The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-07
BORAH IS out IN FRONT WITH
MIDWEST G. 0. P, is BELIEF;
OHIO PARTY FEUD IS BIG HELP
Upper Crust Is Vehement
Against New Deal,
Writer Declares.
BY THOMAS l.. STOKES
Times Special Correspondent

Times Special Correspondent
CHICAGO, Feb. IA story is told
of a leading Chicagoan, vehement
anti-New Dealer, who. when Ken
lucky went Democratic a few weeks
ago, ordered one star plucked from
the flag which rippled in the lake
breeze atop his magnificent building.
This gentleman, it appears, will
have TO remove number of stars
the day after Nov. 3, and perhaps
several right here in his own Mid
die West, though there is a chance
that the star of Illinois might still
gleam from the field.
For President Roosevelt still seems
to hold the allegiance, though il is
faltering in many cases, of ma
jority of the electorate in the Mid
die West. DESPITE manifest trend
away from him in recent weeks.
Survey Shows Facts
This Is conclusion based on a
survey which took me into Indiana,
Illinois. Kansas, Missouri, Iowa,
Minnesota and Wisconsin and in
which all varieties of persons whose
business it is to assess political sent
iment were consulted.
Whether the President can carry
most of these midwestern states
nine months hence depends, in
part, on the identity of the Repub-
lican nominee, Oh his success IL
devising substitute for AAA, on
the effect of mass propaganda by
Republicans and perhaps on the
caliber of still further measures
affecting the ordinary individual
that Mr.. Roosevelt may offer in his
campaign
A big IF" would be raised if the
Republican Party were to nominate
Senator Borah who far overshadows
numerous other candidates in this
area. His name carries a decided
glamor here. Undoubtedly he would
run strong in the Middle West,
stronger, it seems to me, than any
other Republican.
Knox Has Active Organization
Frank Knox, the Chicago publish
er, has an active organization at
work in the Middle West, as else
where. but he has not seemed to
catch the popular fancy. Alfred NJ.
Landon of Kansas has done better,
but has stirred no permeating
enthusiasm.
IF Frank Lowden wasn't so old
We wouldn't have to worry" is the
word you hear occasionally of the
74-year old sage of Oregon County.
Illinois. about whom the farmers
rallied in vain at three Republican
National Conventions.
The political situation in the
Middle West now is very confused,
as is the general state of mind, and
can not yet be catalogued, but
in broad outline it seems to shape
up about as follows:
Upper Crust" Seems Lost
The President appears to have lost
irretrievably here, as in the East,
the upper crust" of business,
finance and industry, with some
notable exceptions. The hostility
extends down to what is often
called the upper middle class" and
also to many of the white collar
employees of big corporations.
He seems still to hold the faith of
the wage-earner, the low-salaried
man, organized labor and, rather
generally yet, the farmer. Not to
be overlooked is the effect of such
New Deal agencies as the Home
Owners Loan Corp, which has saved
lots of homes in this territory.
Some wavering is perceptible even
among these groups, but where a
waning Fifth is expressed it is
usually thus qualified:
But he's trying, I know, and l
think will vote for him."
Organization Favors Democrats
Democrats are favored out here
by organization. This, as Repub-
licans tell you with shake of the
head, not only means the actual
party machine, but the organization
set up by New Deal agencies-the
Triple A, WPA, HOLC, FILA and
the like. whose thousands of en-
ployes are missionaries of New Deal
gospel.
This territory generally is accepted
as the battle-ground. The farmer, in
the end, probably will hold the key
to victory. This is recognized by the
Republicans, whose principal en-
deavor through Midwestern head
quarters in Chicago is to shake the
farmers faith in the New Deal.
Directing this campaign is Harri-
son E. Spangler, an Iowan who
knows something of the psychology
of the farmer.
Business antagonism to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the New Deal
is as bitter here as in the East and
as outspoken. This outcry, in my
opinion. rather exaggerates the re-
ported slipping" of Mr.. Roosevelt.
For this element is most vocal in
any community.
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