Evening star., 1936-07-23
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

accepting the Republican presidential
nomination. Not only will the speech
and its contents be searched avidly by
the Republicans who are following Lam
don but it may have very considerable
effect on the stand which several impor-
tant political figures will take during the
campaign. For example. Senator Will
liam E. Borah of Idaho and former Gov.
Alfred E. Smith of New York.
AL Smith is anxious to see the defeat
of President Roosevelt. No one can have
the slightest doubt of that fact who
heard his address at the Liberty League
| dinner in Washington several months
ago or who read the message which
Smith signed, along with four other
| prominent Democrats, and sent to the
delegates to the Democratic National
Convention IN Philadelphia. In that
message Smith urged that Roosevelt be
| turned down and that genuine" DEM
ocrat be nominated. And in that mes
sage It was asserted clearly that If the
Democrats went ahead and nominated
/, Roosevelt there would be only one course
open to Democrats who still believe in
the doctrines of Jefferson, Jackson and
Cleveland-only one practical courSe-and
that was the support of the Republican
| nominee.
! The very fact that AL Smith would con-
fer with John Hamilton, the chairman
! of the Republican National Committee,
| is evidence enough that the Democratic
standard bearer of 1928 is not going along
with Roosevelt this year. He may not
take the stump for Landon. That would
| scarcely be in character for Smith, who
| has been an ardent Democrat all his
life. But that he will speak against
Roosevelt seems almost certain. When
he will speak is not known. But it will
! probably be at a time when he thinks
! that he can be most effective. Al Smith
! does not consider Roosevelt Democrat.
If he did he would not have appealed to
the party's national convention to name
| genuine" Democrat in place of the
President. In fighting the reelection of
Roosevelt, therefore, Smith will not, in
| his own opinion, be attacking the Demo-
| cratic party.
Senator Borah would very much like
L
slightest doubt of that, either. He wants
to know, however, just what the attitude
of Gov. Landon is going to be on certain
| subjects which he considers of very great
importance. That is the reason he is
holding off and making no announce
ment of his plans. He would be greatly
disappointed. for example, if Landon
should, in his acceptance speech. say any,
| fn pH
President, he would work for the resump
ton of the old gold standard of currency.
He wants to hear what Landon has to
say about monopolies. In the mind of
Senator Borah the crushing of monopo-
lies is the foremost issue of the day If
the American plan of government and
life is to survive At present the Idaho
Senator is conducting an intensive cam
| paign for his own denomination and re-
election. He is great campaigner. He
would be as effective nationally as he is
in his own State if he really jumped into
| the drive to elect Landon and defeat
Roosevelt. But Senator BOrah has
deep conviction that if Landon should
make a return to the gold standard
major issue in the coming campaign he
would lose in Idaho and in many of the
other Western States. And that is that,
| SO far as Borah is concerned.
| X
Smiths reaction to the Landon accept
ance speech will be sought with interest.
Former Gov. Ely of Massachusetts,, one
| Of the Democrats who. with Smith,
signed the letter urging the delegates to
the Democratic National Convention to
| abandon Roosevelt, has already declared
| that the Republican platform this year
more nearly represents the ideals of
Democracy and the Democratic party
| than does the New Deal. Ely is ready,
| apparently, to support the Republican
| national ticket. How far Smith goes-if
he is to give support to Landon-will
| probably be influenced by the kind of
campaign that Landon makes. 1t is ex-
| pected that the Kansas Governor. in his
| acceptance speech, will hold the hand of
| fellowship to the anti-New Deal Demo-
Gratis. 1t is further expected that before
the campaign is far along he will make
| it known he intends to have in his Off
| cial family, the cabinet, if he is elected,
some substantial Democrats. 1t is not
| beyond the realm of possibility he may
even name Democrat or two whom he
has selected for cabinet office-after, of
course, he shall have been assured by
these Democrats that they will accept
such appointment.
The Republicans in Massachusetts, are
very hopeful this year. They believe that
they cannot only carry the State for
Landon against Roosevelt, but they also
believe they can elect their State ticket
and United States Senator. This would
mean the defeat Of Gov. James NJ Cur
ley, who is seeking the Senate seat now
held by Senator Marcus A. Coolidge, a
Democrat. The defeat of Curley would
not hurt the feelings of lot of Demo-
Gratis in Massachusetts,. Massachusetts,
Republicans this year have abandoned
factionalism to very great degree. This
unity against the Democratic enemy is
well exemplified by the willingness of
candidates for the Republican guber-
Material and senatorial nominations to
step aside and give their support to the
selections of the pre-primary Republican
State Convention. At this convention
candidates for Governor and Senator
were selected, as well as for other Offices.
Leverett Saltonstall, Speaker of the
House, who was a serious contender for
the gubernatorial nomination, and Sin
clair Weeks, who sought the senatorial