Evening star., 1939-12-09
The Political Mill
Ickes, as Liberal, Swings to Icy Low
Two Candidates of Rival Porties

State chairman Of Indiana, whom
McNutt had just ousted as State
leader, and Mr.. McNutt had griev-
ance too, 1t is said. Since that time,
however, the President has ap-
pointed Mr.. McNutt to two high
ofiices-first, United States. high
commissioner to the Philippines
and last summer, to his present i'm
portant post In the New Deal ad-
ministration.
Calls It "Baby Talk"
Mr.. Ickes' comment on Mr.. Dewey
and his first speech in his presi-
Dental campaign was that Mr..
Dewey had talked As minutes and
said nothing in Minneapolis, and
that his speech was "baby talk"
While perhaps more caustic than
some other Democratic comments
on the Dewey speech, 1t was in line
with them. Mr.. Farley, as chair
man. Of the Democratic National
Committee, dignifled the speech by
issuing q formal statement, char
acterizing it as lacking courage for
not defining his stand on the vari-
Gus issues Of the day. The attempt
Of the Democrats to belittle the
Dewey speech is not without signi-
ficance. The Democrats have passed
by other Republican speeches-by
other Republican candidates-in
silence. It looks as though Mr..
Dewey might have gotten under the
Democratic hide.
Mr.. Dewey has the ability to get
up and speak in convincing and
appealing manner. Editorial COM
ment on his first talk to the Ameri-
can voters as a presidential candi-
date has been largely favorable. But
Mr.. Dewey Is the target not only of
Democratic criticism but also Of
some of his Republican opponents
for the presidential nomination-and
more particularly their supporters.
In some quarters his speech was
dubbed a mere rabble rousing effort.
It is a long time, however, since the
Republicans have had a rabble
rouser. 1t may be what the G. o. P.
needs in this coming year.
Might Offer Second Place.
One thing is very clear-any of
the other Republican candidates for
the nomination would be delighted
to have the hitting Dewey on
their ticket as a vice presidential
candidate. 1t may be extremely
doubtful, however. that the New
Yorker would be willing to take Sec
ond place. It may be that, in the
event he fails of the presidential
nomination, he would rather wait
until 1912 and make the race for
Governor Of the Empire State. Then
in 1914 he would be in excellent posi-
ton, If he were victorious in the
gubernatorial contest, to go after
the presidential nomination again.
The Taft-for-President supporters
are extremely active. Their con-
tention is that Mr.. Taft has a ma
tionally known name, that he stands
four square against the New Deal
and for Republican policies. They
do not claim for him that he Is a
spell binder, but that he has shown
the ability to win people to him In
all parts of the country in his swing
from East to West and back again.
Indeed, the response to his cam
paigning so far has been remark
able, they insist. They believe that
their candidate is going strong and
will finish first.
Senator Arthur II uopdopharo ~
Michigan is playing waiting game,
while his two principal opponents,
Senator Taft and Mr.. Dewey, are
out on the hustings. He will make
only a couple of speeches-both in
the Middle West and about the time
Of Lincoln's birthday anniversary in
February. Otherwise he will conf1ne
his activities to the Senate, which
can always be his sounding board.