Evening star., 1935-03-29
PARTY DETECTION
AIDS REPUBLICANS
Midwest Activity of G. 0. P.
Based on Idea President
Less Popular.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
d. Midwestern Republican activity and
revival of interest in Republican pres
idential candidates at this time may
be attributed directly to reports from
various sections of the country that
president Roosevelt is losing some of
his political strength.
) Administration inspectors Of public
sentiment 90 not concede any such
, ,diminution in the Presidents popu-
lsrity. ---
, The truth is that ever since Senator
Huey Long and Father Coughlin be-
gan their recent criticisms of admin
istration policy, the Republican chief
tains have been inclined to believe
that split in the Democratic party
was forthcoming and that the Re-
publicans would hold their forces in
tact and thus elect President in
1896.
The assumption as to what will
happen in the election t9 months
hence fails, of course. to take into
account the many things that can
occur to change the political tides.
But it would seem to be extremely
doubtful, indeed. whether the defec-
tions on the left wing are as sub
statial as reported.
Pension Die-Hards Disgruntled.
Most of the dissatisfaction which Is
being recorded with respect to the
President is coming from persons who
favor the Townsend plan and who do
not think the social security bill of
the administration is an adequate
old-age pension. But the admins
tration in due time will meet this
attack by pointing out that when Con-
gress has passed the pending bill
there will be nothing to pervent the
States from adding whatever sums
they can afford to complete the old
age pension.
The whole Republican enthusiasm
of the moment is predicated on the
theory that the left wing will desert
the President and vote for an indie
, pendent candidate or for group OF
miscellaneous candidates. 1t also
presupposes that the Republicans will
harmoniously agree on candidate
and a platform, both of which con-
tingencies may be discounted consid-
. erably. The intimations from the
Middle West as to the character OF
the platform that may be adopted
: would seem to justify a belief that
liberalism" will be introduced in the
form of continued responsibilities
upon the Federal Government some
i thing that truly conservative Repub!
hcans will hardly relish. Their view
point is likely to be then that there is
little difference between La Toilette
Republican and a Roosevelt admins
tration.
Indeed, there have been rumors lately
that overtures are being made by vari-
GUS Republicans in the Midwest tc
obtain the cooperation of Gov. Phi
La Toilette Of Wisconsin, with the
. idea that he might accept the Repub-
lican nomination for the vice preSi-
dency.
Conservatives Challenged.
Would the Republican conservatives
OF the East feel that they would fare
better under La Toilette policies In
their party than under the Roosevelt
administration, especially with the
constant pressure from the conserva-
tive Democratic South for modifica-
ton or moderation of Roosevelt
radicalism?
Another question that has to be
answered is whether the left wing
Democrats who are supposed to be
out of sorts with Mr.. Roosevelt would
flock to Senator Long because Of his
Share-the- wealth program. 1t Is
doubtful whether these radical Demo-
Gratis would take a chance on the
election of a Republican conservative
for the presidency or whether they
would desert Mr.. Roosevelt for liberal
Republican, who, in order to win. had
to placate a conservative wing of the
Republican party.
The presence of a $4,000, ,000, 900
work relief fund. most of which will
be getting into operation during 1886.
is hardly calculated to develop any
sense of ingratitude on the part OF
the many millions of voters who will
have been benefited or who will be
in the process of receiving benefits.
May Get Bigger Vote.
The Roosevelt administration may
, we'll view the situation with equaniIn-
. ity so far as 1886 is concerned There
, are some members Of the admins
. tration who are beginning to believe
, MIR. Roosevelt may be elected by a
larger electoral vote in 1886 than in
, 1882, thus repeating the historic ex-
perience of Andrew Jackson.
, Whether any such result is In the
cards, the fact remains that Repub-
! lican hopes of defeating Mr.. Roosevelt
! are based upon, first. harmony in the
Republican ranks as to platform and
|, candidate, and, second, discord in the
. Democratic ranks sufficient to break
, off at least 100000 votes for an in
, dependent candidate-somethi that
; overlooks or ignores Mr.. Roosevelt's
: political versatility in dealing with
/, conservatives and radicals alike.
; What will happen in 1896 to various
: Democrats in Congress or in 1898 to a
substantial Democratic group who may
! be affected by independent candidates
, is something else. On this point, the
administration political experts are not
; quite so confident. For, obviously, the
, climax Of New Deal policies will not
come before 1887 and 1898.
! Copyright. 1850