U.S.A. ELECTIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19135, 2 October 1936, Page 2

U.S.A. ELECTIONS

| SURVEY OP PROSPECTS ECONOMIC CONFLICT ROOSEVELT PAVOURED NEW YORK, Sept. 23. After n desultory beginning, during which time the candidates apparently waited for events to show the way, the Presidential campaign has now assumed full momentum. Even though the latest figures in tho "straw ballot" conducted by the Literary Digest, show that Mr. A.' M. Landon (Republican) it; leading Air. Franklin Roosevelt (Democrat) by 293.972 _ votes to 185,495, it is expected that President Roosevelt will be re-elected, but with a smaller majority. The Democratic majority in .the Senate is impossible to overthrow, since only a third of that body is being returned, and the House of Representatives probably will remain Democratic, by n reduced majority. Tho minor parties are not expected to play a vital part, numerically, but may throw the balance in certain States to the Republicans by reducing! the Democratic yote in close contests. ' PENDULUM SWINGS

The influence of Dr. Francis Townsend, founder of the Townsend pensions movement, Father Coughlin, the "radio priest," rind the Rev. Gerald Smith, lender of tho "Share the Wealth" societies, appears to be either diminishing or static. Mr. W.. M. Leruke, Left-Wing Republican, who is the Union Party's candidate for the presidency, doubtless will receive the largest third party vote. One thing appears clear. Even if the Democrats win in November, ihe pendulum inexorably will move back towards the Republicans in 1938 and 1940. There are a few basic problems on which President Roosevelt and Mr. Landon are prepared to join issue, and the character of the support, rallying to each now seems to be definitely indicated. What. Mr. London has advocated may be put' in a single sentence, namely, the return of the "liberal, simple, and nondictatorial Government of our forefathers." while President Roosevelt has insisted that the men of great wealth and power in the nation must awaken to the full consciousness of their duly to the poor and disinherited. All those infinitely complex and technical questions involved in the recovery of the nation are receiving only incidental discussion, Tt is true that Mr. London and the Republicans condemn the New Deal unreservedly, whereas President, Roosevelt and the Democrats insist that the. New Deal litis saved the country, and will make il increasingly prosperous. But, for the purposes of the campaign, everything, has been reduced to utter simplicities. Thus, as never before, iho presidential election has resolved itself in the broadest terms, into an economic conflict.