Imperial Valley press., 1936-08-26
News Behind the News
Three Points in The Campaign
Landon's Eastern Trip Non
Political RoOseUeitian MOUes ;.
LeDike :.

WASHINGTON. - Three factors seem to
stand out among current campaign develop
ments:
/. Gov. Alf M Landons trip into the east
is likely to be crucial test of his ability to
WOO voters.
2. President Roosevelt's words and actions,
described officially as n-political" are near
ly all political, in both effect and intent.
g. The Lemke candidacy takes in
creasingly ant-Roosevelt aspect. again, in both
effect and intent with definite possibility that
it may throw the election to Landon in case
there is close finish in the electoral college.
Concern over the Landon campaign is be-
ing expressed by some of the governors best
friends who think he has been the victim of
bad advice and has failed to present himself to
the public the able and honest man they
believe he is.
Landon, they explain, has done himself an
injustice through his failure to present strong,
constructive program of his own instead OF
relying on popular reaction against Roosevelt to
elect him.
If the governor were to speak out publicly
with the frankness he uses in private converse
ton, they insist, he would be a stronger can
didate.
Chairman John Hamilton and the wealthy
eastern Republicans who work closely with him
blamed for the campaign strategy to date
There is a chance, however, that Landon has
by now decided to change tactics and speak
both more forthrightly and less conservatvely.
The theory of Hamilton and the eastern big
fellows in keeping Landon under wraps is that
anti-New Deal reaction to date, plus high
powered and expensive campaign to scare vot-
ers away from the New Deal, will be enough
to win the day.
Meanwhile, the White House pretense that
Roosevelt's movements and words are mon
political" may be smart stuff, but easy to see
through. Anyone who knows politics can tell,
without being mind reader, that the presi-
dents mind is constantly on the campaign.
It isn't hard to believe that his announced
intention to stick around the east to be
close to the threatening European situation is
so much stage play
1t looks in fact, just like one more act in
the program of dramatizaton of Roosevelt as
great international problems and intent on
keeping out of war.
Roosevets visit to the governor-general of
Canada his of French in speech, his con-
stantly expressed interest in affairs abroad and
his pointed Chautauqua speech may be similarly
considered.
The fact that modern communication and
facilities at the disposal of a president allow
him to keep in as close touch with the Spanish
rebellion from ST. Louis as from Washington Is
too obvious to be overlooked.
1t has become clear, meanwhile, that the
motto of the Union Party might properly be
1--WE Hate Roosevelt" The four leaders of the
party-Lemke, Father Coughlin, DR.. Townsend
and Gerald Smith-have that in common.
Presumably they all know, everyone else
does that they are taking far more votes from
Roosevelt than from Landon. 1t Is commonly
believed that the Union Party has received or
will receive money from sources seeking Landons
election And the four must be quite aware that
the only possible constructive or destructive
thing they can do this year is to take enough
votes away from Roosevelt in one or more states
to give Landon plurality.