The Washington times., 1936-09-26
BRAIN TRUST
DIS0WNEDBY
DEMOCRATS
By EARL GOODWIN

No Brain Trust in this cam
paign, as far as the Roosevelt side
is concerned. Just hard boiled poll
ticians, with the President as
Head Man. In the campaign four
years ago, the Brain Trust had
an office all to itSelf-and sent
suggestions over to the Demo
cratic national committee. This
time should anyone mention a
Brain Trust to Democrat, he
will look confused and fade out
of the picture.
It is noticeable that the Presi-
dents Cabinet hasn't said much
that sounds political so far in
the campaign; and there doesn't
seem to be any indication that
these high officials will go scurry-
ing off on the hustings. So far,
the Cabinet officer who has at
tracted most attention for politi-
cal purposes has been Secretary
Of State Hull, and his prominence
in the picture is legitimately an
administrative one.
Talks on Policies
He has called attention to the
foreign policies which President
Roosevelt has initiated and
backed; and there are those who
believe the Administration banks
heavily on public support by rea-
son of the good neighbor" policy.
1t is unusual that so much State
Department publicity is allowed;
but, as has been observed, this is
campaign year. The reciprocal
trade treaties, under the fire Of
the G. o. P. candidates right now,
are State Department matters and
are being defended largely by the
State Department.
Vice President Garner, astute
politically, is now acting as a sort
of anchor man over in the Demo
cratic headquarters in New York.
He may be looked upon as a sort
Of mo" man. 1t is certainly true
that he will have freer hand IN
saying mo" to President Roose-
welt, If he deemed it necessary
than would Chairman Farley or
any Government official. Whether
he deems it necessary or not to
advise against any Of the PreSi-
dents political plans, there seems
to be no doubt that the Demo
Gratis value his views highly and
he will have a position of great
prominence in the campaign setup.
Caution Noted
The Democrats are showing ex-
treme caution in the campaign;
they are not going to have any of
the Presidents extremely progress
sive aides do any talking for pub
Iication if it can be helped. For
that reason there will be no
speeches by Assistant Secretary Of
Agriculture Tugwell, unless some
thing happens to the present iron
clad decision to keep Prof. Tug
well under wraps. the PreSi-
dent admireS Prof. TugWell's abili-
ties but he recognizes that the
professor is not what might be
called a political asset in a cam
paign where there is evidently a
growing amount of conservatism.
Nor is Harry Hopkins to be
heard from politically unless he
manages his own campaign tour.
There is no doubt that right here
in Washington Mr.. Hopkins comes
as close to being a "fair-haired boy"
as anyone and that he is in &C.
cord with the President and vice
verSa-but those who run the
campaign at New York and else
where feel that they have enough
to worry about with the daily
boondoggle" stuff and other harry
ing and nagging criticisms with
out having the explosive Mr.. Hop
kins calling somebody TOO
dumb. as he has on occasion.
Democratic strategists are di-
vided over the effect of the two
speeches on agricultural policy
by Governor Landon. Many of
them believe that the G.. o. P.
presidential candidate did not
ring the bell because they feel
he was illogical and that he went
back on his party'S platform, etc.,
etc. Others feel that the DeS
Moines and Minneapolis speeches
were masterful efforts, we'll de-
livered and carrying considerable
appeal. Democrats who fear the
Landon speeches say that they
may have been illogical
that an appeal to the farmers
emotions right now has more
vote-catching value than a book
full of logic. There is a feeling
in the Democratic campaign that
Governor Landon has picked up
a lot of votes in the farm belt.
Still, the tremendous battle is
be fought in Pennsylvania, Mas
sachusetts. Ohio, Indiana, Illi-
noiS and Michigan. Neither can
didate can afford to let any of
those States go without a su-
preme effort to win as many as
possible. New York is a battle
ground all by itself and the most
extravagant claims can be heard
from either side. Anyone who
makes a large bet on any of
these States can be assured of