The Redwood gazette., 1936-10-22
Campaign Nears End

THE 1886 political campaign in both the
state and nation will go down in his
= tory as one in which old alignments
meant little, issues carried a stronger ap-
peal than old party ties and as a result, an
extraordinary interest in the outcome was
generated
In Minnesota this unusual situation led
to the withdrawal of two regularly nominat
ed candidates in an unprecedented open
"sell-out' of voters who voted for those
candidates. The action has led to split in
the ranks of the recently taped together
Democratic party which makes old wounds
look like scratches and gives us Nelson
epublican-Democrats" and Benson Farm
er-Labor Democrats to add to the comglom-
crate political bedfellows already so peculiar
to the election.
Until four years ago both parties had
conservative and progressive elements. Par
ty affliation depended more on inheritance
than on an understanding of time-worn par
ty traditions and policies.
Whatever else the New Deal has accom-
plished, it's policies have broken the family
ties of party lines. Today the voters are
divided by more real issue than "free sill
yer" was years ago. The Roosevelt-Landon
ballot box struggle is battle over the new
deal policies and accomplishments opposed
by conservatives and championed by pro-
greSsives.
Political seers today are divided upon
the Importance of the outcome on the future
of America. The more level-headed admit
that the tendency for Over-emphasis of that
Importance on the part of political speakers
is tremendous, that the red scare that
American institutions will fall with the re-
election of Roosevelt is as absurd as the pre-
diction that all progress will be halted with
the election of Landon.
These same observers believe many new
deal institutions will be maintained in more
or less modified form if Landon is elected;
they see on the other hand a scrapping of
the less wanted among the inventions of the
last four years if the voters return Roose-
welt for second term.
One commentator has even seen fit to
predict that balancing of the budget will oc-
cur within the next presidential term who
ever is elected, adding that the goal may be
reached a year earlier under the Landonites.
Most noticeable local result of the ma
tlonal election probably has to do with pat
ronage. Party wheelhorses are consequent
ly most concerned in the election. Whether
Democrats or Republicans will fill the post
masterships and the thousands of other of
fees under the control of party bosses is
naturally vital question to those so affect
ed.
At this stage of every campaign worthy
of the name, the candidates break out with
mud-slinging rash which hardly becomes
this proud state and challenges are hurled
far and wide while voters turn off their
radios and long for the polling day and the
week following when all the returns will
have been printed and America will have
settled down to enjoy continued business
revival under whichever officers are chosen
If political speeches and political articles
can accomplish any purpose at this stage of
the campaign it is to stimulate the interest
in voting. 1t is a sad fact that vast por-
tion of the Americans about whose liberties
we are so concerned care so little for their
rights that they seldom take time to mark
ballot Perhaps after all the nations des-
TIMES depend far less On how it's citizens
vote than on whether or not they do VOTE