Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-10-09
THE new YORK
Times ENDORSES
F. D. ROOSEVELT

The New York Times has long been
known as an Independent Democratic
newspaper. It has always placed
chief emphasis on the word "Inde-
pendent." Never having followed in
blind faith any political leader or
marty, it has exercised the right to
EXPRESS it's sincere convictions on all
public matters without fear or fav-
or. During the past three years it
has felt compelled to oppose various
policies, acts and utternaces OF a
Democratic Administration. Not one
word of this criticism does it regret
or would now wish to withdraw. Yet
the larger question of preference be-
tween parties remains; and at this
point in the Presidential campaign it
is fitting that the reasons for that
preference be frankly discussed.
In a gratifying way the progress
Of the political debate which has been
engaging the attention of the country
has cleared away a great deal OF rub
Dish which encountered it at the be-
ginning. No responsible Republican
any longer froths at the mouth IN
charging that President Roosevelt IS
setting out to be dictator after the
stvle of Stain or Hitler. The wild
assertions that he intends to tear up
the Constitution and destroy the Su-
preme Court are not heard today
from any serious speaker. The Demo-
cratic platform by it's silence really
nut q quietus upon the excited orators
who were saying such things. Equal
", on the other side Of the party fence
ridiculous personal accusations have
fallen to the earth. No open-eyed
man speaks today Of Governor Landon
as a hopeless reactionary. To call
him a creature Of Hearst now pro-
yokes only a smile. That he will be
a willing tool of "Wall Street" and
the big corporations is believed only
by those who believe anything that
they hear said in loud voice. The
two candidates, Roosevelt and Landon,
stand as party leaders today free OF
all this political mummery.
This leaves the way open for an
estimate of the issues as they exist
at this time between the two parties.
Discussion has increasingly shown
that at many points the lines are not
sharply drawn. If the Republicans
originally intended to attack the Ad-
ministration and all it's works, they
have since dropped that strategy.
Governor Landon has openly adopted
several Administration policies. He
would use every dollar of Federal
money necessary to care for the needy
He finds fault with the Administra-
TONS farm policy mainly on the
ground that it does not go so far, or
spend so much money, as ne pro-
poses to do. Other adaptations or
combinations of the Roosevelt policy
respecting drought relief, soil erosion,
the prevention of floods, strong Fed
eral protection for the investor and
penalty for the reckless or crooked
promoter, Governor Landon quickly
makes his own.
One outstanding argument, how
ever, runs heavily against the Re-
publican party and it's leader in this
campaign. They have advocated, ev-
en- if only half-heartedly, policy of
aloofness and isolation for the United
States. They would make protective
tariffs more prohibitive of foreign
trade than ever before. They would
at once abrogate the existing recip-
Iocal trade agreements, and repeal the
very law which gives the President
power to negotiate these agreements
"a law long endorsed by eminent Re-
publicans. Those treaties already in
effect they attack as destructive to
farmers. After thus proposing to do
all in their power by legislation to
shut foreigners out of our markets,
the Republicans proceed to the pitch
of absurdity and effrontery by de-
handing that foreign nations pay US
the debt while depriving them of the
means of paying. All this policy,
which may be called that of Little
Americans, leaves the advantage on
international issues distinctly with
the Democrats.
Reviewing all these factors, weigh
ing what has been accomplished, what
is now proposed and what uncertain
ties still lie ahead, the New York
times, conservative newspaper in its
own sphere, believes that the public
welfare will best be served this year
by the continuance of the Democratic
party in power and by the reelection
of the President.
Three considerations which we re-