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

i by DIX. HAIRY ELMER BARNES-
TN travelling about the country rather widely
l. 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 1t, only year away.
II 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, 1t Is
hardly an open secret among his cronies in Cal
ifornia that he is ready to throw his hat INTO
the ring once more. His Challenge OF Liberty
was obviously a thinly yelled bid for public rec
IGNITION as the logical opponent to New Deal
PHILOSOPHERS and practices.
From all which is apparent on the surface
as yet the Republican choice will be Hoover or
4 else some one even more reactionary ike Ogoer
Mills. The only sensible proposal have heard
is Fevwood Broun'S recent nomination or Glenn
Frank as the Republican candidate. This would
/ be a brilliant stroke for the Republicans, but
there seems extremely slight probability that
they will seize upon the opportunity. Nor are
they likely to select any of the colorfm Repuo-
| lican progreSSlveS.
/ hi
! Mr.. Roosevelt had death grip upon the
Democratic nomination. Even if the New Deal
has not crashed through with some temporary
boom between now and the summer of 1886,
there seems to be little prospect of stopping MI
Roosevelt.
The most interesting possibility lying between
now and 1886 is the development OF some strong
new party of opposition to both Republican re-
action and the unfulfled promises of the New
Deal 1 recently pointed out the strength OF
movement which combines, at least roughly, the
personal appeal and programs OF Huey Long,
Father Coughlin, DR.. Townsend and Upton SIN
clair.
Whether we like it or not, Huey seems to be
growing in strength. 1 was in Houston, Texas,
when Huey broadcast to the people of the coun-
| try on a Sunday evening. The next Tuesday
was informed by responsible and industrial
journalist in Houston that the Long Tor PreSl-
dent" clubs in Houston had reported 0OOO new
members within less than two days. And
found that not a few reputable Americans, in
GLIDING the veteran lawyer, Clarence DarroW,
take Huey rather seriously.
They point out that even his enemies hardly
dare question his ability, and have little Speclhc
to say against him except to repeat the vague
innuendoes circulated SO widely in the capital
istic press. In any event, Huey's candidacy will
grow Just in proportion as the New Deal fails to
deliver before 1886.
WITH the revival of the 1nt1atlonlst rebellon
w in Congress, Father Coughlin is bound to
| gain renewed strength. 1t may seem fantastic
to imagine a Catholic priest as candidate Tor
| the presidency after the bitterness engendered
by Al Smiths candidacy. But we must not Tor
get that probably more ProtestantS than Cath
olics await anxiously for the fathers weekly ra-
dio 6eclamations Many a Fundamentallst VINO
could not endure the thought of Al Smith in the
White House kicks over sitting room chair
| with delight at the Royal Oak priests fulmlna-
tions against the money changers.
While Dr. Townsend has admittedly stirred
even the hard boiled 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 If the Doctor
is getting little old, some enterprising young
ster may well steal his thunder and run away
with it,
From several sources of very diverse char
acter, it was reported to me that Will 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 highbrow
wisdom, continues to be flop, there is likely to
| be a natural reversion to enthusiasm for the
homey wisdom associated with the Beverley
Hills philosopher.