The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-07-28


off the coast of Lower California,
Washington political observers are
trying to make fair appraisal of
the effects of his cross continent
speaking tour, while the economists
in the Government service are
studying the business situation and
putting forth forecasts of recovery
with more optimism than has been
prevalent here for year or more.
The two things tie together. The
political future of Roosevelt and
his party is dependent to a consid-
cradle degree upon the extent OF
business recovery between now and
the Congressional elections.
The present sign indicate that
ordinary citizens will not be feeling
themselves quite so 'hard up" by
November as they have felt ever
since last fall.
From the Presidents tour two po-
Iitical conclusions are being drawn
in which the most experienced OBJ
servers here concur. One is that
there has been an amazing come
back in Mr.. Roosevelt's personal
popularity, at least in the sections
of the country which he visited.
The other conclusion is that the
President took the advice of the
Democratic National Chairman, Mr..
Farley, and did not try to read out
of the Democratic Party every Sen
ator, and Representative who had
voted against any of his pet mea-
SureS.
The President did give personal
Endorsement to some of his loyal
supporters, which was to have been
expected, but did not go on the ramp
age against many who had been
strongly against him. Nothing like
purge" of the party can be read
into the record of the Presidents
speeches.
Gamers Views
That is not to say that the split in
the Democratic Party which Mr..
Farley so greatly deplores has been
healed, but at least it has not been
widened by anything Mr.. Roosevelt
said or did on his Western tour.
Down in Texas Vice-President
Garner did a little talking, which
has set political tongues wagging.
He remarked, casually, that he did
not seek a third term as Vice-Presl-
dent. This might mean anything or
nothing.
If. as is believed by many here,
Mr.. Garner has his eyes On the
White House in 1910, it might mean
that he was putting himself for
ward as head of the Democratic
ticket. It seems definitely to mean
that the Vice-President doesn't think
the President should seek third
term, either.
But not the least impressive in
cident of Mr.. Roosevelt's trip was
the presentation to him at Pueblo
Colorado, of a petition signed by
more than 1000 wage-workers, de-
handing that he run for President
again two years hence.
Whether this is the beginning OF
an organized popular" movement
for Mr.. Roosevelt's denomination, or
a spontaneous gesture by a small
group of voters, is a question which
is disturbing political Washington.
If many more such petitions turn
up, it will be looked upon as proof
that someone acting on Mr.. Roose-
velts behalf is stirring up the ami
mails in the political ZOO, and trying
to start a backfire against the Gar
ner movement, which is gaining
considerable Roadway.
Presidents Popularity
Mr.. Gamers ambition for the
Presidency in 1882 is recalled by the
recent publication of Mr.. Farley's
own account of the Chicago conven-
ton, when the Texan was induced
to withdraw in favor of Gov. Roose-
welt and receive the Vice-Presiden-
tial nomination as consolation prize.
In the light of several recent cross
section polls of voters indicating the
rise in the Presidents personal pop
ularity above the low point which
it had reached last spring, estimates
of gains in Republican membership
at this years elections are being
revised downward.
A minimum of 35 additional seats
for the opposition is conceded. The
belief that there are 80 COMPRESSION
al districts in which the Republi-
cans can win is not so widely held.
There are thirty districts in which
a switch of one vote in twenty would
change the result from that of 1886.
There are 38 more districts in which
only a ten percent shift would put
a Republican into a Democrats
place. That a total Republican gain
of SO seats is an entirely reasonable