Evening star., 1938-02-16

the continuance
Of the city vote for the Democrats in
substantial quantities from among the
workers who hold the balance of
power.
Thus, while the farmer-labor coali-
tion is not political organiza ton or
even an affiliated mechanism of con-
curing groups. there is, for all prac-
tical purposes, farmer support and a
labor backing, respectively, for the
Roosevelt administration which the
conservatives of the Republican party
do not apparently take into account.
Farmers Hold Power.
The Republican conservatives are
talking of making a coalition with
Democratic conservatives as if this
combination were numerically strong
enough to assure majority in either
the congressional or presidential elec-
tlons. Actually. the balance of power
ia held by a substantial number of
farmers. who have been weaned away
from the Republican ticket by Roose-
welt bounties and benefits, and BY the
labor vote of the cities. From pro-
portion of probably 80 per cent Dem
ocratlc in the old days, the labor vote
now has increased to something like
% per cent Democratic. These fig
ures are based on polls taken rather
uniformly in manufacturing plants in
1885 and there is no reason 10 suppose
that there has been any change unless
the recession has produced some tenn
porary discomfort
But here again the Roosevelt admin
iStrstion comes forth with generous
relief appropriations. and the man who
loses his job is prevented from becom-
Ing resentful. especially when the la Dor
leaders tell him the whole depression
is the result Of conspiracy of capital
to embarrass Mr.. Roosevelt politically,
Facts Painful, But True.
All these things may be painful
facts for the conservatives to recop-
nlze. but they are none the less politi-
cal facts Of prime importance. Until
the big groups of voters aforemen-
toned have reason to believe tney will
get AS much if not more economic
rewards or benefits out of Republican
rule than Democratic rule. the speeches
OF Lincoln Day and the Glenn Frank
Committees will be of little avail. It
may sound unorthodox. but paternal.
ism is political truth OF prime
Importance
1t is a significant thing that not
4 single Republican leader or national
party spokesman, either inside or out
side OF Congress, has ever made q
speech supporting the Wagner Act and
pledging that if he has anything to
say about it in the councils of the
party which draft 1910 platform, he
Will undertake to secure a whole heart |
ed Endorsement Of the act as it stands, |
but with possible additions to assure
impartial enforcement.
When the Republicans can do
things that convince and persuade la
Dor unions that Republican victory
will not mean the sabotage Of the |
Magma Charta' of labor-the Wagner
Act-then it will be time to consider |
whether the Republicans have any |
chance to control the National Gov
ernment again in the next several |
years.
Same True Of Farm Act.
Virtually the same thing may be
said of the farm control law. When
the Republicans are ready to offer the
farmers-or at least a big marginal
group of farmers who are now being
benefited by the present administra-
tion-something that assures 4 stable
farm income, then the Republicans
can hope to recapture the very impor-
tant segment of the farm vote which
caused so many agricultural States
to turn from an 80 per cent Repub-
lican vote IN 1928 to a 40 per cent
Republican vote in 1885,
1t may be, of course, bit different
with Mr.. Roosevelt OF the ticket this
year. and it is also probable that in
the industrial areas there will be a
falling off of Democratic strength
among various groups usually de-
scribed as "the middle class" But
As long as there is $500, ,0O0, 900 an
nual subsidy for the farmer, and more
than sl,000,000,000 a year spent on
relief, and a strong administration
support of the Wagner Act. the Re-
publicans can do much talking about
a coalition of conservatives and still
be far from making a dent in the
most powerful voting combination
not coalition--which has ever been
seen in American politics, the farmer
and the lahorer