-party campaign, no presidential
candidate has ever carried the country
against a solid alignment of business
and industrial interests.
Business Support Gone.
In the view of administration Off
cialS Mr.. Roosevelt has gone beyond
the point where he can win back the
political support Of business and finan-
cial leaders, excepting those few per-
sonal friends who have stayed with
him through thick and thin. Even
among these there are misgivings lest
the spending program be the Presi-
dents downfall. The loyal Roosevelt
lieutenantS feel that however much the
President may be tempted to lash out
dramatically at big business he must
to some extent cater to business and
financial leaders If for no other reason
than that their psychology Is an i'm
portant factor in general recovery.
The political situation Is being grad
ually shaken down, meanwhile. With
in the week the Ohio Republican State
Central Committee unanimously eX-
pressed its informal opposition to for
mer President Hoover as a potential
candidate for the party nomination for
President. Col. Frank Knox brought
out opposition to himself by declaring
that since the administration was bent
on spending it could do no better than
prepay the $4,000, 900, 900 bonus out Of
the $4,000, 100000 works-relief fund.
Gov. All M. Landon of Kansas held a
series of significant-looking conferences
with leaders at Topeka. It was felt
that an organized campaign in his be-
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