The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-09


why the New Dealers feel so much
better is that events leading up to the
national Democratic convention seem
to be cleared of any harassing posi-
bilities.
am sure that it will be recalled
how something like the blues overcame
many New Deal stalwarts after former
Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York,
1928 Democratic Presidential candi-
date, let loose blast at the New Deal
in his Liberty league dinner speech.
| happened to be in a position to know
that the Smith speech caused all kinds
of commotion and fear among New
Deal leaders. They know, as everyone
else knows, that ZAP Smith has big
personal following. When he threat
ened ito take a walk" he let loose
declaration that was charged with
dynamite and the New Dealers could
not calculate how much dynamite.
Now, however, 1t appears quite GER
tain that much of the danger inherent
in the Smith declaration has been
eliminated. Notwithstanding the Smith
Indictment Of the President for repudi-
alton of platform promises and his de-
scription of the Roosevelt policies as
"a national menace" there is going to
be a pitifully small number of anti
New Deal Democrats in the Philadel-
phia convention. The number will be
so small, In fact, that however vocifer-
Gus they become, their shouts will be
heard no more than the wall of a child
in a storm.
1t was to be expected, as I have re-
ported to you before, that the routine
type of Democratic politician will for
get any differences he has with the
New Deal and be regular at conven-
ton time and during most of the cam
paign. That type of politician, be he
Republican or Democratic, cannot af-
ford to bolt If he bolts, he cuts off
his own nose and most politicians do
not enjoy being de-nosed for that is
tantamount to being politically de-
horned. So, while the Philadelphia
convention of the Democrats may have
some seething underneath the surface,
1t is without the realm of possibility
that there can be any important revolt
against denomination of Mr.. Roosevelt.
Likewise, it is just as far-fetched to
think that the platform which that con-
vention Will adopt for the campaign
will not be exactly as Mr.. Roosevelt
dictates it. Actually, there is nothing
on the horizon now to indicate any
changes from the way / have just de
scribed it.
Inasmuch as the New Dealers can
properly regard their situation pretty
well in hand. they
u. -. r. naturally can feel a
in q Hole bit cocky over the diff
iculties in the Re-
publican ranks First, the Repub-
licans are at a disadvantage in that
their convention in Cleveland is to be
held at an earlier date than the Demo-
Gratis meet. This, however, is more
of the intra-party battles that appear
certain to come to the surface at Cleve-
land. The Republicans are not to-
gether, not unified, on anything.
half dozen candidates with appre-
ciable followings are swapping at each
other and two or three factions are
announcing almost simultaneously what
the platform is going to say. 1t just
cannot help leading into a beautiful
mess at Cleveland unless the Repub-
lican leaders show more intelligence
than they have shown thus far.
In the meantime, the Democrats are
making note of the various battle
charges You can be sure they will
use them. Whoever the Republicans
nominate at Cleveland necessarily faces
a big fight but as the situation now
stands, think the Democrats will be
able to make it an offensive campaign
whereas ordinarily the party in power
must give over much of its campaign
ing to a defense. This is true unless
the Republicans can get together and
take the offensive themselves by criti-
Ching and attacking on united front.
OF course, much water can run I'M
der the bridge before the November
election. 1t is always possible that
the party in power can make mistakes.
can be led into blind alley under the
political guns of its opposition The
Democrats have made many mistakes
already but the anti-New Deal oppo-
sition shows no indication of plans to
take advantage of those mistakes. So
the circumstances, as of this time. give
every reason for the New Dealers to
feel satisfied with the campaigning up
to this time.
G Western Newspaper Union.