Evening star., 1936-11-09


are joyful that their work is to be
continued and that opportunity Is
afforded for more effectiveness now
that the inevitable period Of inde-
eision and postponements which ac-
company every campaign Is at an
end.
Conservatives Hopeful
Politicians are puzzled. The New
Deal Democrats are not inclined to
regard seriously the fear that Mr..
Roosevelt might take advantage Of
his absolute control Of Congress. The
conservative Democrats are inclined
10 be hopeful that Mr.. Roosevelt will
rely more upon them in his second
administration than in his first.
Underneath the surface there Is, II
the truth be known, just bit OF
worry among all groups as to what
the big landslide really does mean
% far as the future Of political par
ties Is concerned.
In terms Of percentage Of the total
vote there would be no occasion for
concern because Warren Harding in
1920 received a bigger percentage OF
the votes cast than did President
Roosevelt last week though, to be
sure, in actual numbers Mr.. Roose-
velt had bigger plurality Of voters
due to the increased totals registered.
But has America now q new ma
1ority corresponding perhaps to the
Popular Front in Paris? Certainly
the victory was not one of the Demo-
cratic party alone, but Of q conbina-
ton Of groups and forces that never
before have been mobilized on one
side Of q presidential contest.
It will be interesting to see the final
oficial figures when they are all tab
ulated, because it doubtless will be
found that the vote Of the so-called
minority parties shrank to almost
negligible numbers. Four years ago
the Literary Digest poll was mac
curate in some States, because the
total minority vote by mail disin-
tegrated in the advance poll from 6.4
to 80 in the actual election. What
happened to this minority vote?
Support Disintegrates.
The answer would seem to be that
the vote of the minority parties goes
to pieces when 1t goes up against
political party organizations on elec-
ton day. Undoubtedly the argument
to the Lemke- -Coughlin vote was that
the ballot would be wasted or that q
vote for Lemke was vote for Lam
don. Early straw votes showed that
this vote was being derived largely
from Roosevelt strength.
The minority parties have been
swallowed up this year in the New
Majority. But inside that New Ma
jority are groups more powerful than
any which ever before exercised in
fuence in American politics. Long
years ago the Non-Partisan League in
North Dakota discovered that 1t was
Impractical to try to form q third
party, but that it was highly prac-
tical to move in through the prir1a-
ries and capture the machinery Of the
dominant party.
Now that the New Majority has won
its first big triumph, the question Of
what each Of the component groups
wants out of the victory becomes per-
tinent. Administration ofiicials are
inclined to scoff at possibilities Of dis
serlsion in the ranks. because they
are convinced that Mr.. Roosevelt's
personal magnetism and leadership
will hold all of the New Majority in
line. Hence the last few days have
given rise to reports that Mr.. Roose-
welt Is going to try to balance the
budget" and this has been inter-
preted to mean he will adopt q con-
servative course.
Conservatism to ALLEVIATE Groups.
But Mr.. Roosevelt will run risk
II he turns his back abruptly on the
groups who elected him. They do
not expect him to and do not wish
him to balance the budget-at least,
not for two or three years yet. They
do not want to him to become con-
cerned about being conservative,
but to keep right on with the plans
first launched in 1888, whereby the
Government was to continue assres-
sively to shape its policies to help the
so-called underprivileged.
Business men who sense these ten
denotes and trends are inclined to let
nature take its course.
Most business men are anxious tc
cooperate. Some Of the more liberal
minded will even influence their
boards Of directors and stockholders
10 forego dividends and increase pay
rolls 10 as to benefit particularly the
labor In the low income groups. In
deed, the corporate surplus tax may
result In increases for the next yea
or so, at least, in the expenditures oi
corporations and in less money fol
the tax collector than was anticipated
May Buy Good VIII.
Many o corporation will say tx
itself after some careful figuring thai
1t Is better to invest for year o.
more, anyway, in the good will that
results from pay increases and from
Q contribution to the general level o.
eontentment than 1t 10 to build up
surplus and pay . heavy tax or pil'
up more earnings for dividend dis
tribution than is absolutely necessar!
70 keep stockholders satisfied.
This may result In improving tn
lot of the low-income groups, which
may be one answer to the uprising
In the last election, but it will ais
compel Q readjustment Of the ta'
structure because the Government
has depended on the corporate sur
plus tax for some huge revenues
Likewise, there are businesses not o.
well heeled as the big fellows Will
their surpluses and then small con
cerns win not be able to stand tn
safi. especially o. their competitor
dig into surplus and raise the wag'
scals TO point that just about men
aaas thA weaker oonapenieg IN 4 peY