Evening star., 1936-06-18
THE POLITICAL
= MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

that shortly after the national conven-
tionS a representative conference of pro-
greSsives will be called to consider what
action should be taken in the campaign"
sounds mighty like another move in the
interest OF President RoOSeveltS re-elec-
ton. II Senator Norris of Nebraska be-
comes q member of the conference, 1t
will certainly put the Roosevelt stamp
upon 1t. The La FolletteS, who supported
Roosevelt in the 1882 campaign, are
expected to do so again this coming Fall.
They have since 1882 brought about the
creation Of the La Toilette progressive
party in Wisconsin. Senator La Toilette
ran for reelection in 1884 with the po-
litical blessing Of President Roosevelt.
Senator Norris made no bones about
coming out for the reelection of Roose-
welt Immediately after the close Of the
Republican National Convention which
nominated Landon and Knox. Indeed,
he had announced months ago he would
support the President for reelection.
The La Follettes, however. having
progressive party of their own to take
into consideration, may have come to the
conclusion that 1t would be better to have
SOlIC hlIlO Va PdI W AIIAOA oh Vic AtatVCAs
1t would be the unexpected If they
should declare for the Republican ticket.
The other courses open to them are to
support Roosevelt or to launch q third
party ticket 1t does not appear in the
cards for them TO start \ third party
at this time.
The Wisconsin Senator answers cryp-
tically when questioned about his pro-
ad rNrnorasSivA ennfArAnaa He 10
willing to say, even, il 1t is hooked up
In any way with the Father Coughlin
movement for q third ticket. However,
1t would be a surprise II the La Follettes
were planning to 60 places with the
Detroit priest and his organization.
-
The Democratic high command Is
desperately anxious to keep the Repub-
lican progreSSives In line for the New
Deal President. 1t already has Senator
Norris campaigning for the reelection OF
President Roosevelt. There are signs,
however, that some OF the other pro-
gressives may not be inclined to get in
line with the Democrats again this year.
1t is obvious that If a representative
conference" Of progresSives Is held and
they vote or in some other way deter
mine to follow the New Deal ticket this
year, 1t will be balm to the soul OF Chair
man James A. Farley of the Democratic
National Committee, who has the job
of re-electing the President this year.
Doubtless the New Dealers are looking
longingly toward Senator William E.
Borah of Idaho II they could persuade
the Idaho Senator to line up against the
Republican national ticket and for Presi-
dent Roosevelt they would heave a sigh
of pure relief and JOY. But that is not
likely to happen. Senator Borah has
done real job for the Republican party
this year. To him belongs the credit
for remaking the party along progressive
lines, more than to any other man IN the
preconvention period. 1t would be
strange If. having accomplished SO much,
the Idaho Senator should turn his back
on his handiwork and join hands with
the New Dealers.
The Idaho Senator Is saying nothing
at this time about his plans for the
future. There seems no doubt, however,
that he was much disappointed when
Gov. Landon sent q telegram to the Re
publican National Convention saying that
he believed the gold standard should
ENSHJuaHy pC lCflNC0. AAC PA0tASA"A
adopted by the Republican National
Convention, over which he had labored
SO hard. was satisfactory to him. and
still is. 1t declared for sound money, but
made no mention of the gold standard.
Gov. Landon in his telegram to the ma
tional convention said that he would not
press for q return to the gold standard
as long as such q move would be inimical
10 I,a iy1fa nf the fQ and the
other producers of raw materials. If,
having expressed his personal opinion on
this currency matter, the Kansas Senator
let's the matter stand without bringing
the gold standard into his campaign for
election to the presidency he will have
better chance for success in some Of the
big agricultural States Of the West, in
the opinion of some Of the Western
leaders of the @. O. P. Many of the
leaders of the farm organizations are
satisfied with the currency plank as
adopted and written into the national
platform of the Republican Party, just
as Senator Borah was satisfied. II the
Republicans undertake. however. to press
the issue of the gold standard in Idaho
and in other States Of the Northwest
and West 1t may make q hard game
still harder for them next November.
y
Senator Borah still has under con-
sideration filing for the Republican Sena-
torial nomination in Idaho. 1t would be
a calamity for the Republicans in that
State II the Senator declined to run
again, and 1t would be a major loss for
the Nation. Senator Borah is a great
figure in the United States Senate. His
presence in that body would be sadly
missed If he should not succeed himself.
He has until July 10 to file for the
primary. He has, of course, the nomina-
ton within his hand If he wishes to take
it. The Democratic Governor. c. Ben
Ross, Is planning to make race against
Borah. Ross has been successful in his
campaigns for Governor He will find
himself up against very different prop
osition, however, when he tackles the
senior Senator, If he does.
Il n y
The threat Of third party ticket, held
out by Father Coughlin. in which the
Coughlinites, the Townsendites and the
followers Of the late Huey p. Long may
all be interested, will be something to
consider If it ever materializes. That 1t
could be successful in the national elec-
ton probably no one seriously believes
for a minute-not even its promoters.
It might however, cause considerable
trouble for one or both Of the major
political parties. The Republicans be-
lieve that such third party would wean
votes away from Roosevelt-the radical
yof which he Nauy naoI hoe sought IN