The Washington times., 1935-09-18
WRITER FINDS
, ROOSEVELT
POPULAR
BY EARL GOODWIN

Observations from a trip into
the "wide open spaces" in the
Corn Belt, northern Minnesota,
and talks with ordinary folks
from as far West as Idaho!
Sum total Is that the people
expect Roosevelt to be reelected.
Reason: the purely practical one
that the opposition to Roosevelt
has not offered a program.
Much criticism Of all features
Of the Roosevelt program; but a
Whole-hearted willingness to go
along unless the Republicans put
up q striking program with sure
fire results.
Farmers Satisfied
No such criticism Of the Admin
lstration's farm policy and AAA
aS you hear in the East and read
about daily in city newspapers.
South Dakota, which tries to be
conservative, even Republican
business men look on the Admin
istration's farm program and the
AAA policies as non-partlsan
affair; they appear not to know
that a partisan attack Is being
leveled against AAA.
Iowa bankers say Senator Dick
inson, Iowa's Republican leader, is
playing with Corn-Belt fire when
he criticizeS AAA.
Evidently the country believes
we are in for permanent relief.
No criticism among the rank and
file of workers and wage earners
against relief program as admin
istered here; but plenty OF yam
mering and fighting over local re-
lief administrations, problems
policies, etc.
Liberty League almost entirely
unknown in the wide open spaces
of the West. One Minnesota
mayor, asked what he thought OF
the Liberty Leagues attack on
Roosevelt mistook it for base
bali organization; another one
connected it with Teddy" Roose-
welt. Much interest in the coming
American Legion Convention at
st. Louis. Apparently universal
belief the bonus is about to be
paid; and about a 20-to-1 major
ity Of ordinary folks favorable to
any form Of payment. Greenback
currency doesn't scare people out
West.
Olson Under Fire
Next to Roosevelt, best known
and most interesting man was
Huey Long. Every train stop
brought questions about Huey who
was looked on as a sort of an ex-
hibit, but his share-the-wealth ideas
had not clicked as far Northwest
as Minnesota. In that State, al
though Gov. Floyd Olson is all
dressed up In radical clothes, he
appears to have no place to go.
Minnesota is by no means COM
pletely radical, or completely lib
eral; there is a deep note of con-
Servatism.
Governor Olson is getting the
reputation of being politically sell
fish to dangerous degree. Now
that he appears to be flirting with
the Democratic National Commit
tee, so that he can run for the
Senate without too much pressure
against him, his opponents are
telling Minnesota Democrats that
Olson has been merely fair
weather friend to Roosevelt, that
he will desert any party, person or
principle when it seems expedient
and helpful in vote getting.
st. Paul and Duluth bankers
believe Senator Schall and Olson
will contest for the Senate; and
they sit back and don't care
which one is eliminated, as they
have no interest in either.
These facts appear to be evi-
dence that a large share of Min
neSota people would like to have
a clean sweep of all present poll
ticians in that neck of the woods
and a return to what seems like
the good old days Of solid and
substantial citizenry in office.
View ON B0rah.
In the main, people west OF
here appear to think that Roose-
velt slipped tremendously under
the assaults of the opposition;
but they feel now he has come
back and gained much lost
ground.
Reason: The attack was too
bitter and too critical, without
any offer of an alternative. Men
in the street use this expression,
''Roosevelt'S a good man if they
will quit picking on him."
Borah: On straw vote the
Idaho liberal would be nominated
for the COP presidential candi.
dacy; but there is a peculiar
personal feeling among people to
whom Borah has endeared him.
self, that he is just in the right
place when he sits in the Sen
ate. One cross roads politician
put it this way:
"BOrah is too good a man to
try to mix it up with those East
ern politicians; they'd have the
gates down on him every step Of
the way; like they had on
Hoover. This man Roosevelt
;c5 xc5 MISERABLE?