The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-09
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

! BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES
TN travelling about the country rather widely
i during the last two months tried to keep my
ears open to sentiment with respect to the pres
idential campaign which will be upon US before
we realize it, only year away.
If the Republicans are planning to pull any
fast ones on the country, they have given no
evidence of this fact to date. There are some
rumblings and murmurings among the so-called
young Republicans" but so far the Old Guard
remains in complete control Of the party and
their only apparent standard bearer is the badly
defeated sage Of Palo Alto.
In spite of all of Mr.. Hoover's public pre-
tense to satisfaction over his retirement, II Is
hardly an open secret among his cronies in Cal
ifor1ia that he is ready to throw his hat INTO
the ring once more. His Challenge OF Liberty
was obviously thinly yelled bid for pubic rec
IGNITION as the logical opponent to New Oeal
PHILOSOPHERS and practices.
From all which is apparent on the surface
as vet the Republican choice will be Hoover OF
else some one even more reactionary ike Ceoeli
Mills The only sensible proposal l nave nedIo
is Hevwood Broun's recent nomination Oh Gle.ii
prank as the Republican candidate. Inns "ouIu
- brilliant stroke for the Republicans, ouI
tbere seems extremely slight probability that
thew will seize upon the opportunity MOI are
thew likely to select any Of the colorfu HepuO-
! iican progreSSlVes
rr@1rrpE seems to be no doubt whatsoever thaC
Mr. Roosevelt had death grip upon Che
0ennocratic nomination. Even II the NE" Deo4
hos not crashed through with some temporary
! io,o between now and the summer OF 1880
there seems to be little prospect OF stopping MI
Roosevelt.
The most interesting possibility lying between
now and 1886 is the development OF some SUrohs
new party of opposition to both Repupncan 1 re-
| oction and the unfulf1lled promises OF tne NE"
| ;ofe d the strength OF a
| movement which combines at least roughly the
personal appeal and programs OF Huey Lons'
| Father Coughlin, DR.. Townsend and upton OH
clair.
Whether like It or not Huey seems to be
growing in strength. 1 was In houston Texas
when Huev broadcast to the people OF the coun-
try on a Sunday evening. The next TUESDAY l
was informed by responsible and lnousUrlai
/ journalist in Houston that the Long Tor Presl-
dent" clubs in Houston had reported oUOo new
members within less than two days. ana L
found that not few reputable Americans IN
Guiding the veteran lawyer, CIdIen0e A01A0"'
take Huey rather seriously.
| They point out that even his enemies haroly
dare question his ability, and have little SPECIFIC
to saw against him except to repeal Che Vasue
innuendoes circulated so widely IN the capACa1 I,
jstic press In any event, HueyS candldacy VIII
[rov, iust il, proportion as the New Deal fails to
deliver before 1896.
WITH the revival of the indationist rebellion
| w in Congress, Father Coughln is bound TO
gain renewed strength. 1t may seem 1anUasClc
/ tn imagine a Catholic priest as a canoloaIe 1oI
the presidency after the bitterness engendered
! nv Al Smiths candidacy. But we must not 1or-
oct that probably more Protestants than Cath-
| o1ics await anxiously for the fathers weekly "a
dio ordinations Many FundamentalSt VINO
could not endure the thought of Al Smith IN the
White House kicks over a sitting room chaH
with delight at the Royal Oak priests 1ulnllha-
lions against the money changers.
| While DR.. Townsend has admittedly Stlrreo
even the hard-boed East with his pension pro-
gram one has to go to California to appreciate
! the intensity of the devotion to his scheme. one
might almost as we'll question the Trinity before
the common folk of the Sunkist state as TO
ridicule the Townsend plan. Even II the DOCTOR
is getting little old some enterprising young
ster NAV well steal his thunder and run away
with it.
From several sources of very diverse char
| acter it was reported to. me that VIII Rogers
would by no means be loath to hang his blue
serge coat on the back of chair in the White
| House If we are in line for 1.-The man on horse
| back" in the United States. it will have to be
conceded that Will has superb technical quail
hcations.
An active candidacy on his part would be no
| Joke. He is much the most popular American,
not even barring Lindbergh If the New Deal
which has been falsely identified with hlghbroW
wisdom continues to be flop, there is likely to
be natural reversion to enthusiasm for the
homely wisdom associated with the Beverley
Hills philosopher.