, 1935-11-15
Behind the
Scenes I'm
Washington
BY RODNEY BUTCHER
The Brownsville Herald Washington
CORRESPONDENT

BY RODNEY BUTCHER
The Brownsville Herald Washington
Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Nov. is. - If the
roar OF the Undergraduates would
die down for Just a moment. We
might be able TO hear ourselves think
what those off-year election results
really mean
Unfortunately. the bal0ney-grind-
ers are in fun whir and there1l be
no stopping them for the next u
months. You might be justified in
saying that the really underlyingest
significance Of the elections was that
they formally opened what is gener-
ally known as the campaign year"
along with the toot-toOts from Gov
ernor Landon. Senator V~andenberg.
and Colonel Knox.
The Republicans and Democrats
won a glorious victory, as you already
know. The chief value Of this VIC
tory Is the extent to which 1t will be
used 70 whoop up campaign contri-
buttons. simulate party spirit, and
encourage all hands to organize for
the great Armageddon Of November.
1886.
What the elections actually proved.
Chairman Fletcher and Chairman
Farley Notwithstanding. was APPROX
imateiy what every politician already
knew.
Roosevelt has slipped-measurably.
but not far enough 10 satisfy Repub-
leans nor far enough to put the
Democrats in a panic.
F. r. Stfn On Top
No one should try 10 deduce too
much from the New York assemb-
" election. the Kentucky gubernato-
rial election, or the Philadelphia
mayoraitv election.
But 10 seems a fair guess 10 say
that if the presidential election we're
To be held at this time Roosevelt
would win over any Republican can
didate. Almost any politician would
pr rately agree on that
The only essential change III the
political picture since the New Deal
congressional landslide OF 1884 has
been n large growth I'D popular
SkepticiSm rs to the soundncss and
success Of the New Deal program.
accompanied by an increase OF
apathy as 70 Mr.. Roosevelt himself.
That has bucked up Republican
morale enormously. persuaded DO
tential big campaign contributors
that they won't necessarily be
throwing the1 money down the
drain pipe. and worried Democrats
into the belief thet at least they
have a fight on their hands.
Signals Are Different
Essentially again. Roosevelt * still
the nations outstanding leader. To
date, no Republican leader is seri-
ously threatening his position. That
Is, according % a available signs.
Which means, as matters stand.
that Republican victory must be
predicted upon a revulsiOn III feel
ing against the New Deal which will
b. furious enough 10 carry any fair
IN good opponent over the top. IA
protest vote. u other words. similar
to-though not necessarily equalinR
Those which cast out the Demo-
Gratis in 1920 and the Republicans
in 1892.
Such a turn OF the tide * quite
possible but ID Is worth remembering
that the warning signals Of the 1913
and 1880 congressional elections were
violent. whereas the 1884 congress
sional elections were a New Deal
cleanup and the ballotinF OF 1885
has been little more than a molehiIl
Tor partisans 70 magnify.
Both Sides Hopeful
The question is whether the re-
against Roosevelt can be in
t7lsifiec and accelerated in the next
year OF whether the Democrats can
mold II % present proportions while
Frank undertake. 10 smile and
-roon the rCys and girls back to their
previous state OF alteration.
Republicans insist publicly they
are riding a rising tide Of resent
ment and Democrats like 70 think
4N ANN'AF'+N b@'H hA4NA l1dLAltl 4bN
mark last summer and Is now
climbing back.
Roosevelt and FARLEY bit off more
han they could chew in seeking t1
Democratic control OF the
feT York assembly aid 2 Democrat
x mayor lin Phil7lel-hia
Kentucky. where a blatantlv New
Deal candidate was elected governor
BY a WhOoDing majority against a
Republican supported by Democratic
Gov. Ruby LaffoOn and other Demo-
cratic conservatives. probably pro-
iuced the most significant result.
Watch New York
PENNSYLVANIA leaves the question