RECENT U.S. VOTING

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1936, Page 5

RECENT U.S. VOTING

CHIEF FEATURES

INFLUENCE ON THE PEOPLE.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

NEW YORK, November 4. . Mr Roosevelt’s victory—the most amazing in America’s, history lias several significant 'features, of parti-, cular interest: from the int(irnationa( viewpoint. Tlie first is the inevitable conclusion, that the, .American people, not uninfluenced, by trends abroad, yet more decisively spurred by, specific American conditions within, the • last four years, have assumed a position politically and economically . slightly left of the centre, in spite of 'the market'■ recovery. arid the. gains of the capital structure., which might-conceivably' be expected to have a reverse effect. The trend will probably continue to the left of the centre* for the next few years. ’ t

,The problem of reconciling the great popular* interests and needs which.predicated this liberal • tendency, with the enormous gains which the capitalistic system will inevitably find accruing from recovery, is now one of the most interesting which American people are facing, arid exactly the position Mr Roosevelt will assume is .Urn most arresting' aspect of the situation. • Wall Street is. apparently not despondent over the election results. Trio market rose rapidly on the Stock Exchange, and there , was a turnover or 3,250,000 shares. Buying was spread over all classes of buyers in the commodity markets, went ,up this from Wall Street, which opposed Mr Roosevelt .bitterly and predicted dire consequences from his election. It is clearly foreseen that on the one hand the President inightj conceive the enormous endorsement given in the election as a mandate for further exr perimentation, and on the other hand, the huge'congressional majority ■> might give him an .unwieldly instrumentality, which may prove a hindrance rather than an assistance. A 'smaller Democrat representation »in the Congress would .'linquestionahly he ia more effective instrulnenf, no matter what course he will pursue.

: Thb ‘‘New York Times” said: “The very size'of trie endorsement will sober the man arid iriake him more thoughtful, more careful and more conservative. One thing, however, must not )>e lost sight of: The people have , given Mr Roosevelt two plain commands—first,v.relief must-Continue liberally, since the great portion of the voters 'who put him in office are already recipients of it ;'and Second, he -must consolidate- the obvious' social reforms and gains of the New Deal.

1 The newly-organised-U American Labour party, in New; York state, which endorsed, Mr. Roosevelt, gained , a a surprisingly large number of votes. , Whether national Labour-? .will see this as a spur to the organisation of a national Labour party .has , yet_to bo determined, bdt it demonstrates clearly that perhaps for the first time an • American Labour party is: not - possible. . ' ' ' / AMERICA’S FOREIGN POLICY. WASHINGTON, Novembe? 4. Mr Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, made it clear that the Administ ra li o,l > considering the landslide in the presidential election an “unequivocal en- ■ dorsement” of Mr .Roosevelt’s foreign policies, will speed up its programme of international trade agreements.

“Not the least,, part of our record upon which ■ favourable judgment was passed was our foreign policies and relations in the last four yerrs, namely, to be a good? neighbour and promote a basis of permanent peace,” said Mr Hull. “These high, aims during peace and also strict neutrality during war are the cornerstone of our policy. “We are convinced that economic prosperity and world peace are interrelated and that the Administration’s 1 trade agreements programme is the most effective instrument for reviving international trade, thereby stimulating general economic prosperity as a foundation for world peace. Ihe American people’s unequivocal endorsement of these polities is? a matter for gratification and is a genuine encouragement. We shall go forward with ' our programme in the same earnest, persistent, careful, and cautious manner as previously.” f SIDELIGHTS ON ELECTION. NEW Y'ORK, November 5. Of the 38 women candidates for the House of Representatives, five have been elected. Mrs Florence Kahn (Republican), who was first Selected 12 years ago, 'was defeated. Clifford Cook, of Kansas City, who had promised Ins wife to kill himself if Mr Landon wore not elected, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound near the heart. . Mr Landon’j only statement to journalists to-day was -that be was going duck-shooting. General Hugh Johnston sent three telegrams. That to Mr Roosevelt read: “Dear Boss: Go to bed. Tt is well over.” His telegram to Mr Landon was: “Congratulations on your sportsmanship and Americanism.” To Colonel Frank Knox, the defeated candidate for the vice-presiclency, he telegraphed: “Bless your old heart; you put up a great Tight.” “Mr Roosevelt has done -the.topv jjosSible,” says the;.London.:- “Times:’’

“An American President, chosen by ftii overwhelming preponderance of votes for the second time and knowing there can never be a third, is unquestionably the most powerful individual ruler in the wprld. No dictator, whether fascist or communist, could challenge the solid basis of his backing.