Evening star., 1936-06-03

crat be chosen
for Vice President caused much COM
ment among the members of Con-
gress who are preparing to go to
Cleveland for the Republican Ma
tional Convention next week.
Two interpretations were placed
upon the move The New Dealers,
OF course, insisted that 1t showed the
Republican party was changing to in
clude all opponents Of the New Deal,
irrespective of previous party sffilia-
ton, and that Republicans alone were
not sufficiently numerous to wage
the campaign successfully this year.
The Republican leaders. on the other
hand, insisted that it was in accord
with moves that have been made
In various campaigns to attract voters
OF the opposite party.
Boilers Often Organize.
Thus in nearly every campaign
there are boilers who form a league
and keep their campaign efforts sepa-
rate and distinct from the regular
party organizations.
This year, in particular. the effort
TO develop a coalition movement has
had its origin in knowledge that
there are many independent Demo-
Gratis who differ fundamentally on
the New Deal and who believe that
II is really deviation from historic
Democratic doctrine. They conStrue
the New Deal. therefore, to be nom
Democratic, and we're there ways by
which the name Democratic could be
put on a ballot and a contest as to
its use put before an impartial court,
there would be plenty OF argument
10 the effect that party which de-
serted its 1882 platform so extensively
had taken the initiative in the bolting.
But whatever the merits of the
controversy may be from the stand
point of a Democrat, the problem is
one of concrete strategy for the Re-
publican leadership. viii it try to
corral the Democratic vote that re-
fuses to go along with the New Deal?
The nomination Of Democrat for
the vice presidency is. of course,
conspicuous way by which the Repub-
licans can emphasize their willingness
to form a fusion, but there are other
considerations which no doubt will
come up during the campaign as,
for instance, the pledge to appoint
coalition cabinet.
Among the factors working against
the naming OF a Democrat for vice
president is the eagerness of various
Republican aspirans for that nomi-
nation. This motivates many dele
gates who are intrusted with vice
presidential booms.
The decision in the final analysis
will be made by Gov. Landon or
Senator Vandenberg, either one OF
whom seems likely to be nominated at
Cleveland next week. Whatever the
spokeman for the successful candi-
date decides next week will be adhered
10 by the convention.
There Is, on the other hand, one
thing that many Republicans may
overlook in the interim. 1t is that If
does not back the coalition idea, there
probably will be an independent Dem
ocratic ticket in the field just as there
was in 1895. Many Democrats will
never vote the Republican ticket. nor
will they stay home from the polls
State election and issues draw them
naturally TO vote.
Many on Fence.
There are many Democrats who are
on the verge of rejecting the New
Deal ticket, but who are not yet ready
10 vote the Republican ticket. OF
these, many will dislike to do it. but
they will vote for Mr.. Roosevelt again
rather than vote for a Republican. 1t
Is to this class of Democrats that the
coalition strategy is directed, for un-
doubtedly there are some Democrats
who will vote the Republican ticket
irrespective of whether either or both
the presidential and vice presidential
nominations are given to Republicans.
The real question. therefore, is
whether the Republican leadership is
going to run a regular Republican
partisan convention this year or take
cognizance of the unusual situation
differ fundamentally with the wing
of the party that calls itself the New
Deal. While coalition has many
stanch adherents among the regu-
lars, it has about a $3.50 chance of
succeeding at Cleveland. Neverthe-
less, the movement is gathering mo-
mentum and may develop into one Of
the dramatic incidents of the con-
vention as the question is raised there
is some form possibly by the adoption
of the 1892 Democratic platform.