Evening star., 1936-09-26


Independent OBJ n,,,.,.v,.,,.
servers from diff ~
ferent parts Of the State. It is sig
nificant that the average estimate Of
the Democrats was that MIR. Roosevelt
would carry Nebraska by about 10000,
while the average estimate made by
Republicans was that the State would
be carried by Gov. Landon with about
10000 votes.
Here Is a variation of not more
than $4,000 votes. or a possible shift
Of $4,000 voters out Of total OF about
$4,000 votes. The margin is too mar
row on which to base a definite pre-
diction.
$4,000 Four Years Ago.
Certainly Mr.. Roosevelt's majority
OF $4,000 of four years ago is gone,
and while I found one enthusiastic
Democratic editor from the rural
areas who thought the President
might get as high as 100000 majority,
the consensus among the many people
I consulted in Omaha and Lincoln
was that the Democrats would be
lucky to get 10000 If they carried
the State.
The Republicans are quite confident
Of what they will be able to do in the
next 80 days because they say the tide
Is their way. Certainly the attend
ance at the political rallies addressed
by Republicans is extraordinary and
exceeds by far anything in recent
years. Some of the meetings, for in
stance, which were scarcely attended
two years ago when Bob Simmons was
campaigning for Senator, are today
giving him three and four times the
audiences, and he has been anti-New
Deal almost from beginning Of the
present administration attempt to go
beyond its emergency program to
usurp governmental powers for per-
manent purposes.
Norris May Lose.
Also, it is interesting to learn here
that Senator Norris may be beaten
this year for reelection. His fortunes
are closely tied up with Mr.. Roose-
velt's. For some reason never dis
closed, Mr. Norris declined to file in
either the Republican or the Demo-
cratic primaries, but was nominated
by petition of 10000 voters. His
name, therefore. no longer will appear
under the Republican ticket, as has
happened so many times before in his
public career.
On the Democratic ballot is the
name of Terry Carpentry, who entered
the Democratic primaries and won the
nomination. Carpenter says Norris
told him before the primaries that he
would not file, and, as q consequence,
Carpenter felt free to enter the con-
test Now Carpenter insists that Nor
ris has gone back on his statement.
In the Republican primaries, Robert
Simmons, former Member Of Congress
and one Of the ablest Of Nebraska's
public men, won the nomination for
the Senate, and, if Norris is defeated,
1t will be by Simmons. This is be-
cause q large straight ticket vote will
20 to Carpenter on the Democratic
side and all the Landon votes prob
ably will 60 to Simmons. Norris may.
therefore, find himself dividing the
New Deal vote with Carpenter.
Democratic Strife Factor.
The situation Is somewhat compli-
Gated by the internal factional strug-
gle in the Democratic party. Thus,
Senator Burke, who is a Democrat,
has announced that he cannot support
Carpenter, the regular nominee. Burke
has made speeches that emphasize his
independence Of the New Deal and 1t
Is natural to find him opposed to Car
penter. who is considered Q radical
Here we have, therefore. q Demo-
cratic United States Senator lukewarm
about many Of the Roosevelt New Deal
policies and out Of sympathy with the
regular Democratic nominee. and Q
Democratic organization. which has
been fought by Norris, finding itself
more or less committed by Mr.. Roose-
velt to help Senator Norris. Il
The Democratic State machine has
Jong been dominated by Arthur Null
len, who was floor manager for Mr..
Roosevelt at the Democratic National
Convention Of 1882, and who has been
having various alterations with 1ckes
about legal fees. It is said that Mullen
represents power companies, which. to
be sure, are the things Norris has spent
. Q good deal of his time lambasting In
, the United States Senate.
~ Observers Perplexed.
- Anyway, the Nebraska political OBJ
servers can hardly be blamed for be-
ing unable to diagnose situation In
: which President Roosevelts strategy
: has resulted In forcing Arthur Mullen
and his Democratic associates to the
5 side.of Senator Norris. It Is suspected
!. that the Mullen forces are not going
to work very actively for Norris, even
though they are supposed to be doing
It to oblige Mr.. Roosevelt.
! Norris, however, has managed to
yin campaign after campaign by fight-
ing It out in his own way, and If he
{ II elected this time, 1t will be . clear
indication that the primary system
'and party regularity can be brushed
aside when . man Of powerful per-
oonality wants to 60 1t alone.
81 Senator Norris, in his speeches, u
treating Gov. Landon with considera-
tion, giving him credit for being hon-
est and sincere, but pointing out that
9 Mr.. Roosevelt will have friendlier
Z Congress. There are also evidences
that Landon,s speeches at Des Molnes
Il and Minneapolis on the farm prob
= lem have made deep impression,
winning him many friends In this
State. r
~ But az between Landon and Mr..
Roosevelt, the electoral vote Is much
in doubt
tcopyrisht. ig3o.) 4