Evening star., 1936-10-04
PARTIES ARE QUICK
TO JOIN STRUGGLE.
Landon Needs Empire State
for EIection-Trend Not
Yet Clear.
BY THOMAS CoMPERE,

Special Correspondent Of The Star.
NEW YORK. October 3.-Demo-
Gratis and Republicans alike made 1t
clear at their State conventions this
week that the New Deal policies Of
President Roosevelt will be the para
mount issues In the bitter fight for
New York's Al electoral votes and the
governorship.
The administration of President
Roosevelt and legislation supplement-
ing and supporting it enacted in this
State at the direction of Gov. Herbert
H. Lehman were assailed vigorously at
the Republican conNntionyin Albany
and defended with enthusiasm by
leading Democratic orators, including
the President himself. at their con-
vention in Syracuse.
State issues were relegated to the
background in speeches and plat
forms, and leaders of both parties
appeared pleased that the fight will
be over the New Deal. The Re-
publicans have contended that con-
stitutional government would be en-
dangered by the return of Democrats
to power, and the President lost no
time In taking the offensive on this
issue in his Syracuse speech.
Key State This Year.
Leaders of both parties realize that
New York is a key State this year,
and unbiased observers are almost
unanimous in agreeing that Gov. Al
fred M. Landon cannot be elected to
the presidency unless he carries this
State. Because Of this situation, the
full force Of the Democratic and
Republican national organizations, as
well as the State machines, have
been brought into the fight, the out
come Of which still is regarded aS "a
toss-up.
The Republicans nominated Justice
William r. Bleakley OF the Supreme
Court, Westchester, for Governor, and
the Democrats renominated Gov. Leh-
man, who agreed to run again only
after national and State Democratic
leaders, from President Roosevelt
down, had exerted great pressure on
him during the Democratic National
Convention in Philadelphia.
Justice Bleakley is opposed unre-
servedly to the fundamental tenets Of
the New Deal. while Gov. Lehman
has wroked with such harmony with
the President that his State admins
tration has been called with some de-
gree of accuracy "the little New Deal"
Result Hinges on New York City.
Justice Bleakley will make a strong
campaign. It is believed generally
that he was the best man available
to lead the Republicans in their ef-
forts to whittle down the traditional
overwhelming Democratic majorities
in New York City. Since it is fore
gone conclusion that upstate win go
heavily Republican. the election will
hinge primarily on the vote in this
city.
President Roosevelt received a plu-
rality of 871, 100 in New York City
in 1882, and carried the State by
596,987 votes. Republican leaders,
however, are confident this year that
they will come down to the Bronx line
with a plurality of at least 500, 900
this year, and one executive Of the
party has placed an even-money bet
that Gov. Landon will receive q
plurality of 100000 upstate.
1t is considered certain that Justice
Bleakley will be an asset to the Re-
publican national ticket In this State.
He is q Catholic and one of the most
popular men ever to hold Office in
Westchester County, which adjoins
the Bronx. Capitalization of gov
eminent in Washington is anathema
to him. He is opposed to the "dicta-
toriaI' tendencies Of the New Deal,
and the expenditures Of the Roosevelt
and Lehman administrations will be
among his main targets.
Platform Pledges Economy.
The Republican platform closely re-
sembles the one adopted by the Ma
tional Republican Convention in Cleve-
land. 1t pledges drastic reductions
in the cost of government; the elimi-
nation of unnecessary and harassing
regulation Of private business; con-
forms in the main with Gov. Lam
don's stand on social security, and
includes a comprehensive program for
the farmers. 1t also favors q con-
stitutional amendment, If necessary,
to make possible the enactment of
minimum wage and maximum hours
legislation for women and children.
Gov. Lehman will stand for re-
election on his record during the
last four years. He consistently has
supported progressive legislation, in
cluding comprehensive public utii-
ties regulation program. He also has
supported the passage of many State
laws which conformed with Federal
legislation sponsored by the President
He conducted a hard f1ght for the
approval Of a special security program
ut the last session Of the Legislature.
The Republican-controlled Assembly
blocked him In this, and he unques-
tionably will make that major issue
in the campaign.
The Democratic platform assailed
the shallow and transitory nature Of
fault-finding" by ONCE seekers who
misrepresent withdrawal Of special
privileges to be "an invasion of in
dividua1 liberties" It included pledges
to make no peace with industrial or
economic oppression and continual
ton Of the fight for the rights Of
labor, the continuation Of economies
in government, legislation for the re-
lief of the dairymen, passage Of addi-
tional public utilities legislation and
the continuation OF necessary relief.