Evening star., 1936-06-17
Slogans.


If there is any virtue or value in a
campaign slogan the Republicans this
year will start well supplied. Already
they have two such phrases, delivered
in the course of the convention just
closed. Senator Steiwer perhaps uncon-
sciously furnished the first in the course
of his keynote speech when he spoke of
the sufferings of the Nation at the hands
of the New Deal for three long years"
His hearers quickly caught the rhythm
of this repetition and began to chant
the phrase until it became a convention
war cry. 1t was Immediately seized
upon, versified and set to an old nursery
tune, becoming the chant of the thou
sands assembled at Cleveland. Former
President Hoover supplied the second
with his exhortation to stop this re-
treat" in admonishing the party to
assume the offensive. That phrase in
deed became the real keynote of the
campaign and will doubtless be often
heard during the next few months.
Then there are two phrases that have
come from Democratic sources. One of
them was supplied by Alfred E. Smiths
remark at the Liberty League dinner that
he would probably take walk" on
the occasion of the next Democratic
convention. This has been elaborated
into a Republican admonition that the
time has come for the Nation to take
a walk" out of the path of the New
Deal. More recently Postmaster Gen
eral Farley made a satirical remark
about the the prospective Republican
nominee from typical prairie State"
This not altogether happy reference to
Kansas aroused resentment in the
Middle West and the other night at
Cleveland it was adopted by delegates
from that section in announcing their
votes for Landon as the party's can
didate.
Slogans are perhaps of value in
campaign. There have been many Of
them in the course of the years, each
political fight bringing out its epigrams
of satire and encouragement Of party
spirit and of policy. William Jennings
Bryan won his nomination in 1896 by
speech in which he cried out against
'the cross of gold and the crown of
thorns' in one of the most eloquent
political addresses ever uttered in Amer
;ooo bjct0rxy rrioc L0r,oyo,-
did not lead on to victory. But in 1882
Mr.. Roosevelt's two expressions, "a New
Deal" and ''the forgotten man." at least
accompanied if they did not contribute
to his victory.
Now the New Deal" so helpfully sig
niflcant four years ago, has been turned
into an nti-administration war cry as
the raw DEAL" and that will probably
be heard frequently in the course of the
next few months. Between now and
November the publicity phrase makers
and spellbinders of the opposing forces
will unquestionably coin many catch
phrases to stimulate partisan enthusi-
asm. The issues are sufficiently varied
to evoke plenty of pointed aphorisms,
which sometimes have more effect for
incisive argument than elaborate ora
tory. Emotionalism plays a great part
In political combat, and if the cue given
by Mr.. Hoover to stop this retreat" is
followed by Governor Landons lieuten-
ants they will probably seek to arouse
martial spirit by means of war cries.
In every political campaign, especially
one in which the incumbent executive
is a candidate for reelection, he is
necessarily on the defensive and the
most effective slogans and war cries are
those which are supplied by his own
acts and his own words. If enough "for-
gotten men" can be aroused to the fight
ing point between now and November
the retreat which Mr.. Hoover deplored
will have been turned into victorious
advance.