The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-02-01
AL AND JOE

AL AND JOE
That is a neat little scrap started by Al
Smith, and in which Senator Joe Robinson
insisted on taking leading role. AS these
gentlemen have at least corner OF the
political stage for the time being, Times
News readers will be interested in some
comment on the proceedings.
$500 General Hugh Johnson (our readers Will
remember the name) makes this estimate
of Senator Joe'S attempt to defend the ma
tional administration from AIS attack:
What kind of cruelty was it for the brain trust
ers to choose poor old Joe Robinson to defend
them Joe's heart wasn't in it. He's not BRAIN
truster He's a Democrat. The high priests d.
the things that Al attacked and then duck in the
trenches and shove fine old Democratic Joe over
the top when the barrage drops down.
Why are FrankfurterS Tugwells not picked
as spokesmen? Is it because that would confirm
ATs charges and ALLEVIATE more Democrats?
Is AL right-that the darkest indictment OF these
people is that under the cOlors Of democracy they
do the deeds of Tugwellism without, as Al said
1.-The courage and honesty to put in the platform
lust what their leaders stood for"'
The Joe Robinsons and Pat Harrisons bear the
bruntt but it is Senator Norris who SHOULD be SEN
ator for life" and it is the Frankfurters and Tug
wells who steer the ship
Situated away down here in the noun
tains of Sorth Carolina, as is The Times
News, and with no prediction for Gen.
eral Hugh, and only limited amount Of
information at our command, we suspect
that he is much more than half right in his
estimate of what happened to old Senate"
Joe.
Of course AIS attack on the admlnlstra-
ton pleased the anti-administratlon forces,
and Senator JoeS answer was milk and
honey for the Presidents supporters, but
The Times-NewS has been most impressed
by the comment on Smiths speech of one
of Afs home town newspapers, that great
independent Democratic newspaper, The
New York Times, which has been pretty
good friend and supporter Of the Roose-
welt regime. Here is the estimate of Smiths
speech made by The Times:
The heaviest blow which the New Deal and the
Administration have suffered was delivered by ex-
Governor Smith Saturday evening. He is the hard
has marvellous gift for showmanship Wit and
ridicule flow easily from him, and make old sub
jects seem fresh and vidid His pungent and pic
turesqpe phrases lnger in the mind after the sub
stance of his speech has partly evaporated His
bold and direct attack upon the policies in force at
Washington during the last three year years was
political event of the highest significance
Others have pointed out the contrast between
the solemn promises of 1882 and the performance
that followed. But no one had played upon the
themessas did Mr. Smith. He made the familiar
stuff glow with new color. Taking one pledge 20
the people after another skillfuly singing out the
teletale contradictions even in language, ne made
the wlfble thing seem uncommonly ludicrous. But
we may be sure that it did not appear at all har-
ious To the champions of the Administration They
have often before this been holly assaled, but Mr.
Smith smade them an object of Gnirth Moreover,
while ne was turning the laugh upon them, ne was
likewise setting forth biting truth which 1t Is dit
ficult sor them to averts
LatM on he oyerstrsined some of his material
1t is aF imaginary fear the Americans must decide
at once whether to make Moscow the capital of
the ted States.' No such alternative as yet faces
this country AS for socialism in general, Cover
nor Smith knew what it was to be charged with
that faint when he was putting through some Of his
reforrS legislation at Albany. 1t is charge that
has frequently been brought against the Roosevelt
Administration Whether it is open to 1t or not, 1t
is vulaerable to other forms of attack. Some Of
these We're pressed with great power by Mr.. Smith,
Certainly, we have only heard the be-
ginning of the Smith and Robinson contro-
versysin this years campaign. Al will
have much more to say and Senator Joe
will BE showed fan; into. tbs ,ffracas by ad.
minisration Frankfurters and TugWefts'