Evening star., 1936-06-27

by Lewis Douglas, for example. Doug
las has not spoken, but it is likely he
will. Indeed, we are going to see, be-
ginning soon, an inSurgent procession,
series of announcements like that
put out last Suday by Smith and his
associates. Prominent Democrat after
prominent Democrat will publicly de-
clare that the New Deal is not the
Democratic party and that they can
not vote for Mr.. Roosevelt.
Silent Treatment Forecast.
To the public declarations will be
added significant silences. It was OBJ
served that Of three living former
Democratic presidential nominees
Smith,, John w. Davis and James M.
Cox-none was at this convention.
Cox may remain with the party, for
the party tie is strong with him. But
If John w. Davis remains at all he
will remain as Gov. Hill Of New York
did when William Jennings Bryan
seized the party, "a Democrat still
but very still"
To defections of this type must be
added another group. They are the
following which supported Col. Henry
Breckenridge when in a few States
during May he ran against Mr.. Roose-
welt for the Democratic presidential
nomination. Breckenridge ran solely
to give dissenting Democrats a chance
to express themselves. In Maryland
he got the votes of about one Demo-
rrof oJft ~ civ II, Nan, Iar~a.y I,o .oE
enough votes to overcome the major
ity by which Mr.. Roosevelt carried
that State in 1882.
Whole Communities to Swing.
The sum of the right wing detection
from Mr.. Roosevelt is very large. 1t
includes almost the whole of those in
the Northern States who have been
regarded as the conservative Demo-
Gratis. It includes an overwhelming
proportion of Democrats in business
ard the professions, and the life in
surance policyholders and the small
property owners. There are commune
ties in which practically everybody
who has been known as a Democrat
will this year turn away from the
presidential candidate of the Demo-
cratic party. In such communities
there are lifelong Democrats who
say they do not know one acquaint-
ance who this year viii vote the Dem
ocratic ticket.
This whole right wing is gone from
Mr.. Roosevelt and can not be got back
Nothing Mr.. Roosevelt could now do
would win them to him. Moreover,
there Is nothing in the Republican
platform or candidate that repels
them. The destination of the right
wing of the Democratic Party is set.
They will not form a third party-at
least there is no present sign or in
tention of that They will vote the
Republican ticket or they will not
vote at all And as this campaign |
heats up, they will wish to make their |
detection count double, by going the
whole way and voting the Republican
ticket.
CoughIin Oyertures Fail.
Turn now to Mr.. Roosevelt's left |
wing. All the extreme part Of it turns
to follow the Lemke-C Coughlin third
party. Mr.. Roosevelt tried hard TO
hold Father Coughlin to him. He sent
for him, he had him to the White |
House and to Hyde Park, he sent con-
fidential messengers to him secretly, |
he tried to placate him, he endured |
personal humiliation from him. Mr.. |
Roosevelt should have known that |
Father Coughlin. by temperament |
even more than by any economic the |
ory or political conviction he may |
hold, would not cooperate with him. |
OF the votes that Lemke and Father |
Coughlin will get for their third party, |
practically every one will be sub
tracted from Mr.. Roosevelt. If this |
Judgment is erroneous, should like |
to be informed by persons who may |
have information to the contrary with |
respect to some portions of the coun- |
try. state the judgment carefully: |
Is there any supporter Of the Lemke-
Coughlin party who, If that party did |
not exist, would have voted the Re-
publican ticket? The Lemke-C Cough |
lin party is for radicals and all such |
If the Lsemke-C -Coughlin party |
did not exist, would have been for Mr.. |
Roosevelt.
(What 1 say on this point is con-
fined to the Lemke-C -Coughlin follow
ers only. 1t does not apply to the |
Townsendites. If Townsend either
joins the Lemke- Coughlin movement, |
or has party of his own, the voters |
who support him will come in part |
from persons ordinarily Republican, |
Hogs Eyes Are Set"
Here is Mr.. Roosevelt's left wing
gone fror1 him as respects the extreme |
portion Of it. Here is his right wing |
gone completely. These are things |
done. AS the French say, it is "fait |
accompH:" or, in a Southern political |
phrase for rigor mortiS, THE hogs |
eyes are set"
There is the possibility, at least, of |
yet another detection. 1t is difficult |
to see how the South can be fully |
loyal to Mr.. Roosevelt. After what |
has emerged at this convention, there |
is, almost literally, nothing left of the |
reasons which for 70 years have |
caused the South to cling constantly |
to the Democratic Party. 1t is diff
cult to see how Southern leaders Of |
thought can support the Democratic
party as 1t now is.
In fact, even before the develop
ments at this convention, Southern |
editors, lawyers, judges and others
who furnish leadership were dismayed
at what President Roosevelt and his
Congress had done. They would say
so privately. Many are likely now
to say so publicly.
II there should be any large South |