Evening star., 1936-09-27
Political Pulse of the Nation
BY J. A. O'LEARY.


Y VIEWING the country as q
" whole, latest dispatches
" from political observers
continue to indicate close
presidential race. as both major
parties prepare for big october
campaign drive.
Recent developments tending to
improve Republican prospects in
several Western States mark the
reports received during the past
week, and serve to emphasize some
of the unusual factors that are
complicating the national election
this year.
A number Of the larger States.
important because of the size of
their electoral votes, continue to be
regarded either as doubtful. or
leaning so slightly to one side or
the other that political forecasters
are waiting to measure the effect
OF the vigorous campaigning that
will be carried on during the next
few weeks.
From Washington, Minnesota
and Oregon came reports of local
trends and cross currents that may
have a far-reaching effect on how
these States 60 in the presidential
election. The defeat Of left-wing
candidates in the recent Washing
ton primary is splitting Democratic
ranks to some extent. AS a result
the Lemke ticket is believed to be
drawing some votes away from
Roosevelt's present majority, but
whether the detection will 60 deep
enough to be decisive is still un-
certain.
Effect of Coughlin Appeal.
An appeal by Father Coughlin to
a large audience in Minnesota to
support Lemke for President and
Lundeen, the Farmer-Laborite
candidate, for the Senate, is viewed
as further complicating the po-
litical picture in that State.
Roosevelt got the electoral vote
four years ago with the help Of
Farmer Laborites. Republicans
view the present situation as i'm
proving their chances this year.
From Oregon come indications
that if threatened maritime labor
trouble at ports on the Pacific de-
velops it might have an effect on
the outcome of the election. OBJ
servers point out that the Eastern
half of Oregon, normally Republic
can, swung to Roosevelt in 1882
and has been regarded as still in
his favor by a smaller margin. A
tie-up of coast shipping, if it should
develop, would affect producers in
that part of the State, as 1t did in
1884. There is speculation as to
what effect such situation might
have on the election outlook.
The O'Brien ticket won
a place on the ballot in two more
States-Wisconsin and Nebraska
by filing the necessary petitions
during the week. In Wisconsin,
however, La Toilette support is ex-
pected to make Roosevelt strong
among the progressives.
Big States in Spotlight.
New York and Pennsylvania
will hold the center of the political
stage this week. and probably will
remain there for the remainder
OF the campaign, as both major
parties battle for the tremendous
advantage of these two blocks Of
Al and 36 electoral votes, re-
spectively.
President Roosevelt will address
the Democratic State Convention
at Syracuse Tuesday night. On
Thursday night, in New York City,
former Gov. AL Smith, the Demo-
cratic standard bearer in 1928.
who broke with the New Deal some
time ago, Is scheduled to make the
first Of series of speeches. Polit-
ical observers are waiting to analyze
the effect of Smiths speech. both
in New York and other nearby
States.
Meanwhile, New York Repub-
licans are going into their State
convention this week with pros
poets Of . contest over the selec-
ton Of q candidate for Governor.
Observers believe the Republicans
have weakened their chances Of