Pioneer Goes West

It was possible to paint another and entirely different picture of the state of the union than that given by the Republicans (see p. 10). Eleven million men and women were growing grey with joblessness. Farmers were angry. Banks, though stronger, were fewer. Business at large was running in the red.

But with all the ingredients for a polit ical change at hand, Democrats were by no means so sure as they were two months ago. On their side was the great historical fact that not once in the last 58 years had the party in power lost control of the House at a mid-term election without also losing the Presidential election two years later. The reasonable discontent which produced the Democratic House victory in 1930 was stronger, if anything, today after three full years of Depression. All that seemed necessary was to translate reason able discontent into winning votes. The West, historically Republican, talked as if it would break from its old moorings. Senator Borah said last week: "The West is still any man's fight." Four Mid-West Governors gathering at Sioux City last week to settle the farmers' strike (TIME, Aug. 29; Sept. 5), had the horrid word REVOLUTION dinned into their ears.

And to that same West which was largely responsible for his nomination Franklin Delano Roosevelt turned last week for a harvest of discontented votes. Beyond the Mississippi lay his main chance of being elected the next President of the U. S.

When shortly before midnight the Democratic special rumbled out of the Albany yards of the New York Central and started to chuff uphill toward Schenectady, Governor Roosevelt was abed in his own room on the private car Pioneer. In the car with him were his son James, just recovered from an attack of "nervous exhaustion," his daughter Anna Roosevelt Dall, a chef and two porters. In the three Pullmans ahead were Milton Maclntyre, the Governor's press repre sentative. Columbia's Professor Raymond Moley, head of the "brain trust" which supplies the Governor with economic data, advises him on speeches. 24 newshawks and twelve cameramen. Forward of a diner and a club car, a baggage car had been fixed up as a press room with the ever-present mimeograph. At Salt Lake City, Democratic National Chairman Farley will board the train for the rest of the trip.

The Roosevelt special will cost the party $20,000 for its 8,000-mi. trip. As a train it was not in a class with the 14-car special which carried the Brown Derby on its western swing in 1928 and set the party back $43,000. Left behind in charge of national headquarters was Louis Mc Henry Howe, the Governor's confidential secretary. Mrs. Roosevelt was to join her husband aboard the Pioneer at Williams, Ariz, where she would be visiting Mrs. John C. Greenaway, a bridesmaid at her wedding 27 years ago.

First stop on the Pioneer's schedule was Jefferson City where Governor Roosevelt would briefly attend a Missouri Democratic Convention. The next day he was to arrive at Topeka where Harry Wood ring, Democratic Governor of Republican Kansas, would be his host, give him a dinner at the executive mansion. At the State Capitol Nominee Roosevelt is to deliver the first of four full-length speeches on the trip. He will tell Governor Woodring, Senator McGill, James A. Reed, Governor Murray of Oklahoma and Governor Bryan of Nebraska--a critical lot--his solution of the farm problem. Later he will attend the Kansas State Fair.

From Topeka the path of the Pioneer is as follows:

Sept. 15 -- Denver.

Sept. 17-18--Salt Lake City. After in specting a flower show the Nominee will speak in the Mormon Tabernacle.

Sept. 20--Seattle, 14 hr.

Sept. 21--Portland, 13 hr.

Sept. 22-23--San Francisco. William Gibbs McAdoo, Democratic Senatorial nominee and the man who "put Roosevelt over" at Chicago will board the Pioneer and take complete charge of the Governor's California tour. At this point Publisher William Randolph Hearst, whose press is giving the Roosevelt candidacy blatant support, is expected to enter the picture.

Sept. 24-25--Los Angeles. Marion Davies is always the perfect hostess for Mr. Hearst's personal friends. In her role as a public character (including honorary colonel of the 26th U. S. Infantry), she will also have a chance to be the perfect hostess for his political favorite. Juxtaposing pictures of Miss Davies and Governor Roosevelt, Mr. Hearst's Examiner announced: "A group of famous film stars will meet the Governor and help make his visit an eventful one. . . . Marion Davies, famous motion picture star, is chairman of the distinguished aggregation. . . . The following will assist Miss Davies: Joan Blondell, Bebe Daniels, Constance Bennett, Helen Hayes, Sally Eilers, Marie Dressier, Joan Crawford, Carole Lombard. . . ."

Sept. 26--Williams. Ariz., 19 1/2 hr.

Sept. 29 -- Sioux City, 13 hr.

Sept. 30 -- Milwaukee. 6 hr.

Oct. 1-2 -- Chicago. 26 1/2 hr.

Oct. 2-- Detroit, 16 hr.

The Pioneer will roll back to Albany just in time for the opening of the New York Democratic State Convention Oct. 3, at which Governor Roosevelt hopes to have Lieutenant Governor Lehman nominated as his successor.

G. 0. P. headquarters is ready to have Secretaries Mills, Hurley, Hyde, Wilbur and Doak dog Governor Roosevelt's foot steps throughout the West, cry him down.

Before his departure Governor Roose velt last week attended: 1) the New York State Fair at Syracuse; 2) the Vermont State Fair at Rutland ("Think of it, a mere Democratic candidate for President coming into Vermont!"); 3) the wedding of Earl Miller, onetime State Trooper and Roosevelt bodyguard.

Such a shrewd and able political pundit as Clinton Wallace Gilbert last week wrote in the Republican New York Evening Post: "The Democrats are in a stronger position this time than they have been since the Civil War. If they can't win this time they had better shut up shop as a party. . . . The country is in the habit of going violently in whatever direction it goes. The chances are it will go violently this year. If it does, it will elect Mr. Roosevelt. One can imagine Mr. Roosevelt's winning by 7,000,000 majority. One can hardly see Mr. Hoover winning by 7,000,000 majority."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.