has received the congratulations of Mr. Alfred London on a sweeping victory after a record poll In the Presidential elections, The Presldent's success was generally ¢xpected but few perhaps were prepared to believe that it would be gained by so remarkable a majority. Me has literally carried the country in spite of the formidable forces arrayed against him by the opposltion of a strong section of the press and Important commercial interests, face of the figures it will be dim cult for his opponents to maintain their suggestion that the Democratic vote has been undul swayed by the "Father Christmas" role played by the sponsor of the New Deal. Whoever raised the class issue in the campaign must at Jeast come to the conclusion that it has not really affected the election—an outcome which may perhaps be regarded as satisfactory. The his polley judging. by the unprecedently large poll which makes his victory over Mr. London even more emphatic than that which he un- to be 2 expectedly scored over Mr. Herbert, Hoover in 1992. The Republicans have admittedly fought under some Alsadvantages despite their ability to command what may be called the solid vote.
To begin, with, the Presiden electrical personality attracting bitter hostility and equally fervent enthusiasm has dominated the election, Mr. London could. not_pre~ tend to compete with the Demceratle nominee as man to man. Had the Republican been able to put forward a platform which possessed the same force of appeal, without appearing to draw upon Mr, Roosevelt for inspiration they might have had a chance. Mr. Landon—good straight-forward eandidate—did his best. No man can do more but, looking back, it will be regarded as surprising that anyone ever considered he had even fighting chance. In oratory he was hopelessly outmatched. That expert on the microphone, Father Coughlin, at once crystallized the issue by' decrying Mr, London's: radio manner. Whatever the good Father's deficiencies may be, they do not include an inability to gauge the vagaries of public opinion, No doubt the defeated party will take the result with appropriate resigna~. fon to which may contribute the consoling thought that-theirs will not be the responsibility for steering the nation through the difficult social and economic controversies: ahead. For reasons already ex. plained the New Deal has not a complished the complete task of establishing recovery. It has the merit of having made people think. It has not been able to convert all thoughts Into practical achievement. President Roosevelt's programme has been obstructed by clreum= stances beyond his control and al& bby its inherent defects as the pro-duet of a lively empiricism. It has set on foot enormous projects and it is fitting—even Republicans may Inclined to think—that its author should be charged with the duty of "seeing the thing through." {their vote the electors have favoured the extension of federal power, particularly in social legislation and fave implicitly endowed the central treasury with responsibility for the main financial control of the country's affairs. The Republican inclination for leaving reforms to the individual states is once more rejected. The difference of view is not new: it resolves itself into the old conflict between centralization and decentralization.
It now remains to be seen what use the President will make of this strong confirmation of his policies. He has changed the character of the party cleavage in that progressive action is advocated by those who would strengthen federal authority, whereas In the past the conservatives were opposed to the extension of the power of the States. The President is faced with the dimculty of overcoming the local particular ism of his party's traditions, but the vote behind him should be strong enough to enable his leadership toward a practical liberalism effective, He will have to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.