Evening star., 1936-10-16
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Doubtless box score of current Roose-
welt and Landon speeches would show
the President ahead in colorful points
dramatically scored, but opinion is grow
ing out that the Governor is driving
home the Republican side of the 1896
argument with steadily increasing effec-
tiveness. The Kansan's appeals, despite
their matter of fact delivery, are soak
ing into the popular mind to degree
that New Dealers may seriously under
estimate. Landon'S attacks on the ad-
ministration's social security and recip-
rocal trade programs missed fire even
in some quarters friendly to his cause,
but when he's been devoting himself
to analysis of Rooseveltian "squander-
mania" in relief and other fields the
G.. o. p. standard bearer has given
persuasive account of himself. He was
never more forceful or convincing than
in his Detroit speech, when he charged
F. D. r. with violating the basic ideals
of the American system OF government.
ConStitutionalism, in the Judgment OF
innumerable authorities on both sides OF
the fence, after all Is the paramount
bone of contention this year, or should
be. Landon went to 1t hammer and tongs
the other night, and in terms SO simple
and fortnight as to make the issue easily
understood by the average voter. Alto
gether, on many counts, the Governors
common sense methods are proving to
be a match for the more spectacular
performances of his resourceful rival.
President RooSevelt's dulcet overtures
to business at Chicago are in tune with
the olive branches he lately extended to
such important interests as the power
and life insurance industries. His new
and conciliatory tone is in striking con-
trast to shafts at economic royalists,"
princes of privilege" "entrenched
greed" and other acceptance-speec
thrusts. Mr.. Roseveltis affirmation of
devotion to the system OF private profit
and free enterprise" is conspicuous evi-
dence of his revised mood toward COM
merce and finance. The President is
obviously at eleventh-hour pains to calm
the anxieties of the class which repre-
sents the largest and solidest single ele-
ment of opposition to his reelection.
and which may turn the tide in pivotal
regions like New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Michigan and Illinois. Business
freely admits the fruits of recovery, but
is not so happy when it contemplates
the sour apples of future taxation and
revived regimentation.
Although Harry H. Woodring's ap-
pointment as Secretary of War was her
aided as temporary, Gov. Paul v. Nc
Mutt of Indiana, who ranked as the next
most prominent aspirant for the port
folio, is said now to have abandoned the
ambition. Grapevine word comes from
indianapolis that the Governor, who will
leave office at the end of the year, has
decided to return to private life in order
to groom himself for the 1910 Democratic
presidential nomination. McNutt shortly
is expected to'become president of In
diana State University, In which post
his friends think he will have ideal op-
portunity to develop as q national figure
and get his lightning rod in working
order.
Vice President Gamers broadcast to-
morrow night will emphasize the fact
that no New Deal voice has been SO con-
spicuous by its golden silence, both on
and OF the air, as the ruddy Texans.
The Lone Star statesman never went in
for speechmaking during his long career
in Congress and has participated hardly
at all in the oratorical rough and tumble
Of New Deal politics. When he does
clear for spellbinding action Garner I
capable Of turning on the heat. HIS