Evening star., 1936-01-03
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Politicians and business leaders await
President Roosevelt's imminent mes
sages to Congress with special interest
for some indication as to whether the
New Deal henceforward will steer to the
right or to the left. With his reelection
campaign in the offing, the hour is appro-
pirate for F. D. r. to inform the country
whether or not trend away from the
liberalism" assailed by his opponents as
radicalism is in sight. If the emergency
produced by depression is on the way
out, as administrationists insist 1t is, Mr..
Roosevelt may be ready to chart his
future course in the direction of more
moderate" policies than the measures,
experiments and reforms enacted during
the past three years. Those who en-
vision such a possibility anticipate no
back-tracking on Rooseveltian innova-
tions. What they have In mind Is pro-
longation of the breathing spell" for
commerce, finance and industry. A con-
servative at heart, as he is sometimes
described, Mr.. Roosevelt may feel the
hour is ripe for mailing such colors to
the mast.
There would be good politics in conces-
sions to conservatism at this time. Demo-
cratic leaders are conscious that their
cause has been undermined in the Ma
tons business centers. They know that
the East and North must be conciliated
in order to lay the foundations Of victory.
Despite claims that the Presidents for
tunes there are intact, it's everybodyS
secret that they have in fact undergone
a severe slump. If the New Deal now
turns to the right on such scores as Fed
eral expenditure and regulation of busi-
ness, Mr.. Roosevelt will go far toward
rebuilding his fences in regions where
they have fallen into disrepair.
***
Decision Of Mr.. Roosevelt to broadcast
his annual message TO the country in
stead of addressing merely joint ses-
sion Of Congress is signal OF the ex-
tensive use of the air which he will
make during the campaign. Aware of
his radio personality" party managers
plan to have the President take to the
wave Lengths on q wholly unprecedented
scale. He likes travel and values far
flung personal contacts, mindless Of the
wear and tear of long journeys and rear
platform ordeals But II he cares to, he
can conduct his fight just about as effec-
lively without ever leaving the White
House With voice and style made to
order for the nicrophone, Mr.. ROOSEVELT s
broadcasting talent is one Of the most
formidable obstacles the Republicans
have to overcome. Unless they can pro-
duce an aerialiSt as Skillful as the man
whose dulcet, my friends" has invaded
every sitting room Of the land, they are
going to be Sorely handicapped.
r r
With steady expansion Of the Borah
boom, you hear the question asked
whether the Idahoan presents suficient
of q contrast to New Deal liberalism to
be the ideal candidate to pit against Mr..
Roosevelt. It's suggested here and there
that the logic Of the situation calls for
a Republican nominee who, while not
being hard-shelled old guardSman,
would typify a brand Of conservatism
that would give voters a latitude OF
choice which they might not feel they
possessed If they had to decide between
two liberals like Roosevelt and Borah.
Republican leaders concede the necessity
of liberaliZed platform and standard
bearer, but former Senator Walter E.
Edge Of New Jersey has just indicated
that Eastern party men OF his stripe
would fight shy of liberalism" tinctured
with infiationary leanings, sympathy
with Townsendism and approval Of leg
islation like the potato control act. What
the elephant is looking for is Moses
who can b sold" either ~ CONSERVE