Evening star., 1936-12-19
@. O. P. Awaits an Issue
Public Discussion Might Also Supply New and Effective
Leadership.
leadership.

Out Of such discussion must come not
only policies but also leaders. For the
plain fact is that the Republican party
has a voting strength far out of pro-
portion to the number or strength of
its leadership. BY custom and force
of circumstances, the titular leader of
the party out Of power is its recent
nominee for the presidency. But Gov.
Landon is handicapped for Leadership
by a fact which has had little public
attention.
Ran Behind Ticket.
Gov. Landon in the recent election
did not get the full vote of his party.
In State after State, the Republican
candidates for Governor and Congress
got markedly larger vote than Gov.
Landon as the candidate for President.
In New York, the Republican candi-
date for Governor got about 270,000
more votes than Landon. In Illinois,
the Republican candidate for Cover
nor ran about 100000 ahead; in Mas
sachusetts. about 10000; In Ohio, al
most 100000; in Minnesota, about 80.-
600; in Indiana about 35,00o in Iowa
about 10000. Accurate figures for
other States are not available.
In the Nation as a whole, it seems
probable that the aggregate vote for
Republican candidates for Governor or
Congress was fully 1,000,0O ahead Of
the vote for Landon. That is, with
Landon receiving 1851 ,9l3 for Pres
ident. it is likely the aggregate OF votes
for Republican candidates for other
office may reach. when fully computed,
as much as 100000.
The condition reflected by these
figures Is most unusual. Ordinarily
the candidate for President receives
more votes than the candidates for
other Offices. The accepted political
saying is that the candidate for Presi-
dent carries along" the other can
didates. In the present case, it may
be the condition was caused mainly
by President Roosevelts strength
rather than by Landon's weakness. 1t
may be that no other Republican
leader now in sight would have got
more votes than Landon did. II this
is so. then the thing it means is that
the Republicans need new leaders.
Poverty Of Representation.
As respects numbers Of voters, the
Republicans compose a formidable
opposition party. The 100000 votes
received by Republican candidates for
Governor or Congress are nearly 20
per cent OF the total. In several Pc
riods during the recent past, the op-
position party, whether Republican
or Democratic, has had q smaller per-
centage. The Republican body of
voters Is exceptionally homogeneous.
1t Is aggressive and eager. Rarely
in either party has there been so
much interest and concern on the
part Of individuals and groups as now
exists in the Republican party.
What is unique in the present sit
ustion of the Republicans Is the pow
erty OF their representation in Con.
gress and their poverty in major lead.
ership. 1t might be possible to say
they are also poor in issues. But is
sues will take care of themselves.
They are certain to arise. They do not
necessarily depend on Republican in
itiative. They may arise from change
OF mood in the people, or from Demo-
cratic failure to estimate the public
mood. They may arise out of events
not now possible to foreSee. Who
can guess what new issues and aline-
ments might arise out of a boom fol.
lowed by collapse, or out of possible
imitation, or out of war in Europe?