Evening star., 1936-08-24

and that they win not vote for It In
November. Some, like ex-0ov. Ely
Of Massachusetts,, have said they will
vote for Mr.. Landon. Others, like
ex-Gov. Smith Of New York. have not
gone that far. This group Of Demo.
Gratis includes former Democratic
Senators, Governors and cabinet
members. Practically all have .
common characteristic. Practically
all are former, not present, ONCE hold
ers. Because their once holding ca
reers are behind them, because they
have no future ambitions, they feel
free to say what they strongly feel.
Opinion to Garry Weight.
The fact that the active days Of ex-
Gov. Ely and the others are In the
past works two days. Since they are
not active. they have no hands on
the party organizations in their
States. They will have little power
to take organized groups Of voters to
the polls to vote against Mr.. Roose-
velt. On the other hand, the detached
position Of these former ONCE holders
will carry a weight Of Its own with
the public, including Democratic
voters. The public is likely to assume
that what these former ofiiceholders
say frankly Is what many present Of
flee holders thing but refrain from
saying.
This assumption will be correct. 1t
Is common knowledge that many
Democrats now in Office and expect
ing to continue in, feel just as strong
ly against the New Deal as ex-Gov.
Ely or ex-Gov. Smith or ex-senator
Reed of Missouri. Some have said
so-Senator Carter Glass Of Virginia,
Senator Byrd Of Virginia, Senator
Burke Of Nebraska And for each
leader who has spoken publicly. there
are many Of similar rank who think
the same but have not felt 1t prudent
to speak out.
What will be the effect Of these
dissenting leaders at the polls in Mo-
vember? Senator Glass, for example,
says he does not recall anything he
has said against the New Deal, but
that nevertheless he proposes to sup
port Mr.. Roosevelt. The theory held
by these men Is that the best prac-
ticable way for them to help end the
New Deal Is to remain In the party
themselves, to keep the party in power
II possible and then to proceed to
purge the party OF the New Deal.
While that course may recommend
itself to Democratic ofiiceholders, 1t
must have less appeal to rank and
file Democratic voters. What is the
net effect Of Senator Glass attitude
on Democratic voters In Virginia?
Many of them. undoubtedly. feel that
If the New Deal is as bad as Senator
Glass has said 1t Is, the most effective
way to get rid Of 1t Is to vote against
Mr.. Roosevelt in November. These
voters will vote to return Mr.. Glass
to the Senate because he Is one Of
the ablest Senators any State has ever
had. and also because they can rely
on him in the future as in the past
to oppose such New Deal measures
as seem to him not Democratic.
1t is fair to expect that in Virginia
there will be a measurable number Of
Democrats who will vote for the Dem
ocratic candidates for Senator and
minor offices. but will "cut" Mr..
Roosevelt. The margin of voters who
take this course may not be enough
to affect the outcome in Virginia,
because 1t Is q heavily Democratic
State. But there are other States.
doubtful in all elections, in which
the margin Of Democrats voting for
Gov. Landon may determine the out
come.
(Copyright. l936)