The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1928. THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1928. THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

The campaign for the United States presidency is moving ahead, though not as much as heretofore is being heard of the contest. Vet there are indications that money is flowing, and that the two great parties are “all out’ l far victory. An insight into saber American opinion is given -b!y the •following extract from a financial journal in New York, which sums up the general position as follows: —The national conventions having been held and the candidates and platforms oi the principal parties placed before the country politics will lie a subject of increasing interest over the next fom months. Opinions differ as to the influence of political campaigns upon business, hut unquestionably it varie with the issues and candidates. The most apparent instance of such influence was that of 1890, when genoral alarm was manifested in business circles over the campaign for the free cor!nage of silver. The campaigns which have centered upon the protective tariff, with one party proposing to lower the duties and the other declaring that such a policy would work great injury, naturally would have reactions upon business in some lines. The known views of the candidates upon questions of public policy inevitably are of importance, because the Presidency is an office of very great power. Platform declarations also are important, hut unless they are exceptionally clear out, as in 1896 on the money question, are subject to snob varying interpretations that they are not likely to l>e very influential either in •ae campaigns or in party policies afterward. The radical elements of society are always saying that there is no difference between the two leading parties, because the ideas upon which the radicals place emphasis are unacceptable with either. The radicals nrr not numerous enough, flocking by themselves, to have any chance of coming into power, and the people naturally divide into two parties which are not so distinctly different but what either may come into power without revotionary changes. It is desirable that the country shall'have such alternative choice. Tlie two leading candidates for President this year are lioth men who have won the high distinction which has come to them by the capabilities which they have displayed as practical administrators, rather than as oratons or champions of distinctive political theories. It is quite possible that if they were to compare their personal views about tlie administration of the Government, and even upon public policies, free from party responsibilities, no great differences would develop between them, at least upon what are primary business questions. In brief, there is no issue between the candidates that is likely to make a disturbance in business circles. Almost as much may ho said of the platforms. Tlie tariff issue has not been as dearly defined in recent campaigns as it was in the Cleveland campaigns. Tlie growth of manufacturing over the country, and particularly in the South, has modified the attitude of the Democratic party, making it loss disposed to commit itself to sweeping changes. Tin’s year the change of attitude is still more marked. It is a common criticism of platforms that they deal in generalities, hut there is much to ho said against definite pledges hastily made under the circumstances which surround political conventions. The latter are not law-making l bbdKos, ape] constituted ns they nfe find fpflo?

tioning as they do they should not take action which will have the effect of depriving the constitutional authorities of the independent .exercise ot their own judgment. The question of legislation for farm relief illustrates this comment. The farm problem is a practical economic problem and should be dealt with as such and not as a political football. It will lie agreed that that conclusion covers practical politics in regard to all eonomic questions of the day.