, 1935-03-29
WASHINGTON
BY TX


Roosevelt left for his fishing holi-
day he received q report on politi-
cal conditions In Pennsylvania. New
York and part of New England that
wasn't so hot from the New Deal
standpoint.
"A government official who recent
ly visited this territory used 10 make
a speciality Of political surveys be-
fore he took a federal Job. On his
latest trip he followed his old prac-
tice Of talking to fellow railroad
passengers. taxi drivers, hotel clerks.
store clerks. etc, In an effort TO get
a line on p~resent-day sentiment.
The resulting report intimated -
on the basis Of the limited eastern
territory covered - that Mr.. Roose-
welt would find II hard to win an
election should II be held next
Tuesday.
Scant - Business men, bankers,
industrialists and the like who we're
contacted registered deep dislike for
the New Deal. Most Of those who
said they had voted for the presi-
dent In 1882 talked loudly OF casting
their ballots elsewhere In 1885.
Their grievances-in the order
named - were gold devaluation and
currency uncertainty, sundry and d.
vers errors made by NRA, and the
pending bill which would put utili-
ty holding companies out Of business.
The man-in-t the street when in
terviewed indicated Scant interest
In President Roosevelt. Almost with
out exception those picked out for
casual cross-examination wanted 70
know about Senator Huey Long.
.. Intrigued - This officials report
might well be supplemented by the
findings OF n trained political observ-
er from New York who had occasion
to swing through Michigan. Indiana
and Ohio.
The people he talked 10 also To-
cused then curiosity on the Louisi-
ana Kingfish.
Both the Washingtonisn and the
New Yorker say questions asked
about Long denoted everything from
admiration to extreme interest -
but neither al into any harsh crit
icisms OF the Delta Dictator among
modestly situated workers. Most OF
the latter appeared to be intrigued
by the magic Of Longs sbare-Ie-
wealth plan.
Margin Professional observers
In national democratic headquar-
ters are aware OF this swing away
from the Roosevelt administration,
but their Interpretation of the out
look is much roster.
They point out that the lib cleo
toral votes from the Solid South
should still be safe for Mr.. RoOse-
welt in 1885. Next they claim the
three Pacific coast states with a to-
tai Of IS votes. Then they conf
IDENTIFY assert that the New Deal
should once more pull about all OF
the Mountain states 49, which total
"a In the electoral college.
And finally - praise be- TO the or
ganizing ability Of Senator Joe Guf-
fey-that erstwhile ~rock-ribbed re-
publican state Of Pennsylvania is
counted in the bag for Mr.. Roose-
velt's reelection.
4AA4o NAAAA04A AlAC gOA0GA cAaANC1 /
New York, the entire Middle West,
etc. headquarters still figures on a
minimum OF 205 electoral votes de-
spite all current setbackS.
That only leaves 50 votes necessary
to insure FDR'S continued occupancy
OF the White House.
OF course history has seen can
didateS defeated by a much smaller
margin. But headquarters goes on
the assumption that the necessary
additional states can be had.
Expensive - One OF the most as
tute democrats In President Roose-
velt's corner Is convinced the King
fish viii NOT be a third party can
didate in 1885.
His slant Is that Long Is actually
building himself for 1910. He pre-
diets that next year Huey will run
against Mr.. Roosevelt for delegates
In the democratic convention. wage
a losing fight, raise q lot OF hell
and then take his delegates and
stage a rump convention.
The idea OF this gesture would be
TO nominate a third candidate for
the IS race. but II would be some
one h~andpicked by Long rather than
the caeey KingfiSh himself. II Is
pointed out that the expense OF third
parties runs into big money. psrtic-
ularly when they aren't winners.
Devilment - The silver clans are
sounding the pibroch for a grand
rally in Washington on April 5 and
6 to get silver relief - or else.
A call has gone out TO governors,
chambers OF commerce and univer-
sites summoning delegates. The
convention will meet in the cham
Der Of commerce Of the United
States. Silver senator's and repre-
sentatives will address the gath
ering and the gathering will adj
dress them.
Senator Thomas OF Oklahoma Il
strategy leader. There are signs that
Huey Long will stand by. purely for
devilment.
Embassy Governor Curley OF
Massachusetts, is having his legisla-
ture create a 5000 job as state
Ambassador TO Washington" The
ambassadors" functions would be
to look out for Massachusetts, in
terests here In connection with pub
lie works. federal relief and the like.
Presumably the democratic state
chairman will get the job.
Some congressman - particular
ly the new oneS - are a bit nervous
about this innovation. " the idea
spreads they figure their governors
will be stealing a lot Of glory through
ambassadors" which otherwise
would accrue TO them.
On the other hand - and speak
ing specifically OF Massachusetts, -
such a veteran as Representative
John w. Mccormack welcomes the