POLITICS IN U.S.A.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 June 1936, Page 3

POLITICS IN U.S.A.

NEW PARTY ANNOUNCED CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY ENDORSED BY FATHER COUGHLIN 3 (United Press- Association—By Klertrie--1 'A i. frripjr:"-(!<ipt ••itr!**' WASHINGTON, 20th June. A minor political ' sensation was created to-day when ]VIr Wm. Lemke, a Left Wing Republican member of the .House of Representatives, and one of the leading inflationists in Congress, announced his candidacy for the Presidency on a “Union Party” ticket, which he himself appears to have established. He has issued a fifteenplahk platform, defining the paramount issue before the nation as “economic slavery,” and proposing a redistribution of wealth through old-age pensions, minimum wages, laws and other legislation, and the expansion of tho currency. • It is noted that his platform generally fits most of the aims of Father Coughlin and Mr Townsend and the remnants of the late Mr Huey Long’s share-the-w T ealth oi'ganisation, indicating that Mr Lemke expects the support of all three of these factions. Observers believe that should such a coalition be effected the new party may have considerable political significance. In a radio broadcast to-night Father Coughlin formally endorsed Mr Lemke, and indicated that his Social Justice Union, which claims a membership of several million, would support the Union Party. 1 Mr Lemke declared he had the support of the Townsend followers, and hinted that the Rev. Gerald Smith, Huey Long’s successor in the share-the-wealth movement, would likewise aid him. The party’s vice-presidential candidate will' be Mr Thomas Charles O’Brien, a Boston attorney. As the new party’s policy is calculated to be attractive to the radicallyinclined and independent voters generally, some observers are of opinion tfiat it may develop into a serious threat to Mr Roosevelt’s re-election, depending, 'of course on the manner its campaign is conducted.