Evening star., 1935-05-31
DEMOCRATS SCOUT
COALITION THREAT.
Pattanga|I and Colby Are
Discounted as Foes
of New Deal.

today declared they dld not regard as
serious threat to reelection of the
President the announced purpose of
Chief Justice William r. Pattangall
of Maine to lead Democrats in the
Republican camp or into the inde-
pendent Democratic camp in the ma
tional election next year.
They were inclined also to discount
the move made by cambridge Colby.
Secretary of State under Woodrow
Wilson, for a conference of Democrats,
preferably in a Southern city. to start
a movement for some form of.political
action that is "for country and above
party" Mr.. Colby, they pointed out,
broke with the Roosevelt leadership
during the 1884 campaign and got no.
where.
Chief Justice Pattangall in the past
has been a dominant Democratic
leader in his State, and has played
an important part in national Demo-
cratic politics. His announcement
that he would resign from the bench
and give his time to politics, and
particularly to a movement to defeat
the reelection of President Roose-
velt was ccStained in letter written
10 friend IN Washington. Pattangall
supported Roosevelt in 1882.
denomination Expected.
The denomination of President
Roosevelt by the Democrats is conf
IDENTIFY expected. The Democrats who
oppose his reelection have as alter
natives the formation of an inde-
Nnrtyy
candidate of their own. or amalga-
nation with the Republicans. 1t is
not likely that the Republicans would
ever consent to follow a Democratic
presidential nominee of the anti
Roosevelt persuasion, although it has
been suggested that Alfred E. Smith
might be put forward as such
candidate.
The plan of Democrats who feel as
does Chief Justice Pattangall, if car
ried out, might parallel the course
followed by Republicans like Senators
Norris of Nebraska, Johnson of Cali
fornia and the late Senator Cutting
of New Mexico and also Senator La
Toilette of Wisconsin, who has since
become a Progressive. They all cam
paigned and voted for President Roose-
velt, and took many Republicans with
them into the Democratic camp
in 1882.
Quite naturally Chief Justice Pat
tangall would like to see such a coali-
ton of Democrats and Republicans
who oppose the New Deal back a
Democrat for President and perhaps a
Republican for Vice President. But
he said in his letter that the positions
of the ticket might be reversed, with
the Republican at the head.
Letter Tells of Break.
In the letter received here Pattan-
gall is quoted as saying ne had
enthusiastically supported President
Roosevelt in 1882. but the course of
the administration has been such that
about year ago I became thoroughly
convinced that a continuance of its
policies endangered constitutional gov
eminent.
After I am relieved of my judicial
duties I shall be perfectly free to
devote considerable time to political
matters, and intend doing so. I hard
ly need to say that my age precludes
any personal ambition to serve in
Office, but 1 am anxious to assist in
the restoration OF orderly government,
If it is possible TO bring it about.
Very obviously, the present admin
iStration is Democratic in name only
and, quite as obviously, the Republican
party, alone, is incapable of defeating
the leaders of the New Deal, mas
querading as Democrats.
Seeks Hope for Coalition.
IF the election of 1886 is conducted
on the old party lines, the Southern
and border States would be sure to
give their electoral votes to President
Roosevelt, and this would also be true
of the Rocky Mountain States and
probably California and Nebraska.
IF, on the other hand, a combina-
ton could be effected between the
members Of the Republican party and
Democrats who still respect demo-
cratic principles and believe in demo-
cratic ideals, it might be possible to
replace the New Deal with a raspon-
sible administration.
Il sincerely hope that such a coali-
fion may be brought about and see no
reason why it cannot be done.
IF an acceptable candidate for
President could be nominated by in
dependent Democrats and indorsed by
Republicans with an equally prom
inent and acceptable member of the
latter party selected as a vice presi-
DENTAL candidate, there are several
States which could be placed in the
proper column. which otherwise would
be lost before the battle begun and. of
course. the same thought obtains il
their positions on the ticket were re-
Versed.
If anything is to be done on this
hne, the movement ought to be in
1tlated in the very near future.
L hope that this general policy will
appeal to men of sufficient influence
to bring it tbout."