Evening star., 1936-09-16

It's an ancient adage that you can
prove almost anything by statistics. espe-
cially election returns, so the Democrats
are certain to discover some degree of
solace and cheer as they survey the
figures Of Republican victory in Maine.
For one thing, they recall that the Amer
lean people several times since 1870
have voted Democratic while the Pine
Tree State was voting Republican. Thus.
New Dealers say, it's premature for the
G. o. P. to indulge in any ''as Maine
goes" gloating. The Rooseveltians' hopes
Of carrying the country, despite Tues
days reverse down East, while shaken.
are not shattered. They will doubtless
make plenty Of capital out Of the cir
cumstance that Gov. Brann Is not 100
per cent New Dealer and that his defeat
can. therefore, not be interpreted as a
rebuke of the national administration.
Nevertheless, the Farley Nicholson ma
chine was set in the highest gear not
only to capture the senatorial seat, but
to make q clean sweep of the whole
ticket, congressional and State candi-
dates alike. Privately, Democratic
gentlemen will wear sackcloth and ashes
this Fall, in consequence of the late un-
pleasantness, for they had set their
hearts on Names showing the way and
heralding another Roosevelt landslide.
The loss of two Democratic House seats
is yet one more cause Of gloom-hand-
writing on the national wall that is far
from cheering.
Despite the narrowness of Senator
Whites majority, Maine places an un-
deniable feather in Gov. Landon's cap.
He risked heavily in projecting his per-
sonality and prestige into the fray at
the eleventh hour. Had things turned
out differently, the Kansan's sortie
would have been ranked with Charles
Evans Hughes ill-starred Intervention in
California in 1916 as one of the cardinal
campaign blunders Of all time. As 1t
Is, the Republican standard bearer
emerges with a halo Of glory and Q
victory reputation of immense psyche
logical value. Political managers in both
camps think the principal advantage is
that 1t will send party workers onto
the firing line in reinforced battle spirit.
That is something the Democrats cannot
laugh of, no matter how they assay
the Maine figures.
Still another outstanding effect of
Republican success is the likelihood that
Gov. Landon will be encouraged to con-
tinue the sledge hammer blows he used
for the first time at Portland. On no
other occasion has the Republican nomi-
nee sailed into President Roosevelt SO
directly as when he charged him per-
sonally with sabotaging the 1888 London
Economic Conference and decried the
danger Of war inherent in centralized
government. Such thrusts at F. D. r.
indicate that from now on the Governor
will use 8-ounce mitts and not kid gloves.
The pussyfooting wing Of the G. o. p.
high command, which rather favored
letting Col. Knox monopolize the rough
and tumble stun, appears to be In eclipse
at Topeka.
Unbeknown generally in Washington
and among his fellow delegates to the
recent World Power Congress, one OF
Hitler's principal ueutenants was Q men,
Der of the German contingent there. He
Is Gen. Franz Ritter Won Epp, who oc-
cupies the important post Of governor Of
Bavaria. That makes him the Fuehrer's
viceroy In the Southern German region
which Is the birthplace and now ofncial
headquarters Of the Nam party. Gen.
vou Epp was famed IA the Kaissrs army