ELECTION CAMPAIGN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 13

ELECTION CAMPAIGN

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY LATEST DEVELOPMENTS RESULTS OF STRAW VOTES By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyri^W (Received October 2. r>.4~> p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 1 Easily the most important development in the Presidential election campaign so far, was the announcement of the co-operation ol the United States with European nations in the step toward mone tar.y stabilisation. This was a further illustration pi the so-called "Roosevelt luck,' since it robbed the Republicans ol an important issue, stabilisatior having been one of the leading planks in their platform. Also it gave the Democrats ai opportunity to show that stabilisatior is also a plank in their own platform American business, moreover, lias beet definitely reassured that it has noth injr further to fear about tinkering | with the currency from Mr. Roosevelt The whole episode, therefore, is con sidered to favour Mr. Roosevelt's political fortunes. Mutual Repudiation of Communism The Communistic issue appears tr have been definitely repudiated by hot) candidates. Mr. Roosevelt, in his ad dress at the New York State Demo crat convention, emphasised that he scorns the aid of any "ism," and Mr A. M. Landon, in a statement to-day disavowed his support of any organisation or group which was endeavouring to bring prejudices and bigotry intc American life. The zeal of the authorities at Tern Haute in detaining the Communist candidate, Karl Browder, yesterday is being condemned by the organs of both parties. His release was secured today on an application for a writ ol habeas corpus. The contest continues more or less on a basis of generalities. Mr. Roosevelt emphasises that he is a true Conservative, for he wishes merely to reform the existing economic institutions. Mr. Landon. on the other hand, refers to his opponent's "dangerous regimentation of American life." The Social Security Act Nevertheless, vital, isolated, issues have begun to assume considerably more importance and are receiving greater emphasis by both parties. Mr. Landon's attack on the social security law has met with strong opposition from various sources, principally, it is to be noted, from the chairman of the Social Security Board, Mr. .T. G. Winant, formerly Republican Governor of New Hampshire, whe resigned his post so that lie might be free to combat Mr. Landon's criticism Mr. Winant said the Social Security Act was a great humanitarian measun which was passed by both Houses o Congress with little or no partisai j differences. It had enabled the workin< i man and woman to "meet the hazard which would overwhelm them if face< alone." Among the Liberal supporters of Mi ■ Roosevelt the point also has been mad i that in-so-far as the conservation c the best features of the New Deal i ' concerned, Mr. Roosevelt s real i ponent is the Supreme Court and no ■ Mr. Landon. Therefore they have be " gun to ask if he is prepared to tak ; the issue of the Supreme Court' ' negation of much of the New Dea > legislation to the people. • Rulings ol the Supreme Court The Scripps Howard newspapers ask ! "Does Mr. Roosevelt, as a candidate fo re-election, intend to nsk for a mandate ; from the country on this fundamenta question?'' This is likely to become embarrassinj I to Mr. Roosevelt because it has be • come increasingly clear, since th I Supreme Court's rulings, that the tem per of the people is against any con siderable changes in the Supreme Court which institution the Republicans ar strongly championing. As a skilful politician there is ver; little likelihood that Mr. Roosevel P will make this an issue for his re , election. Probably he will content him 3 self with presenting the question t c the people in one way or another aftei rather than before, the election. Straw votes, as an index to popula sentiment, appear to differ. Some car vasses indicate Mr. Roosevelt s re election whereas in the Litcrar ! Digests polls the latest figures giv Mr. Landon 438,601 votes, Mr. Roose velt 282,524 and Mr. Lemke 29,083. Allegiances of Newspapers Attacks are made on this poll o the ground that, since the names wer taken from telephone directories, vast number of unemployed people am relief workers were not represented This is hotly contested bv the edito of the Literary Digest, who claims tha the poll ultimately will reflect th actual result with mathematica accuracy. Although by now the alignment o groups and interests on behalf of Mi Roosevelt and Mr. Landon are clear!; indicated, considerable interest attache: to announcements by various impor tant newspapers cocerning their allegiances Mr. Roosevelt, in the pasi week has lost the support of two notec journals, namely, the Baltimore Sur and the St. Louis Post Dispatch, botl traditionally Democratic and once ardent supporters of Mr. Roosevelt. Both newspapers alleged that he hac alienated business and failed to keeT the promises he made in 1032 witb excessive taxes and enormous expenditures of public money. A noteworthy reaffirmation of allegiance, however, was made to-elav the New York Times, the sentiments of which for a long time have been in doubt. Mr. Al Smith Attacks President The most exciting touch to the Presidential campaign this week, however, appears to liavo been given by Mr. Al Smith, who, in his first important pronouncement, uttered a violent attack on his one-timo colleague and friend, Mr. Roosevelt. Mr. Smith said he bore no grudge againsf the President, "but he has foojed mc as he has fooled millions of Democrats." Mr. Smith added that he had forced the nomination of Mr. Roosevelt in 1928 against the protests of practicallj all the leaders of the party. "The New Deal welcomes all elements," said Mr. Smith. "Even the Communist with a smoking bomb is welcome if he signs on the dotted 1 line,"