Evening star., 1944-08-02
First ReoI Test Seen
Focing Brief Campaign
Both Sides Likely to Stick
to Short Speeches, Says Writer

Both Sides Likely to Stick
to Short Speeches, Says Writer
BY Dapid Laurence
This Is going to be IN unusual cam
pAisn from the standpoint Of campaign
speeches. Neither nominee will follow
the accustomed method.
President Roosevelt may be out OF the
country during large part Of the cam
paign, ~ there have been rumors that
he may visit the European battlefronts.
Even il he does not do this. there Is
every indication that he does not intend
to make any speeches until Just shortly
before election day. Mr.. Roosevelt
followed this plan in 1910.
Plainly Gov. Dewey has decided also
to confine himself to q few speeches.
With the single exception OF Mr. Roose-
velt's 1882 campaign. nearly every candi-
date who has made o transcontinental
tour found himself beaten on elec-
ton day.
In 1896 and 1900, william Mckinley
made front porch" campaign at Cam
ton, Ohio, while william Jennings
Bryan, who was defeated, toured the
country both times.
President Wilson made . ~front
porch" campaign from Long Branch,
N. J, in 1915, while his opponent,
Charles Evans Hughes, who was de-
feated made long trip.
Harding's Front Porch
Likewise, In 1920, Warren Harding
made . front porch" campaign at
Marion, Ohio, while Gov. Cox, the DEM
ocratic nominee, who was defeated,
made speeches from coast to coast.
In 1924, John w. Davis made q swing
around the circle" with lots of speeches
and was defeated, while President
Coolidge stayed in the East and made
only q few speeches.
The same thing happened in 1928,
when Gov. Smith made far more
speeches than Herbert Hoover and lost
the election.
When 1892 came, James A. Farley, who
was managing the Roosevelt campaign,
argued against a long trip but Franklin
Roosevelt decided nevertheless in favor
Of 4 long trip. Although he made
coast-to-coast journey. he did not make
as many speeches on the trip as did
other nominees in other campaigns.
In 1886, it was Gov Landon who made
tour Of the country and was defeated,
whereas President Roosevelt confined
himself to q few addresses.
The 1910 trip Of Wendell Willkie was
perhaps the most extensive speaking
tour that any candidate ever made be-
cause, along with the travel, there was
the advantage Of radio broadcasting-
an experience that Mr.. Bryan would
have relished, and it Is quite possible It
might have made 4 difference in one of
his three unsuccessful campaigns for the
presidency.
There is something about the trans
continental tour that not only wears
out the candidate himself, but In
sense makes him seem to be constantly
on the attack. 1t is this aspect Of cam
paigning which has come to be re-
garded by experienced political man
Public Opinion PolIa
The public opinion polls in 1910
showed that Wendell WILKES strength
was greater at the time of his nomina-
ton than in subsequent weeks. This
was because he was at the height Of his
popularity when he triumphed over the
old-line politicians at the Philadelphia
convention.
Subsequently he made 70 many
speeches that he did not have time for
reflection and was unable in any single
speech to make the telling points that
he probably would have made had he
confined his addresses to . much fewer
number
Gov. DeweyS strategy Is not vet
known. But his speech Of acceptance
before the Republican convention was
brief and to the point. 1t Is probable
that he will watch the timing in his
campaign more carefully than did Mr..
Willkie four years ago.
Thus 1t probably is true that the
public Is not as much interested during
the months Of August or September in
listening to campaign speeches as It is
In October. Instead Of working up to
climax four years ago in the weeks just
before election. the climax came too
soon.
Gov. Dewey is not likely to repeat
that mistake, and it Is apparent that he
Will not make many speeches during
August and September but will den>nd
upon few addresses to make his main
points.
The argument as to whether the
American people are Influenced by a
long or short campaign has never been
satisfactorily settled. But this is a
campaign year in which the short cam
paisn is likely to be given its first real
test on both sides.
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