The Washington times., 1936-10-26
PARTIES
STALKING ALL
ON EAST
Republicans See Three
States Vital to Gov.
Landon's Chances
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES
International News Service

The presidential c m p a G n
moved into its final stages today
with both parties concentrating
their efforts in e relatively small
geographic area along the Middle
Atlantic seaboard, which embraces
but three States, but which hold
some $4,000, 900 people and nearly
100000 registered voters.
New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania comprise the battle
ground for the final week. Their
combined electoral vote is SO, more
than a third of the 266 necessary
to win, and the outcome in these
three States may we'll determine
victory in the election.
The Importance which the cam
paign managers attach to this trio
is eloquently atteSted by the fact
that both President Roosevelt and
Governor Landon will spend most
of this final week in the area.
Governor Landon invades it today
for a final whirlwind tour. Presi-
dent Roosevelt leaves Washington
tomorrow to spend all the remain
ing time before November in it..
Vital to G. o. p.
New York, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania are important to
the DemocratS-but to the Repub-
licans they are absolutely vital.
The Democrats demonstrated
20 years ago they could elect q
President CWoodrow Wilson,
without either State. Charles
Evans Hughes won them all in
1915 and retired on election night
believing himself to be the next
President of the United States.
He awakened in the morning to
find that the Democratic South
and the agrarian West had
snatched victory from him.
This year again finds the Dem
ocratic South and the agrarian
West again in something ap-
preaching a Democratic partner
ship. At least, all the polls and
surface indications point to it,
and therefore the populous Mid
die Atlantic seaboard, and es-
pecially these three States of New
York, New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania, become absolutely vital to
the Republican cause.
N. Y. Great Stake
Even so ebullient an optimist as
John Hamilton, the red-headed
Republican chairman, conceded a
few days ago that there was no
way of figuring a Republican vic
tory without New York and Penn
sylvania, which between them have
SO electoral votes, almost third
of the necessary 266.
Both sides are outwardly conf
dent. Normally, all three States
are Republican in national cleo
tions, however Democratic they
may go sometimes in State and
local contests. One has to go far
back into history to find a normal.
year Democratic victory in any OF
them. In 1912 Wilson carried New
York and New Jersey, thanks to
the Republican split, and Theo'
dore Roosevelt carried Pennsyl.
vania. Not again until 1882 did a
Democratic candidate have look
in. Four years ago Mr.. Roosevelt
carried his own State rather hand
somely. But he barely squeezed
through in New Jersey by $1,000
votes, and he lost Pennsylvania to
Hoover by $4,000.
Issues Now Changed
Republican confidence, or hope,
is based this year upon several
factors:
In Pennsylvania the Republicans
argue that certainly Governor
Landon is no weaker candidate
than was Mr.. Hoover. Therefore,
he is due to increase materially
the Hoover margin of 157 900 plu'
rality four years ago.
In Jersey they emphasize that
Mr.. Roosevelt only carried it by
$1,000 before, and many times
that number of Republican votes
went to him four years ago on the
prohibition issue alone. Prohibi
ton is not an issue this year.
In New York the Republicans
are counting upon the return OF
the large upstate Republican ma
jorities of other years