Evening star., 1936-10-05

Politicians favorite indoor sport at
the moment is guessing the effect of
AL Smiths bolt on President Roosevelt's
reelection prospects. Opinion varies
widely. New Dealers profess to look upon
the former Governor as an extinct vol
cano. Republicans and many others are
persuaded that Smith is still the idol
of hundreds of thousands Of voters, not
only in his own New York, but in numer-
Gus other sections, especially New Eng
land, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Illinois, all pivotal regions this year.
Even AIS admirers admit that he weak
ened his case by devoting SO much OF his
speech to a personal defense, which lett
the impression that he is full OF bile and
pique, despite assertions to the contrary.
The Governor is at his best when In
viting an audience to join him in having
"a look at the record" Not once during
his broadcast did he resort to that
method of attack, for which he is famous.
Smiths devotion to party regularity Is
his other religion. His desertion OF the
Democratic ticket for the first time in his
long career in politics, his friends are
convinced, is q step he takes with pro-
found regret but out of Irresistible con-
viction. AIS point, Of course, in the
vernacular to which he's still welded, is
that there amt no Democratic ticket
this year."
II Smith was on the defensive the
other night, he could easily plead that
Mr.. Roosevelt, who had just preceded
him on the air, enacted a similar role.
In giving an account of New Deal stew
ardship, it is inevitable that the President
must talk extensively in alibi terms.
Nevertheless, F. D. RS first two aVowed
political speeches found him deyoting
himself at length to warding on opposl-
ton attacks-at Syracuse. charges OF
communism, and, at Pittsburgh, extrava-
gance accusations. Having more or less
disposed OF those two issues, Mr.. Roose-
welt may be expected to clothe future
addresses in more aggressive garb ana
particularly to assail the various cam
paign theses put forward by his oppo-
nent in such fields as farm relief, reclp-
rocal trade policy and social security.
Barring some of the vociferations OF Col.
Knox, the presidential battle is being
conducted on scale OF surprisingly
high-toned debate. Both Roosevelt ana
Landon seem determined to bar person.
alities, keep their shirts on and conflne
themselves to legitimate issues and
tempered discussion Whether the mud
batteries will remain silenced until the
end of the fray is something else again.
Eugene Cardinal Pacelli pronounced
Pachelly), papal secretary OF state. who
will shortly arrive in washington. Is con-
sidered one of the most likely candidates
for st. Peters throne as the successor OF
the present Pope, Plus XII. The cardinal
is not only Vatican City's minister OF
foreign affairs, but also "Camerlengo" OF
the Roman Catholic Church, an off1ce
which carries with it the duties of regent
in the interregnum between one pom
tiff's death and the election Of the next
one. Cardinal Pacelli, who received his
red cap in 1929, became secretary OF state
in 1880 He Is . native Roman and in
his 61st year. He has held many high
ecclesiastical posts, including that OF
papal nuncio in Germany. Having been
on duty in Munich during the rise OF the
Hitler movement, the prelates intimate
knowledge of German conditions has
equipped him ideally for service at the
Vatican during the Holy Sees conflict
with the Nazis. The hostess OF Cardinal
pacelli Ia the United States viii Be MlS.