The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-08-26

have stressed the point that Vanden-
berg would be about as strong as
any Republican likely to be nom-
mated. They have gone on from
there to the old political logic that
the man farthest out in front in
any contest is the man most of the
other candidates shoot at, and hence
is very apt to be crippled in the
final stretch. The other candidates
gang" him, fearing that otherwise
there would be no chance for any
one OF them.
This, most observers have figured.
is what Farley wanted to happen to
Vandenberg, thus greasing the way
for the exit of the strongest oppon-
ent Franklin D. Roosevelt-or who
ever runs in his place-could have.
The real truth is very different in
deed. Farley is more afraid OF
something else. by far. than he is
of Vandenberg's running. What he
is most afraid of is that NO Re-
publican will rum
Supremacy Confident
Farley is absolutely confident,
and with considerable logic, that
whoever the Democrats nominate
assuming they do not go plain
crazy-can beat any Republican
who may be nominated. The Demo-
Gratis might not carry 46 states, as
they did in 1885. They might not
even carry AZ. as they did in 1882.
But it would be mighty hard for the
Republicans to beat them. In fact,
fair betting odds right now ought to
be about ten to one that it will be
impossible to revamp the Republi-
can organization into winning ma
chine by 1910, even il they should
have an appealing candidate and
popular platform.
There are more factors entering
into this situation than are explained
by the debacles of 1882, 1894 and
1886. Or by Roosevelt! There are
situations in individual states, not
ably New York. New Jersey. Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and
Connecticut-all states that the Re
publicans simply must carry to
have chance in presidential cleo
tion-Which make the carrying OF
any one OF them an uphill job for
the Republicans.
In all those states the old leaders
have passed out of the picture. and
no competent hands or shrewd
brains have taken their places in
the G. O. P. machines. The New
York Republican organization went
to pot along about 1920. Not a Re
publican senator or governor has
been elected since that year, while
the majority of the house delega-
ton has been Democratic beginning
with the 1922 election.
The Republican organization in
the other states named carried on
little longer than did the Empire
state leaders, but they have been
dying on the stem. Pennsylvania
"Puddler Jim" Davis Is the only
Republican senator from the whole
lot, and the Democrats are counting
on knocking him off next yearl
What Farley is more afraid of
than any Republican, no matter how
strong. is the dissolution of the Re-
publican party as a national insti-
tuition, and the split of the Demo-
Gratis into two camps. Further, Far
ley happens to know that Vanden-
berg is one Of the best known Re-
publicans who privately favor aban-
doning the word Republican. So
the naming OF Vandenberg by Far
ley was very shrewd hypodermic,
not for Vandenberg, but for the old
G. 0. P. elephant!
Might Be Worse
Business representative In Wash
ington-the bright lads who look aft
er the interests OF the various in