Evening star., 1936-09-23

Whether so designed or not, President
Roosevelt's invitation to power leaders
to confer with Government representa-
tives on September 80 has the earmarks
of an aStute and timely campaign
gesture. Coming on the heels OF the
recent White House conference with life
insurance executives, the impression
arises that F. D. r. is animated by a
logical desire to rub the fur OF big
business the right way at this strategic
hour. The utilities people, which have
no overweening affection for the New
Deal, are apparently hopeful that the
Presidents proposed pooling" of public
and private hydroelectric operations in
the T. v. A. region and elsewhere Will
work out to the general advantage, in
Guiding the consuming public. Leaders
of the industry were seriously upset by
Mr.. Roosevelt's reference at the recent
World Power Congress to the vicious
circle that we must continue to break
and which wise public policy will help
to break" That observation was forti-
fed by the statement that If Federal
projects already undertaken are insum-
cient, "the influence of additional meri-
torious projects awaiting development
can always be added" That struck some
power magnates as a declaration OF
more or less eternal war. For all these
reasons the forthcoming pow-wow be-
tween Government and private opera
tors assumes the aspect of peace con-
ference, with prospects OF happier days
for all concerned.
Norman Thomas, Socialist nominee for
the presidency, told his big National
Press Club audience yesterday, in answer
to a leading question, that, as he sees
things. Roosevelt is likely to win
"handily" in November. In an ad-
dress brilliantly sandwiching Socialist
philosophy between wiSecrackS at both
the Democrats and Republicans and
their respective presidential candidates,
Mr.. Thomas lambasted them impartially
for failing to grapple with the real
problems facing the American people.
The result, he alleges, is campaign
of blah" The Socialist standard bearer
finds neither of the dominant national
political organizations tackling In forth
right fashion the fundamental issues
conjured up by modern capitalism. He
holds that until the Nation Is "eou-
Gated" to appreciate that salvation hes
only in the cooperative commonwealth
advocated by socialism, there is slender
hope of ameliorating conditions. Thomas
urgently admonishes Americans, wnhe
yet immune from the menace OF war
hanging over the rest of the world. to
employ that period of grace in studious
consideration of the dangers that con-
front them and make their choice while
there Is still time. The Socialist leader
Is definitely convinced that nothing Of
fered by either Roosevelt or Landon Is
designed to take us out of the woods"
r 4
Washington was host this week to
Jiuji G.. Kasai, American-educated mem
ber of the Japanese Diet, who is on
his way home after attending the In
terparliamentary Union Conference at
Budapest Mr.. Kasai, an alumnuS OF
both the University of Chicago and Har-
ward, has specialized in international
economic relations and represented
Japan on labor and financial missions
at Washington and London. The Toxic
deputy confesses that at one time he
thought Japan's militariSts were artifi-
cially creating a Russian war scare in
the Far East for their own purposes, but
his mind was changed while crossing
Siberia and observing the stupendous
military Arrangements the Soviet Union