Evening star., 1936-07-20
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

It won't be long before the administra-
ton will be spending Government funds
at top-rate speed. The Works Progress
Administration is getting into action
even to O greater extent than before,
particularly with projects on a larger
and more permanent scale. The drought
in many of the States has opened up a
new field for Government expenditure
and hundreds of thousands more persons
are to be put on relief. The farmers will
be getting their checks for complying
with the A. A. AS soil erosion and soil
conservation program. The spending will
increase as the national election ap-
proaches. If there were no election this
year 1t might have increased In just the
same way. But 1t happens there Is an
election, and the political effect of this
spending is not to be lightly tossed aside.
y II X 4
Why is it that the Roosevelt Democrats
are counting strongly on having the sup
port Of the Negro voters in large Eastern
States and in Illinois, Ohio and Indiana?
Is 1t because the reciprocal tariff agree
ments or the managed currency program
of the administration appeals to these
colored voters? 1t is not. 1t Is for the
simple reason that the administration
has passed out to the colored voters and
their families millions and millions of
dollars as relief payments. They are
telling these colored voters that If the
Republicans win in this election the
supply of money will be shut of.
1t is true that this Democratic admin
istration has been more friendly in the
matter Of appointments and favors to the
Negroes than has any other Democratic
administration since the Civil War. But
this alone would scarcely have moved the
Negro from his allegiance to the Repub-
Hcan party. The Republicans have been
recognized as the friends of the colored
people since the day of Abraham Lincoln,
who issued the emancipation proclama-
ton. 1t was the party under whose
administration the colored people were
set free. But now 1t is urged that the
Roosevelt administration has been re-
sponsible for paying millions Of the COL
ored people money which they otherwise
would not have received, and that If this
payment is to be continued Roosevelt
must be kept in the White House. 1t
may work, and then again it may not
What could the colored voters expect II
they moved over in considerable numbers
to the Democratic party this year. and
then the country elected Landon Presi-
dent?
A very considerable number of Negroes
vote, for example, in Maryland They
have voted, in the past, Republican. But
If they turn to the Democratic ticket this
year, will their vote more than Offset
the Democratic defectionS, the votes Of
the anti Roosevelt Democrats in Balti-
more and out in the counties? 1t is what
The Democratic high command is hoping,
anyway. Col. Henry Breckinridge, who
has recently announced his support Of
Gov. Landon for President against PreSi-
dent Roosevelt. ran as Democratic op-
ponent Of the President In the Maryland
presidential preference primary this year.
He polled almost 20, 900 Democratic votes.
And a great many Of these Democrats
who supported Breckenridge are suffi-
ciently hostile to Roosevelt to vote against
him next November 8. Unless the Roose-
welt ticket gets the support Of very
large number Of colored voters in Mary
land, the State Is likely to be found in
the Republican column. And it has been
said that Maryland Is rarely wrong in
presidential election-that it invariably
supports the winning presidential candi-
date.
A great play is being made by the ad-
ministration for the support Of organized
labor. Labor's Non-Partisan League.
headed by Maj. George Berry, who was
q part OF the Roosevelt administration
and who still holds some kind Of nom
paid job in the administration, is doing
its best to line up organized labor all
over the country for Roosevelt. The ad-
miniStration was taking no chances. It
may have feared that the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor would retain its tradi-
tional policy Of not indorsing presiden-
tial candidates. 1t abandoned that poll
icy in 1924 and gave its official support
to the late Senator Robert M. La Toilette
Of Wisconsin, running as progressive
and independent candidate. Anyway. it
gave its immediate blessing to the Berry
organization as soon as 1t got under way
John L. Lewis, president Of the United
Mine Workers Of America, Is an officer
in the Berry organization. He had al
ready seen to it that his own union in
dorse the candidacy Of President Roose-
velt. And now, Berry reports that great
strides have been made all over the
country in lining up the labor unions.
In other words, he and his organization
are going to deliver the labor vote to
Roosevelt.
II organized labor, the relief receivers,
the farmers who are receiving cash sub
sides and the drought sufferers line up
with those Democrats who still. are con-
tent to go along with the New Deal ticket
1t will be q formidable array, and more
particularly If the Negro voters follow
suit and support the President for re-
election.
Despite the efforts of organized labor,
it looks as though a lot Of the masses"
so called, might turn out to be in oppo-
sition to President Roosevelt. Certainly
Father Coughlan counts lot Of these folk
in his National Union for Social Justice,
and DR.. Townsend in his old-age pen
sion organization. They have both prom
ised to campaign for Lemke, which is
just another way of saying against
Roosevelt.
How much good Father Coughlin has
done either his cause or himself by call
ing the President a ''liar" and a be
trayer" is decidedly questionable. That
kind Of personal attack upon the Presi-
dent may really bring aid to him. It's
something that Coughlin will have
RHl Il IL. Rx.x.