The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-12
MIDWEST AREA
APPEARS TO BE
BATTLE GROUND
PARTIES MOVING IN FOR
PRESIDENTIAL ACTIVITIES
AGREE MAIN FIGHT CEN
TIERS IN THAT SECTION
By BYRON PRICE

tChief of BureaH. The Associates
Press WashfngtenD
Words hardly could tel q plain
er story than that presented by tire
October Itineraries of the two prin-
cipal candidates for President.
Unless las some believe-the
Outcome of the election was set
tied long In advance. What Messra.
Roosevelt and Landon do during
this calendar month viii settle "a.
What they ere doing, as with
ono accord, is TO concentrate their
efforts on The north central Sec
ton of the country which lies be-
tween the two great mountain
ranges. There viii be a few brief
excursions elsewhere, but per-
haps nine-tenths of the. pressure
from now on will be applied TO the
midwest.
Seldom in past campaigns has
situation been so clearly defined.
In the south and the far west, the
Democrats regard themselves as
secure. In New England and most
of the east, the Republicans count
the battle won. But from Ohio to
Colorado, across the whole expanse
of the inland plain, furious action
testfi:es to the concern in both
party camps.
In o. that section there is not
a single state in which either side
is ready to abandon hope.
Center On Midwest
1t may be, of course, that one
party or the other is mistaken
about its claims elsewhere. Ger
tainly the Democrats mean to
keep pounding away in Pennsyi-
vania, New York and some other
eastern states, and the Republi-
cans VIII continne their campaign
in earnest in some of the far west
ern and border states.
But New York and Pennsyl-
vania not only lie in that eastern
commercial and financial section
where such bitter opposition 20
Mr.. Roosevelt has developed, but
their Presidential traditions are
deeply Republican. It may be
they are good Democratic bets
this year, yet there is no Demo-
crat who is willing to risk every
thing on either of these states.
The Democratic managers mean
to get what they need in the mid
west. if possible.
Similarly, in the far west. the
hopes of the Republicans face a
recent record OF overwhelming
Democratic majorities. plus the:
fact that this years registration
figures show wide margins for the
Democrats. The Republican man.
ayers find their outlook in the
midwest far more worthy Of at
tention and effort.
So into the midwest moves the
great show on earth. with all its
flags and banners. all its baIIyhoo
and money-bags. If the good peo-
pie of the plains are in a mood
to be stirred by tongue or pen,
they may as well be prepared for
season of hysteria-
Small Majorities Expected
Individually, the states IN this.
disputed section have developed
some highly interesting local sit
nations.
r. In Minnesota and Wisconsin,
regarded by the Democrats at
convention time as push-overs for
Roosevelt because of independent
party influence, the Republicans
have organized with every indica-.
ton that they mean business
Ohio almost conceded to be Re-
publican a few weeks ago. now r.
spoken of by Republican leaders
as fighting ground. It is apparent
that the Democrats do not ever
mean TO let Governor Landon's
own state Of Kansas 20 By de-
fault: they are making a real e..
fort to edge it toward the Demo
cratic column.