AMERICAN CAMPAIGN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 262, 3 October 1936, Page 7

AMERICAN CAMPAIGN.

ROOSEVELT’S PROSPECTS. NOT SO CONFIDENT. NEW YORK, Oct. 1. Easily the most important development in the Presidential campaign thus for was the announcement of' the cooperation of the United States with European nations toward monetary stabilisation. It is a further illustration of the so-called Roosevelt luck since it robbed Republicans of an important issue, stabilisation having been one of the leading promises of their platform, and gave the Democrats an opportunity to show mutual fulfilment of a similar plank in their own platform. American business, moreover,_ is definitely reassured that it has nothing further to fear in the way of tinkering with currency from President Roosevelt. The whole episode is thus considered to favour his political fortunes.

The Communistic issue appears to have been definitely repudiated by both candidates, and the Terre Haute authorities’ zeal in detaining Mr Earl Browder, Communist candidate for the Presidency, yesterday is also being condemned by organs of both parties, and his release was secured to-day. While the contest still continues more or less on a basis of generalities, with President Roosevelt stressing that he is a true Conservative for he wishes merely to reform existing economic institutions, and Mr Landon emphasising his opponent’s dangerous regimentation of American life, vital isolated issues have begun to assume considerably more importance and are receiving greater emphasis from both parties. Among Liberal supporters of President Roosevelt the point has been made that, insofar as conservation of the best features of the New Deal are concerned, President Roosevelt’s real opponent is the Supreme Court, and not Mr Landon. They have therefore begun to ask if he is prepared to take the issue of the Supreme Court’s nega tion of much of the New Deal legislatino to the people and does he, as a candidate for re-election, intend to ask for a mandate from the country on this fundamental question? This is likely to become embarrassing to President Roosevelt because it is increasingly clear since the Supreme Court’s rulings that the temper of the people is against any considerable changes in the Supreme Court, which institution Republicans are strongly championing. As a skilful politician, there is very httle likelihood that President Roosevelt- will make this an issue for re-election, probably contenting himself with presenting the question to the people one way or anothei after, rather than before, the election.

’ “STRAW” VOTE INDEX. “Straw” votes as an index of popular sentiment appear to differ, some canvasses indicating President Itoosevelt s re-election, whereas the Literary Digest poll’s latest figures give Mr Landon 438,601 votes, President Roosevelt 282,524, and Mr Lemke 29,053. Attacks have been made on this poll that, since the names are taken from telephone directories, a vast number of unemployed and relief workers are therefore not represented. Ihe attacks have been hotly contested by the Literary Digest’s editor, who claims that the poll will ultimately reflect the actual result with mathematical accuThis week’s most exciting touch to the campaign, however, appears to have been given by Mr A 1 Smith who, in his first important pronouncement, uttered a violent attack on his onetime colleague and friend. Mr Smith said: “1 bear no grudge against the President, but he has fooled me as lie has fooled millions of Democrats. All* Smith added that lie forced the nomination of President Roosevelt in 1928 against the protests of practically the entire leadership of the party. The New Deal welcomes all elements. Even the Communist with a smoking bomb is welcome if ho signs on the dotted line.”