REPUBLICAN BID FOR OFFICE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20531, 24 September 1936, Page 9

REPUBLICAN BID FOR OFFICE

ALFRED LANDON'S POLICY SUBSTANTIAL HELP FOR FARMERS IMPORTANCE OF SPEECH RECOGNISED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 23, 7.35 p.m.) DESMOINES, September 2. Governor A. Landon (Republican candidate for the Presidency), made one of the most important addresses in his campaign to-day with the elucidation of liis agricultural policy, as a bid for mid-western farm support. What the Republican candidate proposed as a substitute for the New Deal agricultural programme, was the so-called domestic allotment plan, under which producers would receive cash subsidies on the domestically consumed portions of exportable products, such as wheat, hogs, cotton and tobacco. Without giving details of the plan, Governor Landon explained that such subsidies would be equivalent to the tariff benefits received by the industry. Although vigorously attacking President Roosevelt’s policy as promoting scarcity. Mr Landon said, if elected, he would meet all the financial abligatlons to farmers contracted by the Government and continue the full drought relief. WOMEN’S PART IN THE CAMPAIGN BITTERLY SERIOUS BUSINESS It is a busy summer for American women. Not busy merely because of country houses and entertaining and having all the children home from school, but busy because of the political situation, writes Marlon Ryan in an overseas dally. Apparently every second woman in the United States is a potential politician and, at the moment, the female Democrats are as determined that Mr Roosevelt shall stay in the White House as the female Republicans are that he shall not—and feeling runs high. Manj’ a versatile housewife and mother is filling in odd hours with propaganda. making speeches and distributing leaflets. Many a society hostess, instead of taking her usual month’s rest cure in the summer and reappearing with some ten years gone the way of the face-lifter or the beauty specialist, is having political meetings on her lawn, getting neighbours and country folk to sit under the great shady trees and listen, with ice cream and cake later, though she must know that it is difficult to turn a Democrat into a Republican, and vice versa, as it is to make the proverbial silk purse out of the sow's ear. In New York the female Democrats have a modest club house where there is always great activity, while the, female Republicans have a very handsome club with modernist furniture, the latest fads In decoration, sun parlours, a lecture hall, and a very fine library. Usually these clubs are deserted in the summer, but with a Presidential campaign in full swing they are filled with members most of the time. Almost a Women's Campaign. As a matter of fact, it seems almost like a women’s campaign, so active are they. There were more women delegates than ever before at the conventions to nominate a man to run for President. It is a wmoan who is writing the most brilliant articles about the campaign, Dorothy Thompson, wife of Sinclair lewis, the author. She was also selected to broadcast accounts ot the conventions, an unheard-of thing before this year. Then there are all those women who have been given Important posts by the president of the Democratic Party —Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labour; Judge Florence Allen, the first woman to be appointed ta the Federal Bench; Josephine Roche, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, the third woman to be appointed to the Treasury Department, where it was taken for granted that only men were gifted enough to cope with the dollar sign; Mrs Bernice Pike, who is Collector of Customs in Cleveland; and Alida Bowler, a slim, bobbed young woman, who has always been interested in the American Indian and his ways, and is now first woman superintendent of Indian affairs. There Is a host of others, to say nothing of all the small town women who have important civic positions. They are all doing their bit for the Democratic Party, which is undoubtedly more appreciative of women's abilities. Sense of Humour Buries The worst of the feminine element in American politics is the bitter seriousness with which they enter the campaign. Friendships are smashed, luncheons become debates, with no one listening to anyone else, and the American sense of humour is buried under party feeling. "Now, ladles," said a hostess who was giving a large bridge tournament recently on her lawn for a charity. "I just want to tell you that onyone who starts a political argument instead ot calling and playing her cards is going to be asked to leave. I have a number of substitute players, so tables will not be broken up and they won’t be missed.” During the afternoon two indignant ladles gathered v.p their bags and fans and parasols, and went home by special request.