The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-07-20

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IS no doubt that there is enough
truth in il - make it important.
There IS another point. So far
the polls that are now so embarrass.
ing TO New Dealers have been as.
tonishingly correct. But there is nc
proving that sooner or later they
will not come a terrific cropper.
That has been the history of all
other polls on elections which have
attracted national attention.
Up To 1916, fer example, the polls
taken by the old New York Herald
were amazing in their accuracy. In
that year, every Sunday for months
before election, the Herald editors
apologized TO their readers because
they had taken too large a percent.
age of their totals in California.
As California was virtually two to
one for Hughes as against Woodrow
Wilson, the editors explained. this
improperly weighted their totals
making them appear too strong on
the Hughes side.
Poifs. Sooner or Later,
Come a Terrific Chopper
Most people have forgotten. but
that is the explanation of why the
eastern newspaper editors and DO
lttlcal writer's were so gullible about
the early returns that election
night, when, as matter of fact.
newspapers of all shades of politi.
cal opinion, including the New York
Times, which was ardently for Will
son, conceded Hughes election.
That was the end of the Herald
polls. Big newspapers began after
that election sending their own cor
respondents over the country to in
vestigate political situations. But
then came the Literary Digest poll.
accuracy -uneanny- fer
years. In 1896, when every good
political reporter began to suspect
that there was something sour about
1t, the poll none the less had the eff
feet Of putting doubt in the minds
even of the most optimistic New
Dealers.
In a subsequent magazine article
Charles Nicholson, shrewd director
of New Deal publicity, admitted that
he had spent lot OF money un-
necessarily TO combat the last min
ute pay-envelope tax attack of the
G. 0. P. forces He expresses only
scorn for the Literary Digest poll.
but one wonders whether this ex-
pense would have been approved If
there had not been a lingering fear
that maybe the Digest poll was in
dieating a ground swell which some
how escaped investigators.
The new polls are much more sci
entitlc, Of course.
Actions Tend to Put Doubt
In the Minds OF toters
Congress has almost gotten back
TO normal-after more than six
years OF following the leader. This
has nothing to do with how much
President Roosevelt succeeds in get
ting his way despite the critical
Mctics, first of the house, on the
IVA question. and, second. of the
senate, on the silver and devalua-
ton questions.
Every member of the house vot-
ing against the President on iva.
and every senator voting against
MN on silver and devaluation knew
that these votes would hurt Mr..
Roosevelt between now and next
June when the Democratic National
convention will pick the party's
nominee for President.
The actions tend to put doubt in
the minds Of the voters as TO wheth-
er the President is right on iva.
whether he is sound on the none
tary questions. They will form the
subject of crossroad store debates
all next winter, from Maine to Cali
tornia, with the only possible result
that the President will lose a GER
tain percentage of his supporters.
When the senate and house fight on
such controversial issues it is all
most beyond question that folks will {
'e found, here and there, who will {
axe the opposition side, no matter Z
What the real merits Of the case |
nay be. '
Since the President figures to a /
dominating degree in the monetary t
lsputes, and since his attitude on 9
VA is we'll known, the effect can &
My be harmful TO him. Some of q
hose supporting him up to these is q
ues are almost bound to leave him. S
This is almost an memorable politi- /
al law. II has nothing to dc with. 6
1r. Roosevelt's virtues or failings. j
proves nothing with respect to d
hem. It is just a thing which all 2
Jays works.
)espite His Huge Majority
'ormer Leaders Opposed Him
This law works with especial rig
against President who does d ]
i of things. Probably Calvin Cool 1
ige suffered less from it than any .
resident since the Civil war. but b
Re chief accusation that cr;+;ce !,