Evening star., 1936-10-09
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

As the campaign winds into the home
stretch. it becomes increasingly apparent
that the paramount issue is Franklin
Delano Roosevelt himself. The welkin
rings with New Deal defense Of recovery
measures, especially expenditure, and
with Republican attacks on sundry and
divers scores. But by and large the
fight is raging around r. D. r. in person.
The average man or woman primarily
is going to vote for or against Roose-
welt. Just as the President was elected
in 1892 in an against Hoover landslide,
Landon's vote will largely be an anti
Roosevelt protest. Things are turning
out about as Senator Vandenberg fore
shadowed-that the G. o. P.'s game first,
last and all the time, is to Stop RooSe-
velt!" It is on that theme, with varia-
tions, that the Republicans are harping.
Democrats do not hesitate to accept the
challenge. They concede that RooSe-
welt is the party's outstanding asset. that
he personifies the New Deal and is
indelibly identified with it in the public
mind. They are therefore content to
rest their case on his popularity and
record as commander in chief Of the
forces which rescued the country not
only from depression, but, according to
the President himself. preserved 1t from
revolution and communism. New Dealers
are all the more ready to bank on the
Presidents personality because, they
claim, it glitters so convincingly IN COM
parison with the characteristics Of Gov.
Landon.
Few will claim that the Republican
nominee has registered" with the coun-
try as a magnetic figure or stirred the
popular imagination, as our legendary
political heroes of the past have done,
although he has made deep impression
as q man of sincerity, sanity and sagac-
ity. Every one who has had personal
contact with Gov. Landon has come
away with genuine respect and admira-
ton for him. That he has not rung
the bell with the people at large Is at
tributed chiefly to his oratorical deficien-
cies, especially on the radio, in which
sphere he has not managed family to
match the talents of the broadcasting
star who is his opponent. Some au-
thorities will tell you that the glaring
difference between the personalities and
campaign methods of the two men is the
yery thing that is going to count in
Landon's favor. AS one dlagnostlclan
puts it, America has had its I'LL OF pate
do foies gras and is ready for some
ham and eggs" Rooseveltian charm,
in other words, one is told, may after
all prove less potent on election day
than Landonian common sense.
Being like another famous woman who
was above suspicion, Secretary Frances
Perkins cannot conceivably be accused
of having conspired with the Repub-
lican National Committee night before
last. But she contrived unwittingly to
play into the enemyis hands by keep
ing a goodly portion of Secretary OF
State Hulls Minneapolis speech on the
air. Miss Perkins was holding forth
at q Good Neighbor League meeting IN
New York. She was scheduled to leave
the network promptly by 10 o'clock to
make way for Judge Hulls spirited de-
fense of his reciprocal trade policy
AGAINST the recent attack OF Gov. Lam
don. For some unexplained reason, the
Department of Labor lady babbled along
more than Is minutes beyond the hour
scheduled for Huh to begin talking.
Finally. while Miss Perkins cultured
tones were still reverberating, the Secre-
tary Of state was switched onto the
allotted wave length, but not until fully
one-third Of his address had been de-
livereei. There were plenty Of remon-
strating inquiries about the incident IN
Washington next day.
y y
Nobody expects the Elliott Roosevelt
Fokker airplane contract incident,
brought belatedly 10 public notice BY
0Rnafne >NvA,a eo1nmittee, to become .