Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1936-07-16
The Smith
Bolt

is observed, folks
generally consider that there is lit
tie left of winter. An out and out
bolt by an individual in party poll
tics likewise does not guarantee
important defections, but, like the
arrival of the early robin, an indi-
vidual bolter, if he be a man of
consequence, has a story of it's own
to tell. A bolt in party politics
never attracts attention unless the
boiling individual is of some con-
sequence and, therefore, has per-
sonal following Thus it is that
when we observe a bolt by ma
tionally known Individual from his
lifelong political affiliation, we inn
mediately understand its signifi-
canoe. The scope of this signif-
canoe, however, is the thing that
concerns us.
Nearly everyone knows now that
former Gov. Alfred E. Smith of
New York, Democratic Presiden-
tial nominee in 1928, has made
known that he cannot support Pres
ident Roosevelt for reelection.
They know as well that the four
other individuals who asked the
Democratic National convention to
push Mr.. Roosevelt aside and NOM
mate a Democrat can be classified
as important individuals along with
Governor Smith. No one dare say
that former Sen. James A. Reed
of Missouri, former Governor Ely
of Massachusetts, cambridge Col
by, secretary of state in Woodrow
Wilson'S administration and Daniel
F. Cohalan, one time Tam
many chieftain, are unimportant in
politics. They have consistently
figured in Democratic party coun-
ellis and thus it becomes appar-
ent that these five robins presage
something more than just their
own departure from the ranks of
Roosevelt supporters.
I make this statement notWith-
standing the declaration by James
A. Farley that he would not digni-
fly their statement with reply. Of
course, Mr.. Farley as postmaster
general, chairman of the Demo-
cratic National committee, chair
man of the New York State Demo-
cratic committee and delegate to
the Democratic National conven-
ton, necessarily was very busy
man at the time the Smith state
ment, refusing support to President
Roosevelt, was released for publ
cation. Nevertheless, I am in
position to know that the Smith
statement threw quite a scare into
New Deal ranks. Frankly, they
did not like it,
How much they do not like the
Smith statement remains to be
seen. I believe that no one can
forecast exactly how much
strength this group can pull away
from Mr.. Roosevelt in the Novem-
Der election. Much will depend
upon their personal activities
henceforth. If men like Smith and
Jim Reed and Ely take the stump,
if they go out onto the hustings
and actually campaign for Cover
nor Landon, the Republican nomi-
nee, it seems to me obvious that
such campaigning will damage the
Roosevelt cause materially.
1t was the natural strategy for
Mr.. Farley to follow in declining
comment on the Smith detection.
His assertion that the Smith state
ment was so unimportant as to re-
quire no reply will be convincing
to a very great many voters who
already have made up their minds
to support Mr.. Roosevelt. But the
truth is that the election has not
been won yet by either side and
any votes that are influenced by
such a group as that headed by
Governor Smith will have weight in
the final determination of our next
President.
The Smith detection becomes the
more important in my opinion be-
cause it occurred
LemRe almost simultane-
Third Party ously with the de-
NClOplllCllI VI
third party under the leadership
of Rep. William Lemke, of North
Dakota. This picture may not be
entirely clear to everyone. 1t is
substantially this: Lemke and his
colleagues are attempting to draw
together the extreme radicals, the
leftist groups. The bulk of these
will come from the Democratic
party if the Lemke organization de-
velops any particular strength.
The Smith group represents the
conservative, or rightist, element
in the Democratic party. Thus we
see detraction from the Roosevelt
strength On two sides.
I do not mean to say here that
the combination of these circum
stances will insure President
Roosevelt's defeat. Anyone who
would make such a declaration at
this time demonstrates his lack of
knowledge of political maneuvers.
What am seeking to show, how
ever, is that robins have arrived in
the back yard and in the front
yard of the New Deal party and if
the leaders of the two obstreperous
groups engage viciously in this
campaign, the time may come