Evening star., 1936-10-25
HUGE AUDIENCES
HEAR PRESIDENT
Democrat Strength in Cities.
Republicans Count on
Rural Areas.
BY H. C. GARRISON,
Epecjal Correspondent of The Star.

Special correspondent OF Inc otar.
DETROIT, Mich. October "a
With both principals in the hard
fought battle for Michigan's 19 elec-
toral votes, President Roosevelt and
Gov. Landon. in the State within a
single week, the campaign in Michi-
gan has now passed its peak. The
people of this State have seen the
candidates. They have heard them
speak.
OF course, the politicians have not
given up. Oratorical big guns are
still being wheeled into Michigan to
lombard audiences, but everything
from now on is anti-climax. 1t is
doubtful if a single vote will be
changed from here on in.
If comparative audiences and en-
thusiasm are trustworthy indicators,
the State is in the bag for the Demo-
Gratis. nationally at least. Republic
cans, of course. deny this vehemently.
Roosevelt Crowds Large.
The audiences drawn by the Presi-
dent during his one-day swing through
the State were astonishingly large.
Supposedly non-partisan police esti-
mates from the cities visited by Mr..
Roosevelt indicate that more than
850.000 persons saw the President.
Crowds in Grand Rapids and Flint
were set at 10000 each, and these
towns have populations of only 200, 900
each. There we're $4,000 in Lansing
and 10000 in Pontiac for brief rear
platform appearances.
The crowd which turned out for
the Presidents night speech from the
steps of the Detroit City Hall was
the largest in the city's history. The
streets along the Smile route COW
cred by the Presidents encourage
were lined for their entire length
with huge throngs. 1t was estimated
that 100000 persons were jammed into
the Campus Martius, open square in
front of the City Hall The square
was completely jammed and SO was
every street radiating from it for a
block back.
The enthusiasm wherever the
President went was tremendous. They
were emotional crowds that heard
him. Faces at the Detroit meeting
were tense, eager, almost adoring.
More than a few had tears stream
ing down them.
Receptions in Contrast.
The contrast between the two re-
eeptions, for Landon and Roosevelt.
was sharp. Detroit received the Re-
publican candidate coldly. The
crowds that watched his<parade we're
thin and apathetic. There was none
OF the wild enthusiasm of the RooSe-
welt crowds. His night meeting at
Navin Field, American League base
ball park, was more enthusiastic. The
attendance was quoted at $4,000. 1t
was smaller than that by probably
5000.
Out in the State the Landon crowds
were larger and more enthusiastic. At
every stop he had bigger crowds than
he had at his big meeting in De-
troit. However, at no stop did his
crowd approach the size and noisineSs
Of the Roosevelt crowd in the same
place.
OF course, this is not entirely fair
comparison. In Detroit Landon got
bad break in the weather and
Roosevelt a good one Landons day
was cold and rainy, the coldest of
the season so far. Roosevelts was
bright and balmy. Unquestionably
better weather would have increased
Landon's night crowd greatly, but, of
course, it never would have approached
the proportions of the Presidents.
Landon's second day formed bet
ter comparison, because he had good
weather then.
Then there must be considered the
fact that Mr.. Roosevelt is President
OF the United States and therefore
naturally would draw huge crowds.
Speeches in Industrial Towns.
Another point of consideration is
that the territory traversed by the
two candidates was Roosevelt terri
tory. All their speeches were made
in the big industrial towns, and the
big industrial towns in this State are
for Roosevelt. Landon's strength lies
in the rural areas, the small towns
and the middle-sized towns. In none
Of these did he speak.
Therefore, the size and enthusiasm
Of the Roosevelt crowds must be dis
counted considerably The ballot-box
difference between the two candi-
dates is not as large as the difference
in their crowd-appeal as shown by
their tours. Most neutral observers
say, nevertheless, that when all de-
e]Ictions for weather poSition and
location are made, there still is an
advantage for the President. It's not
Q wide one, they believe, but it's
there. Every poll taken in the State
except one-the Literary Digest-has
shown this.
Michigan Is still a doubtful State
plenty doubtful.
Senator Couzens' death apparently
Is having little effect politically, ex-
cept in SO far as it may serve to deepen
resentment of Couzens Republicans
against Wilbur M. Brucker, senatorial
candidate. for the attacks he made
against Couzens in the primary. How
widespread this effect may be is i'm
possible to determine at this time.
Couzens made his statement for
Roosevelt and the effect Of it does
not seem to be changed by his death.