Evening star., 1936-10-12
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Cardinal Pacelli, papal secretary OF
state. paying his maiden visit to the
United States discovers. among phe-
nomena now visible in the country, that
Roman Catholic priests for the first time
are taking a militant part in American
national politics. The arrival of the emf
nent Roman prelate comedies with the
bitter campaign duel between Father
Charles E. Coughlin and Msgr. John A.
Ryan of Catholic University, Of which
there is no counterpart on record.
Priests have long been politically active
in Europe, especially. in countries like
Germany and Austria, where organized
Catholic parties used to flourish and
exercise important influence on govern
mental affairs. The old Parliaments in
both Berlin and Vienna always contained
priest members. Austria few years ago
had a clerical chancellor in the person
of Msgr. Seipel. The church traditionally
has frowned upon its clergy mixing in
party affairs over here. Many members
Of the hierarchy, both in Rome and in
the United States, have therefore viewed
with unconcealed displeasure the activi-
ties of Father Coughlin, especially since
he took the warpath so violently against
President Roosevelt. Nevertheless, most
authorities doubt whether Cardinal
Pacelli's role, while on our soil. will be
anything except that of passive, though
possibly pained, observer.
One gets the impression from per-
formances Of their various matadors on
the air, apart from the presidential
nominees themselves, that the Demo-
Gratis are putting more punch into the
1886 fight than the Republicans. This Is
rather a reversal of form, because gen.
orally the attacking forces display the
greater belligerancy. New Dealers nke
Secretary Ickes and Works Progress Ad-
ministrator Hopkins, for example. exniolt
a species of two-fisted defense IN raolo
talks. which is in striking contrast TO
the less red-blooded stuff OF most Re-
publican combatants. The Democrats,
too. seem to be buying more time than
the G. o. p. On the evening OF OCTOBER
9, when Gov. Landon spoke Tor nan an
hour from Chicago, he was Sandwlcned
in between three Democratic periods OF
the same length, filled, respectively, by
Ickes. former Governor Cox OF Ohio and
HOPKINS. The game is still young and
during the crucial three weeks Just
ahead. the sons of the elephant may
trumpet to more resounding purpose.
Bin Hards nightly shafts at the New
Deal are now drawing the critical f1re
of the Democrats, which indicates that
the G. o. p. "jeer leader" as Ickss dubs
his one-time Chicago reportorial col
league, is getting under the donkeys
hide.
.-~L -.
AL Smith scored heavily against his
New Deal detractors when he pointed
out in his recent Philadelphia speech
that president Grover Cleveland, In bolt
ing Bryan in 1896, set an example which
no Democrat need be ashamed to follow.
smith can even cite Roosevelt VINO
took a walk-the great T. r., who prone
naded with historical consequences IN
1912. Now that Al has cut out the
purely personal note and returned to his
old LETS look at the record" form. he's.
going to be more of a thorn in the Roose-
welt side.
Gov. Cox, who headed the national
ticket on which Franklin D. Roosevelt
was once defeated for Vice President, Is