Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-10-03

Washington.-I believe the trend of
recent developments begins to Indicate
rather definitely that
Party Backs President Roosevelt
Roosevelt is going to be able to
hold rather united
Democratic party behind him In his
next campaign. The chances Of a split
in his ranks are very small, indeed. and
barring changes of which there are at
present no hints at all, the New Deal
will encompass the Democratic party
which nominated and elected Mr..
Roosevelt as President.
By those statements, it is not meant
that no defections will take place.
There always are some disgruntled and
dissatisfied party men who break away.
They have done it with Republicans
and Democrats with equal abandon.
There will be some in the 1885 cam
paign, but not very many. These state
ments are made by way Of discounting
offshoots of consequence under radical
leadership and offshoots of equal con-
sequence behind old-line conservative
Democratic leadership. 1t is, Of course,
Just possible that William Randolph
Hearst, the publisher, and cambridge
Colby, secretary Of state under Wood
row Wilson, may succeed In develop
ment of a conservative alignment with
major support but the situation is not
one likely to cause the New Deal lead
ers any particular embarrassment.
Likewise the death of Senator Huey P.
Long removes what might possibly
have been radical party wedge. The
late Louisiana senator was making
some progress in development'of rad
cial party but with him removed from
the scene there is no longer any pos
sibility of that group attaining a place
of Importance in the political struc-
ture. They are fighting among them
selves and it is apparent now that the
group will be split into score of fac
lions, none which will have any capac-
ity to accomplish the purposes which
Senator Long had outlined.
Judged impartially, the death Of Sen
ator Long ought to enhance the Demo
cratic prospects in
Longs Death 1886. This certainly
HELPS is true unless the adj
ministration between
now and the next election decides to
court the conservative vote in the coun-
try and in doing so offends the progress
sive segment of voters to which Mr..
Roosevelt largely owes his 1882 cleo
ton. To reiterate, 1t is possible, Of
course, that Mr.. Roosevelt or his party
advisers may make mistakes which
will throw the whole party machine
out Of gear, but they are not now in
evidence.
The reason the passing of Huey Long
is important from the political stand
point is pictured most reliably in the
history of third party movements.
While it is obvious that Senator Long
could never have been elected Presi-
dent-and believe he was too smart
Q. politician to think that he could have
been successful there was the danger
from the Roosevelt standpoint that he
could ALLEVIATE some part of the vote
which elected Mr.. Roosevelt In 1882.
If he had been able to do this. it is GER
tain that Republican chances would
have been enhanced because the Re-
publican vote would have remained
solidly behind the Republican candi-
date.
Some years ago, Robert NJ. La Fol-
lette, then senator from Wisconsin,
ran for the Presidency on a third party
ticket. He polled about five million
votes. This happened at a tine when
the country was reasonably prosperous.
Surely, the economic conditions were
of character that. bred less discon-
tent than those of this depression era.
So, astute political observers tell me
that it takes little stretch Of the i'm
agination to conceive of radical
party, led by a man Of the dynamic
characteristics Of Huey Long, being
eble to poll as many as ten million
votes throughout the country despite
the difficulties that always face the
organization of a new political party.
Whatever criticism may have been
or may be voiced Of the late senator
from Louisiana, everywhere one goes
among political leaders, he obtains the
came expression of opinion respecting
the senator's ability. He had smart
mind, one that grasped situations, par
ticularly In politics, with great speed
and he was always ready at a mo-
ment's notice to capitalize on those SIT
nations. Thus, If Mr.. Long had lived,
Il is easy to imagine what he would
have done in case the New Deal lead
ers made mistakes. He would have
hoped on those mistakes with the
avidity of cat on a mouse; he would
have magnified them in his speeches to
his following and by these acts he
would have aided and abetted the Re-
publican opposition.
So, while the national capital was
startled by Senator Longs death and
appalled, at the manner of his going, 1t
Is not a violation Of any confidence to
cay that New Deal Doliticians are rest