Evening star., 1936-09-09

gained in the last D,vid lawrence
three years or
more and they have only the vaguest
impressions as yet about Gov. Landon,
what he stands for and what kind OF
q President he would make.
The opportunity for Mr.. Roosevelt
to carry these Western States is re-
lated closely to the amount OF Fed
eral money spent in stimulating
prosperity by artificial means. The
average man has as yet learned little
about the false bottom of an inf1a-
tionary boom, but looks retroSpectively
rather than prospectively. The buSi-
ness man who is accustomed to look
ing ahead expresses alarm because he
does not see how constantly mounting
debt can end in anything but trouble
unless expenses of Government are
cut.
Dazed by Figures.
As vet the figures about the Govern
ment finances and debts and budgets
are a maze of numbers difficult to
understand and much more compll-
Gated than any other issue before the
average man, even though the most
important.
Local issues are causing a split In
party lines and the third-party move
ments are beginning to make some
tnroads, but the Roosevelt vote OF
1882, with the exception of the de-
lection of old line Republicans who
left Hoover on prohibition, for ex-
ample, or the desertion by Jeffersonian
Democrats who don't like the New
Deal, is a sizable block with which
the administration starts out.
The Landon fight is plainly an up
hill fight. The Kansas Governor will
have to take chances, fight desperately
for this Western country to wake 1t
up even to listen to his point Of view.
Landon can win without most OF
these Western States, but the tactics
that make 1t necessary for him to show
more and more of his progressive side
and more and more Of his definite
policies would seem to be essential In
the Middle West and East.
VI SitudthOhs
Looking at each of the 13 States
that I have visited and with due re-
gard for the fact that surveyed the
situation during the Summer months
and not the Autumn, the lineup
would seem to be as follows:
Minnesota-A close State. The
death of Gov. Olson has broken up
somewhat the Farmer-Labor party
opportunity to swing Minnesota into
the Roosevelt column by means of the
personality of the Governor. The
Farner-Laborites are strong. Repre-
sentative Christianson, Republican
nominee for the United States Senate,
appears likely winner. Landon has
the edge.
North Dakota-Factionalis in the
Republican party and the three
cornered fight for the governorship
gives Gov Landon whatever chance
he has here. The Lemke- Coughlin
ticket will be stronger here than in
any other State. AS Lemke's strength
grows, so does Landon's. If the elec-
ton were held today, Landon would
have an even chance to get the
electoral vote, 1t is a close State.
Montana-Plainly Roosevelt State
at this writing. The division in the
Democratic ranks on the senatorship
growing out of the primary and the
possibility Of some Lemke- Coughlin
and Townsend votes may alter the
result. 1t can be put down for
Roosevelt right now.
Washington Changing.
Washington - Another Roosevelt
State, but with rapidly declining
majority, due to the failure of the
Democratic Governor to maintain the
right to work in Seattle and the
tying in of the New Deal with the
This will prove costly to the Roose-
welt cause in the State of Washington,
losing him many votes in the Repub-
lican sections Of the State, where he
would otherwise have been the benefi-
ciary of the vast Federal monies spent.
But as between law and order and
Federal money, the former has the
prior claim. 1t is the more emotional
and thought provoking. The State of
Washington went by 100000 for
Roosevelt four years ago. If it goes
by $4,000 this time, Mr.. Roosevelt
will be lucky. It is Roosevelt State,
but fast receding.
Oregon-Here, too, the Roosevelt
expenditures have made deep and
favorable impression, but there are no
local issues such as in Washington.
The West Coasts industrial troubles,
Of course, are more or less spread
throughout the whole region and there
Is a growing resentment against the
New Deal because so many lawless
elements are coming to the front and
taking as their shield the collective
bargaining" expounded by the New
Deal. But while Landon is gaining in
Oregon, 1t still must be regarded
ss q Roosevelt State.
California - Here the Roosevelt
strength is so preponderant that only
o miracle can change the result.
That miracle might be an organized
Townsend drive. At present, however,
1t has not materialized. California
will be Democratic by at least 300,-
600 and I would not be surprised to
zee the figure as high as 100000.
Arizona Close.
Arizona.-A close State but with
the advantage to Mr.. Roosevelt, due
to the enormous sums spent by the
New Deal in this State. A third party
may yet carry the State into the
Landou column but the chances, 20