Evening star., 1936-06-17

large. They reveal their diStaSte, as q
rule, only In private conversation with
intimates. II anywhere near all of
them should act openly as Senator
Copeland is acting, almost the bottom
would drop out of the New Deal.
Reverses Procedure.
What Is especially conspicuous about
Senator Copeland's step is that he
takes it at this time, on the eve of
the Democratic convention, and Just
as the campaign between Democrats
and Republicans is about to begin.
From a year to three years ago sew
eral Democratic Senators-Glass and
Byrd of Virginia, Tydings of Mary
land, and other vigorously de-
nounced the New Deal or essential
parts of it. AS the campaign ap-
preached, however. these dissenters Of
a year or more ago have become silent.
So far as there is any evidence, 1t ap-
pears to be their intention to "go
along" with Mr.. Roosevelt, to make no
protest against his denomination and
support him, actively or tacitly, in the
election.
In an additional way, Senator Cope
lands act marks q new stage in de-
velopment of the whole situation. We
now know with practical certainty
that all Democrats who are willing to
dissent openly from the New Deal are
going to remain away from the con-
vention like Senator Copeland. AS a
result, the convention next week will
be made up only of those who support
Mr.. Roosevelt's denomination, how
ever reluctantly on the part of some.
There will be no protest within the
convention. Presumably Mr.. RooSe-
velt will be renominated unanimously.
Presumably platform written by Mr..
Roosevelt's friends or under his direc-
ton will be adopted unanimously. Pre-
sumably the platform will include
plank of the usual type, one which
points with pride" to the record of
the Roosevelt administration, which
record includes the whole history Of
the New Deal.
Two Phases Clear Cut.
So far, then, in the development Of
early stages are past and are clear.
We can see there is to be no protest
within the Democratic National Con-
vention, no bolt nor rump convention
nor other development of that sort. We
know also that there Is to be no "coali-
tion" no formal union between Re-
| publicans and anti-New Deal Demo-
Gratis. The Republican convention is
past and 1t did not name Democrat
as its vice presidential nominee.
In this condition. what will happen?
What will follow the Democratic Ma
tional Convention? Conceivably, the
anti-New Deal Democrats could form
third party. That is conceivable
At the moment, there are no concrete
signs of it. However, there are signs
of a different development. 1t seems
| likely the Democratic diSaffection may
express itself in a series Of actions by
Democratic leaders, of which Senator
Copeland's Is the first.
A large number of Democratic lead
ers opposed to the New Deal are ready
and more than willing to make formal
public announcement of their dissent
4
from the New Deal and their refusal
to support Mr.. Roosevelt. They wait
only until after next weeks conven-
ton shall have taken place. From
July l until the election, probably few
days will 60 by without announce
ment by important Democrats that
they cannot support Mr. Roosevelt.
In addition to that. many active
Democrats, heads of local machines,
without making public announcement,
will quietly keep their support Of Mr..
Roosevelt confined to lip service.
The sum of all this in votes can only
be estimated. There is reason for
estimating that the number of Demo-
Gratis who this year will vote against
Mr. Roosevelt and the New Deal is
about one out of ten.
(Copyright. 1850