Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-02
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

really count for gains. For several weeks
now he has been rushing about the
country attacking his opponents. Unless
he decides to take the country into his
confidence on such topics as the revival
Of the N. r. A. in his ireside chat to-
night. the voters will 60 to the polls not
sure what he has in his mind. He failed
to make any answer to Gov. Landon's
challenge in his Madison Square Garden
speech Saturday night.
The President confined himself to .
hymn of hate against his enemies in his
final personal appearance before the
voters of New York City. He hopes 10
become their master during his second
administration, judging from what he
said Saturday night. And that is that.
His bid for re-election-as it has been
from the start Of the campaign-was
on the ground that he Is q friend Of the
poor and OF labor and that he planned
to do everything possible for them.
The campaign issues have been Joined
The Republicans have promised to scrap
or revise many Of the New Deal acts.
The President has promised to keep right
along the same line he has been going.
which apparently means further control
Of business from Washington, further
labor legislation and further spending.
He has not been specific regarding de-
tails. A definite promise to revive the
N. r. A. doubtless would have made him
opponents In some sections Of the coun-
try.
From all indications there will be a
tremendous vote tomorrow. Registration
figures have gone up by millions for the
whole country. In the past big reg.
istration has usually meant q large pro-
test vote on election day. That Is what
the Republicans hope and believe Is the
explanation Of this increase in registra-
ton. The Democrats, on the other
hand, believe that the registration is due
to the interest which labor Is taking
in the election. and that the mass of
new voters will support Roosevelt. So
bitter and so active have been the con-
testants in this campaign that probably
both sides have gained in the number
of votes which will be cast.
In New York City alone, the increase
in registration has been between 10000
and 100000. The Democrats heaved
signs Of relief when the registration ng-
ures were made public. and the Repub-
licans were correspondingly cast down.
For an increase in registration in Greater
New York is regarded as an increase for
many Democrats in the metropolis and
in the State will be found voting against
Roosevelt. It looks as though 1t would
be laSo f% 70 affect .
Democratic strength in the city.
The fight for the colored vote. which
may hold the balance Of power in q
number Of the Northern and Midwestern
States, has been intense. The Demo-
Gratis seemed to have all the better Of
that contest early in the campaign. They
undoubtedly will poll many colored votes
tomorrow-largely on the issue of Federal
relief which these people have had.
Democratic headquarters in New York
City received q letter on Saturday from
a colored bishop in Salisbury. Nd. in
closing what purported to be a message
from Republican sources asking the
bishop to speak for Landon and the Re
publican party from his pulpit and
tnclosing IS contribution to his church.
Regret was expressed that the sum was
not larger. 1t was explained that similar
contributions were being sent to about
400 churches in Maryland. and that the
supply Of money was limited. How
effective that method Of campaigning
may be Is a question. It apparently failed
to impress the colored bishop in Sails
bury. The retreat OF the Negro vote from
- 49, q ~rS 10 r. 10
been one Of the things which the Demo-
Gratis have counted on to roll up major
ity for Roosevelt, for there has been no
doubt many old line Democrats in the
State will vote against Roosevelt or re-
main away from the polls. In the last
week, Maryland has been proclaimed q
battle-ground by the Republicans-al-
though the Democrats insist 1t is going
to give Roosevelt big plurality.
1t Is easy for campaign managers,
sometimes, to visualize their candidate
moving ahead Of his opponent. while the
opponent seems to be standing still. The
illusion is as complete rs that which
occurs when you sit in q train and an
other train on an adjoining track starts
moving. It Is very easy for you to
imagine that 1t is your train that is in
motion: indeed. 1t Is difhcult not to
think 50. Such an illusion may have
been created in this campaign. The
Democrats appeared to be making all
the running.
The "pay roll tax" issue has been the
talk of the campaign during the last
couple of weeks. The Democrats say 1t
is q dirty Republican trick for the g. O.
p. to undertake to tell the workers that
they are to have their pay envelopes
locked each week to meet payments for
old-age pensions. It may be dirty
trick-from the Democratic standpoint
but it happens to be fact that the pay
rolls are to be taxed and the workers
are to give up part Of their earnings,
The Democrats object because the Re-
publicans fail to say that the employers
also are to be taxed. However, the rub
comes, so far as many Of the workers
are concerned, in the fact that they
are to find something omitted from their
pay envelopes beginning January /. As
the Roosevelt forces have made their
strongest plea for reelection to labor
organized and unorganized, 1t is dis
turbing to them to feel that the Repub-
- -. 1t