Evening star., 1936-06-29

It's pretty generally agreed that both
the Cleveland and Philadelphia national
conventions, from the oratorical stand
point. were far more distinguished for
quantity than for quality. Nobody at
either hullabaloo made a reputation as
DemoSthenes. Speeches, with few ex-
ceptionS, were Of the stereotyped con-
vention brand, both in content and de-
livery. Most politicians nowadays say
their spellbinding style is cramped by
the necessity to talk to the radio
microphone rather than to their visible
audience. They alibi that they cannot
let themselves 60 under such circum-
stances. and that the inevitable result
is colorleSSneSs. Herbert Hoover carried
off speaking honors at Cleveland. Sena-
tor Bob Wagner of New York turned in
the best oratorical performance at
Philadelphia by reading the Democratic
platform in tones that did not strain
for eloquent effects. The four or five
dozen speeches Seconding President
Roosevelts nomination resolved them
selves into a sort Of Evolutionary con-
test OF the lot, the address of Gov.
Lehman of New York made the best
impression. Senator Tom Connally Of
Texas acquitted himself impressively,
too, during the deluge of seconding
oratory.
President Roosevelt, like many a lesser
mortal, showed some Of the physical
effects of long hours of participation
in the Philadelphia convention via radio
but he survived the ordeal. His medical
advisers and others in the White House
circle say that F. D. r. enters the 1896
fray in the pink of trim for the battle
royal, which everybody expects to be
the hardest fought presidential contest
| Of the generation. Always a rugged
campaigner, and usually the least easily
fatigued Of his travel mates, Mr. Roose-
welt has indicated to party managers
his readiness to engage in as intensive
personal canvass as may be de-
sired, including a swing around the
| circle in the Fall, to embrace at inter-
vals virtually every section of the
country.
Chairman Farley, like most other
boxing authorities, looked upon the late
Schmeling-Louis collision as a push
over for the Detroit Negro. Many a
Philadelphia conventionite, after inn
bibing Big. Jims sunny optimism about
the outcome of the 1896 election, won
dered whether the Democratic political
pundits may not turn out to be as
lopsided in their cocksure predictions
as the pugilistic fraternity recently
was. Altogether it's been a sad year
for experts. Europe's military sooth-
sayers were 100 per cent wrong in
prophesying that it would take Mus
Solini at least two years to conquer
Ethiopia. Then came the Schmeling-
Louis upset. Are the New Deal star
gazers destined to be the next to have
their infallibility knocked into o cooked
hat?
Much will be heard from the @. o. p.
side, as the campaign progresses. about
the "all-Western" ticket which the Re
publicans have put In the field. That
claim does not stand the test Of an
cestral-geographical scrutiny. From the
latter standpoint 1t is an "all-Eastern"
ticket. Gov. Landon was born in Penn
sylvania and Col. Knox In Massachu-
setts. The Roosevelt Garner ticket per-
sonifies an East-West combination, As
does the Lemke-O Brien Union party
slate.
Despite reports that abrogation of the
| two-third rule is meant to be the cur
| tain raiser of q Roosevelt third term
movement, the woods already rever-
berate with talk Of 1910 Democratic
young hopefuls. Early entries INCLUDE
| the NAMES Of Gov. Earle of Pennsyl-
vania, Gov. McNutt andt Senator Min
l ton a indiana. Sender Tydtnss of