Evening star., 1936-07-22

Gratis wish to preserve their record Is
that bolt from the party means, as
q rule, an end to influence inside the
party. If Gov. Smith, for instance,
Is ready to burn all bridges for the
future and take himself out of the
Democratic party, he might consider
seriously announcing himself for the
Republican nominee. There are other
Democrats who feel that Mr.. Roose-
welt will not always be in command
of the party and that, after the COM
ing election, especially if he is de-
feated, the opportunity for those who
stayed inside the party ranks Will
be greater than for those who are
outside of it.
No Place to Walk.
In the case of the 1912 election,
the boiling was of different charac-
ter. progressive Republican move
ment was available to those who
wanted to bolt the regular Republican
ticket. Today there is no inde-
pendent Democratic movement to
which q man like Al Smith can turn.
This is the essential weakness of
the situation so far as many Demo-
Gratis of the Jeffersonian type are con-
cerned.
Strictly speaking. Al Smith would
be making a political mistake OF the
first order in coming out Tor Gov.
Landon, but it may be tllat he feels
his political career is finished and
hot tn hoS to Ha hi
fight for principles, irrespective of
the effect it has on his own political
fortunes. 1t may be trlat AL Smith
IS ready to turn away from future
political combat in the Democratic
party in New York State or New York
City.
Middle Course Open.
There's middle course, and it may
be that it will be adopted by the man
who was thrice Governor of New York
and in 1928 the standard bearer of
the national ticket. He can refrain
from announcing his support of Gov.
Landon, he can criticize those por-
tions of the Republican platform with
which he disagrees, and he can at the
same time repeat his previously ex-
pressed views in opposition to New
Deal policies.
If Gov. Smith wishes to speak he
can talk under independent auspices
entirely apart from those of the Re
publican National Committee or the
American Liberty League.
Last Winter his speech before the
league was a forceful exposition of
his views, and yet, because it was de-
1ivered at Liberty League banquet
it did not have as wide an influence
as it would have had if the auspices
had been different. Rightly or wrong
ly. the Liberty League has come to be
associated in the public mind with
one class, whereas Mr.. Smiths public
life and record is a demonstration of
his interest in and devotion to the
common man.
Opportunities Made.
There are various Democrats who
would like to express themselves in
the present campaign. They manage
to find opportunities to say what they
think under non-political auspices.
Thus, Senator Carter Glass delivered
at the Patrick Henry celebration in
Virginia recently what amounted to a
scathing attack on New Deal policies.
If the purpose of former Gov Smith
Is to spread his influence in the cam
paign, the fact that he goes fishing
on election day and doesn't cast his
own individual ballot for either MIR.
Landon or Mr.. Roosevelt is only of
academic Importance alongside a Sc
ries of speeches intended to arouse
public opinion generally to what he
considers are the dangers to the Ma
tion in continuing the New Deal.
Copyright, 1867