The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-10-22

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country is on the verge Of the great
est revival of business it has known
since the invention of the automo-
bile.
Politics holds just about all the
headlines now. The great day, Mo-
vember 3, is just ahead, and the
candidates are making their big
drives, the editorial. writer's are
wearing out typewriter ribbons, the
poll makers are busy "a hours a
day and the political analysts are
growing haggard seeking to fore
cast the winner.
It has been many year since po-
litical analysis was so dificult-or
so hazardous. Reason for that is
that this year a great number of
what are termed political incalcu-
tables" have arisen. Those incalcu-
ables may make past precedents
worthless.
For example, the old party lines
may not have been broken, but they
certainly have been badly bent. Out
side of the South which is still over
whelmingly Democratic, and New
England which is strongly Repub-
lean, matters are chaotic in the ex-
treme. It used to be that the Re-
publican candidate, even in close
elections, could count on the far
western states, with almost absolute
certainty.
It also used to be that Democrat
ic candidates dismissing the CAM
paigns, such as those of 1920 and
1924, in which the Republicans had
the election cinched even before the
nominations could count on carry
ing some of the big seaboard in
dustrial states. Today most polls
show Roosevelt trailing in such
states, and some think that he has
a better chance to carry PennSyl-
vania, which has not cast q electoral
vote for Democrat in generations,
than New York or New Jersey.
Both Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Lam
don are seeking to appeal to voters
in all camps, are trying to make
their campaigns as non-partisan
as possible so far as old-time par
ty divisions are concerned. That is
also true Of the platforms -the old
Democratic plea for states rights,
ETC., has been pretty well dropped,
and the Republicans, who once
stood for more centralized govern
ment, are now standing for less
centralized government.
One of the biggest "incalculables"
is, How many voters have shifted
their party allegiance, in the last
few years? In 1882, a number of
leading Republicans deserted Hoover
and came out for Roosevelt and
Hoover took one of the worst beat
ings in history. In 1886 a number Of
leading Democrats have deserted
Roosevelt and come out for Landon
and everyone is specializing as to
how many followers they can turn
against the New Deal.
Most aggressive Democratic anti
New Dealer is Al Smith, is felt
in some quarters that his speeches
denouncing the Administration may
shift a vast number Of votes. Elk
Senator Reed is another Democrat
whose speeches opposing Roosevelt
are more bitter even than those Of
the Republicans. A considerable list
Of othef Jeffersonian Democrats
who are following suit could be
made.
On the other hand, not all Of
the conservative Democrats have
left the New Deal. Senator Glass,
who is as big figure as we have in
national politics today, has an
nounced that he will support Roose-
welt, even though he is opposed to
most Administration policies. The
reasons: He feels that If Roose-
welt is reelected, Democratic SEN
ators will reassert their independ-
ence, will not have to uncritically
obey White House orders. because
the President cannot run again. An
other Jeffersonian Democrat who
will speak for the President is Sec
rotary of State Hull, q cabinet MEM
Der who has constantly grown In
prestige ever since his appointment.
However, it is beyond argument
that the detection of old-line Dem
ocrats from New Deal ranks is wor-
rying the heads Of the party. So Is
the detection of old-line Democratic
newspapers, such as the Baltimore
Sun and the st. Louis Post Dispatch
And SO is the detection of prominent
pubicists who were for Mr.. Roose-
welt in 1882 and are for Mr.. Landon
now, Of whom Walter Lippman Is
the most prominent.
So this vastly important "tncal-
culable'' is the biggest topic Of thot
now. It is so important that Frank
Kent has written that it is al
there is to the campaign-that Il
there are enough anti-New Deal
Democrats who will switch to
Iandon he will win: If there are