The Daily Alaska empire., 1938-10-29
Two OhiOans
Cleveland Plain Dealer)


 Americans interested in national political trends as all should be- accustomed to watch Ohio at election time. They have special reasons for doing so this fall.
 Perhaps in no other state except New York do conditions have as great public interest here New Yorks Gov Lehman persuaded at the eleventh hour to try for fourth term at the behest of Demo- crats close to MT Roosevelt will make his supreme political effort defeat the glanorous Dewey and thus deprive the anti-New Dealers possible preSi- dential candidate two years hence. From this dis tance appears that the chances favor the Democrat
 But not in New York is the uppermost national issue so clearly defined it is in Ohio. And Ohio has not one but two presidential possibilities before the electorate for approval They may be considered only remote possibilities but the facts speak for themselves.
 Republicans outside of Ohio are pointing to the Taft campaign for United States Senator perhaps training course for the Cincinnati man in prepara- ton for a more important in 194O. This of the only in American history hold successively the office of president and of chief justice surprised many by winning the nomination in August He peases many by the vgor of his fight for election
 While Republicans in and cut of the state coming to look on Taft a presidential possibility conditioned of course his election next month Democrats may well look their nominee for governor also with the thought of 194O in mind This is said on two assumptons first that Sawyer is elected November and that the president does not decide to smash the time-honored precedent against SeeKlng thlrd term
 Whether this idea has occurred to any Ohio Democrat not, including Sawyer himself we do not happen to know The logic of it seems to us reason ably obvious.
 It s however, to the t-Bulkley contest that chief attention is directed. Here the New Deal is directly issue Taft denounces the Roosevelt program in practically its entirety Bulkley empha sized the fact in his first debate with Taft that he is full accord with all the features of this pro- gram
 The fact remains that Ohioans will vote for or against Taft as an able, outspoken foe of the New Deal. They will vote for against Bulkey defender of the New Deal and participant in many of its legislative steps
 And the New Deal must of necessity be the pre- vailng issue wherever voters go to the polls with minds the national political picture. Regardless of the outcome of most elections next month, victory for Taft here would be hailed by Republicans every where as sign that the old partisan pendulum had begun to swing counter -Roosevelt-wse.
 The last time this state gave the country presi- dent the gift led to train of circumstances that left bad taste When the next national conventions meet, twenty years will have elapsed since Warren c. Hardings nomination And Republicans who have met in recent years sneered at the Ohio gang and the little house in K Street have nothing in this connection to say against MT. Taft.
 It is well to have the New Deal dragged into the open and taken apart Candidates Bukley and Taft promise to do in their series of debates the first of which has already been held. Here is to be a pebiscite" with national meaning.
 The same year that Ohio gave Harding to the country it also furnished his Democratic opponent for the presidency. This year again eyes are on two Ohoans. Not running against each other both may win.