MODERN POLITICS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18975, 27 March 1936, Page 16

MODERN POLITICS

AMERICA AND RADIO INCIDENTS DRAMATISED NEW YORK, Feb. 3. The grand old party, the Republicans, have started a new fashion in political campaigning for the Presidential election in November. They are expressing their opinion of the Roosevelt New Deal by dramatising incidents in radio broadcast. At the moment, they are in favour with the two transcontinental radio networks, but have, like the Radio Priest, arranged lor their own network.

In the first of these political dramas, aimed at the "dance of the billions," or expenditure programme of the New Deal, two young people, John and Mary, are depicted as applying to the registrar for a marriage license. The Registrar: How much have you got to marry on? John : I have a hundred dollars saved, and I get 20 dollars a week with a prospect of 25. Mary : I have. 25 dollars saved. The Registrar: Are you aware of the responsibilities you will shoulder, towards the payment of the-National Debt if you raise a family'; John : How much is it? The Registrar: It is a thousand dollars per head, or equal to five dollars per week from every person of salaryearning age. Mary : Heavens ! John will then only have 20 dollars a week, even if he gets his promotion. We cannot, get married !

Exit John and Mary, followed sadly by the Registrar.

When President Roosevelt, in his first election announcement, charged his critics and opponents with being cowards, hi that thev supported bis New Deal at the outset, and left their attack to the election year, the Republicans sought to reply to him, but the broadcasting networks decided that they would not permit the Republicans to broadcast, until after the national conventions of the parties, in dune next. The Republicans retorted with the charge that the President is censoring the radio, and interfering, with the rights of free speech. NEW DEAL ATTACKED The next blast came from ex-Gover-nor Al. Smith, the "Happy Warrior" of the Hoover election campaign, who attacked the New Deal from within the Democratic ranks, and threatened, unless it were dropped, to leave the party. This was the hardest blow delivered al President Roosevelt to date. Replying on behalf of the "diehard" elements of the party, Senator Robinson charged Mr. Smith with emulating Judas Iscariot, when he. said there were "only two alternatives open to disciples of Jefferson, Jackson, and Cleveland : to take on the mantle of hypocrisy, or take a- walk out of the party." Smith said he had helped draw up the platform for President Roosevelt's campaign, but that it. haj been scrapped when President Roosevelt assumed office. Senator Robinson's attack on Smith gains force from the fact that he was Smith's limning mate in the 1028 Presidential campaign. The. ink was hardly dry on the Senate's defiance of the President's . veto of (he JD440.C00.000 soldiers' bonus, when Mr. Roosevelt sent instructions to the Administration to arrange for its immediate payment. By what form of taxation he did not indicate, nor does

- • , his Government know. President i Roosevelt, hoped that lie might stall off : the soldiers’ bonus until after the elec- ] lion. The American Legion has the, most Ij powerful “lobby”.at Washington, and L chose the right tactical moment to press its demand. No President since the war I would have appreciated such a demand, j It falls to President Roosevelt’s lot to j have to pay it over his veto. The coup is the greatest in post-war political his- - tory. What its effect will be is too early to conjecture. Suffice it to say c that ir. wrings from any impartial observer a full measure of sympathy for J President Roosevelt, who is thus forced, I against his will, to endorse the greatest. 1 political racket of all time. 1