Show CROPS AND ELECTIONS I TF F THE Democratic party is dubious dubi dubi- dubiA A ous about the 1936 election It may be because of the drought History of our political cam eam campaigns campaigns indicates that the size of crops has an important bearing on onI I national elections In other words I if there be a scarcity of farm prod prod- products products I the party in power is turned out of office None can say that this is an in in- infallible infallible infallible fallible rule ruIe yet there are notable periods and events which tend to prove its truth A seven years' years drought for example starting in 1833 is the first widespread de de- destruction destruction of crops of which there is record At the end of it Martin Van Buren was voted out of office and the Whigs came in with t L great show of strength A second drought occurred short short- shortly ly before the Civil war but the latter event dominated of course every trend of political develop develop- development j ment meat for that period In 1874 there was was was- a a large Republican majority in m the lower branch of congress I but there had been drought years immediately preceding and andI I Democratic congressmen were elected in droves I Beginning in 1887 ten years showed a deficiency of rainfall and andI I crops naturally na suffered It was wasI I during this period perhaps more than in any other that the Ameri Amen American can voter practiced assiduously his right to vote parties in and out of power Conditions may be changed today The Democratic party which hap hap- happens happens I pens to be in the saddle has sur sur- survived survived survived one of the country's worst I crop years 1934 There are political political 1 cal observers who assert that we weare weI weare I are too much an industrial nation today for Old Man Weather to lay I such a heavy hand on political for for- tunes Only time will tell if this estimate I of the situation is correct When this is written however indications point clearly that burning dry winds have destroyed a large part wheat in the of the spring wheat crop Dakotas and Montana Industrial nation or not it is at least an even bet that when the I campaign warms up particular at at- attention atI attention will be paid to those three I states by Hamilton and andI Farley not Farley-not not to mention Congress Congress- Congressman I man Lemke who hails from that area himself I Western New Newspaper paper Union |