Evening star., 1936-08-22

l[lOOrSeQ fIcSl-
dent Roosevelt's candidacy and there
is no likelihood of any Lemke-Cough-
lin strength in this State, though the
Townsend movement does have an ap-
preciable momentum. Still, out here,
the Townsendites are splitting in
party lines with respect to the preSi-
de0cy about as they always did and
concentrating more on congressional
candidates.
Control of the State Legislature has
stimulated more campaign interest
than the Landon- Roosevelt contest.
In fact, the only chance Gov. Landon
has Of carrying this State is to benefit
by the sharp lines of division that may
come out of the State fight. If Gov.
Martin, the present incumbent. is re-
nominated by the Democratic primary
and the Commonwealth Federation,
which is a radical socialistic move
ment. decides to put sn independent
ticket in the field, it may mix up the
situation somewhat, but will probably
not hurt the Roosevelt chances. II.
however, John C. Stevenson, a radical
Democrat, wins out, the chances are
that many thousands of Democratic
votes will shift to the Republican nomi-
nee. whoever might have been named,
and then in the changing process there
will be many who will vote the straight
Republican ticket. Also, President
Roosevelt's managers will then have
to do some quick maneuvering to keep
their national ticket from being hurt
by association with the extreme radi-
Gals.
Two Schools of Thought.
There are two points of view about
this. There are some in the Roosevelt
camp who think that the radical
movement Is so big that it is more
worthwhile to play along with it than
to worry about Democratic defections.
There are others who think Gov. Lam
don will surely carry the State if the
fight on State issues become intense.
My own impression is that while
some of the elements of conservatism
are stirred up about the situation.
there is no sign of a crusade or a
coalition of conservatives such as
California developed when beating
Sinclair. The ingredients are here,
Of course. for the same kind of a cam
paign, but as it looks in mid-August
the electorate is not yet aroused to
what lies ahead.
President Roosevelt carried Wash
tngton by about $50 900 in 1892 Those
of his supporters here who are we'll
posted about conditions throughout
he fof1 -
II they do not get 100000 majority
Disaffected Democrats who do not like
the State situation, say Mr. Roosevelt
will carry the State. but that he will
be lucky to get $4,000 majority.
Landon Moves Underway.
Republicans are depending on a
ground swell for Landon which has put
In its appearance already. There's a
"pro-America" movement among
women's organizations that looks as If |
1t might develop to be of benefit to |
Landon. Altogether, as matters stand |
today, Washington is in the Roosevelt
column and it means an uphill fight |
for the Republicans to win it for Lam
don which. unless the September
primary stirs things up materially, |
means only an outside chance.
So far as issues are concerned, the !
mounting public debt is mentioned |
more often than anything else. Second |
In Importance is a recurring discussion |
of .centralization of power, which in |
the far West means growing ap-
prehension that if all authority is CEN
tered in the National Capital the States
which are farthest away will be neg
lected.
On the New Deal side of the argu- |
ment, stressed most is the radicalism
of Mr.. Roosevelt. Labor groups are |
united behind him, while the business |
and professional classes are for the
most part just as strongly opposed.
Gov. Landon has not made a deep |
Impression as yet on the Northwest,
though 1t must be noted that Chair
man Hamilton had a rousing meeting
here-one Of the largest political gath
er1ngs In many years, and the applause !
for the LRndon sales talk that he gave
was sharply punctuated and frequent |
That the Republicans are to some ex-
tent regaining their lost strength is
apparent on every side, but they have
Q long distance to 60 to get control of |
the State again.
Copyright, 1850 |