The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-09-16
G. 0. P. Debates Two
Courses In Its Campaign
Democrats Adopt Program
OF Waiting In Certain
Activities Dealing With
Issues
By BYRON PRICE

By BYRON PRICE
tChfef OF Bureau. the Associated
Press Washington
From the standpoint of major
strategy, mid-September finds the
presidential campaign still in a
waiting stage.
Nothing is palmer than the in
tent of the Democrats to reserve
for the final hours of the battle
whatever bombshelIs may repose
in their arsenals, whatever dra-
matte strokes of policy they may
be considering.
On the Republican side, there
is no evidence of a decisive choice
between the two alternative
courses which are open. The
party still is free to adopt a plan
of attack only, hoping to be voted
into power by the force of anti
administration sentiment, or to
appeal affirmatively for support
by presenting a definite program
of its own.
Both major party nominees are
delaying a detailed discussion of
those issues which have been re-
garded generally as paramount in
the campaign.
Governor Landon has not vet
laid out the program he would
adopt, if elected, with respect to
relief: nor has President Reose-
welt made specific reply to those
numerous criticisms which have
fallen upon his own relief poll
cies. 1t is much the same with
respect to the farm problem, the
labor issue-even the constitu-
tional issue.
Waiting Game
The reasons for this, so far as
the Democrats are concerned,
grow in part out of the accepted
custom of the party in power.
1t is automatic among poll
ticians that it is neither wise nor
profitable for a President to APP
pear too anxious about his own
reelection, or to leap too readily
into any political campaign.
But there also is a special con-
sideration applying to the situa-
ton this year. The Democrats
face an opposition which has been
badly routed in two successive ma
tional campaigns-1932 and 1884.
It is an opposition which obvious
ly is not thoroughly united, at
least so. far as the rank and file
is concerned. The Democratic
generals prefer to wait until they
can see how the lines have re-
formed and from what direction
the attack will come.
To vary the figure, Chairman
Farley and his advisers want to
give their Republican opponents
every opportunity to commit cost
ly blunders, to talk themselves in
to a corner, to develop fully all OF
their internal quarrels and dis
uAptions.
Particularly, the Democratic
generals have been waiting to see
whether the Republican nominee
for President would snake direct
commitment to a specific legis-
iative and administrative program
for the coming four years, so that
the Democratic defensive could be
changed to an offensive.
Landonites Cautious
This general set of, circum-
stances appears to have con-
tributed also to the delay in the
Republican camp.
A great party is not rebuilt in
a day. 1t was apparent that Gov
ernor Landon and his friends were
suffering somewhat from surprise
after their easy victory at Cleve-
sland, and wanted time to familiar
ize themselves with the vastly
complicated party machinery
which had come suddenly into
their possession.
They were made cautious by
the magnitude of the respon-
sibility, and by the torrent of con-
flicting advice which poured in
upon them. Especially, would it
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