Evening star., 1936-09-20
Republicans Must Change
Their Methods of Attack
BY OVEN L. SCOTT,

vey of opinion in the vital States Of
the Middle West.
That conclusion is: Much more than
the anti Roosevelt vote is going to be
needed to capture the electoral votes of
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa
all of which are essential to victory in
November. Only q vigorous attack and
positive outline of policies to be ap-
piled in the event Of victory can be ex-
pected to turn the trick.
Two factors recently became apparent
to Republican strategists as they had
become apparent to all observers of the
political trend in the Middle West.
They were:
First, that Gov Landon in his in
itial appearances failed to capture the
imagination Of the great bulk of un-
decided voters in the Middle West whose
final decision will determine the elec-
ton outcome in their States.
Second. that President Roosevelt, with
his non-poftical political campaign, was
playing a skillful game that operated
positively to turn the drift In his d.
rection.
AS a result tactics are being shifted,
with emphasis from now on to be placed
on more vigorous, fighting type Of
appeal, designed to attract the support
Of the wavering groups.
II X X
Talks with many business men reveal
that the American people are incapable
of hating hard for any very extended
period. Republicans misjudged on that
score. They had counted on an emo
tional opposition to Mr.. Roosevelt to
become contagious.
Employers almost as a unit, will vote
against the President. but it now is ap-
parent that the excitement and bitter
are dying down.
lively quiet, making no new attacks on
economic royalists," promising that
present taxes are all that will be needed,
meeting with insurance executives, sur
veying drought conditions and allow
ing business improvement to get in its
tempering effect. seems to be overcom-
ing the violent antagonism Of his most
bitter opponents. The effect Of rising
soothing.
Thus the President has gains to show
for his negative campaign efforts.
ly be said for Gov. Landon. On that
occasion he gambled heavily. threw him.
self into the fight, and came out with
definite gains. Now the Republican
nominee Is being urged to apply the
same methods to his whole campaign.
Much more positive performance is in
sight for the remainder OF the pre-elec-
ton tight.
n,yt SAt,1ts At,% ~ al abb
that are too positive. There is the
chance to emphasize the high cost OF
living issue. Yet to do so could lead to
an opposition charge that the Repub-
licans favored low farm prices. SPEND
ing is a wide-open target. Still, If
prescription is given for cutting down
on outgo the votes of groups now get
ting bounties out Of the Treasury might
be lost. Much the same problem sur
rounds attack on other issues.
President Roosevelt has readily recog-
nized the Republican difficulty and has
shaped his plans accordingly. At first
he intended to make a vigorous cross
country campaign. Gov. Landon ex-
pected that from the Roosevelt speeches
would come issues that could be debated
to form the basis Of the campaign.
But the President reversed his field.
refused to permit himself to be put on
the defensive, and kept pushing further
into the future the time when he would
take the stump. Now reports are that
he intends to make only two major cam
paign addresses, contenting himself with
allowing the record to speak for itself.
At the same time something of
muzzle has been placed on ranking Gov
ernment officials. DIR. Rexford Tugwell
is in the background. Harry Hopkins
is out on an inspection tour. Henry
Wallace has refrained from frankly po-
litical talks. Only Harold Ickes has
been used to do much attacking.
The result is that up until this time
the people out in the country have had
little over which to get excited. The
task Of Gov. Landon seems to be to
get them excited enough to fire the pres
ent administration and to give him the
job Of building new administration.
What is it, then, that people are talk
ing about out in the Middle West2 Are
they showing signs of the sort of excite
ment that would lead to a real desire
for change?
Actually, much of the political talk is
about Gov. Landon himself Whether
justified or not, people have not been
impressed by his appearance in the
newsreels or on the air. Often they
say that a man should not be judged by
his public speaking ability or his per-
sonal magnetism, yet they say that it is
hard not to be influenced.
81 81
Even among Middle Western business
men there is wonder about the influence
Of Eastern bankers and industrialists
with the Republican nominee. Many
questions revolve around that point.
The line of talk suggests that Gov.
Landon could do much to strengthen
his cause by more vigorous campaigning
methods and by fortnight statements
about business controls and his own
attitude toward big business.
Almost every one-even those on the
jobs-has something critical to say
about w. P. A. There Is a general feel
ing that the relief workers are not earn
ing their money.
Along with this sentiment goes an
expression of fear over the size Of the
national debt and concern over future
taxes. Without a doubt Gov Landon
can capitalize this issue much more eff
fectively than he has done UP to the
present time. When it Is discovered that
farmers-who pay almost no direct Fed
eral taxes and draw heavily from the
Federal Treasury-are being Influenced
by spending and tax arguments, the ex-