Letters, Aug. 15, 1932

Guessing

Sirs:

Having been a regular reader of your publication for some time, I write to ask if in the near future you will print a prognostication as to the outcome of the November election, listing the States and your guess as to how each will cast its electoral vote.

An estimate of this character appeared in the New York Times for July 24 and was given out by Manager Farley of the Roosevelt Campaign Committee.

An estimate of this kind appeared in the Kiplinger letter from Washington, D.C., dated July 2. These people promise a subsequent estimate dated July 30 and no doubt will issue others from time to time.

It would be helpful, illuminating and interesting if your staff, in its usual careful way, would inform your readers.

KENNETH McM. DICKEY Kansas City, Mo.

Last month Manager Farley predicted Governor Roosevelt would beat President Hoover "by the greatest electoral majority ever given a Democratic nominee for President in a two-party fight." The Roosevelt headquarters forecast of the 531 Electoral College votes:

Sure Democratic—247, including Missouri, New York, Colorado, Washington. Probably Democratic—99, including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin. Doubtful—100, including Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Connecticut. Probably Republican—85, including California, Michigan, Pennsylvania. On July 30, the Kiplinger Washington Agency, on the basis of its own reports, "indicated Hoover's reelection" as follows:

Sure Hoover—131, including Iowa, Kansas and California. Doubtful Hoover—153, including New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Wisconsin. Sure Roosevelt—168, including Missouri. Doubtful Roosevelt—79, including Indiana, Illinois, Washington, Nebraska. Total: Hoover—284; Roosevelt—247. Vigilantly nonpartisan, TIME will make no guess at the result of the election, take no sides in the campaign, report the political facts as they develop without fear or favor for either candidate.—ED.

Mr. Palmer & "Vague"

Sirs:

After reading the letter written by the Hon. A. Mitchell Palmer criticizing TIME'S use of the word "vague" in describing the Democratic platform (TIME, Aug. i), I became very much amused. It would be advantageous to the welfare of our country if leading American universities would offer instruction in logic and economics to our politically inclined friends.

HAROLD C. HICKMAN

Ellijay, Ga.

Indigentry

Sirs: In your issue of Aug. i you state that Burke's "Landed Gentry" is printing an addendum, or "second section tactfully entitled 'Dislanded Gentry'." Might I suggest, for the sake of brevity and clarity, that Burke's name their new edition— "Indigentry."

D. M. HURLEY Southampton, N. Y.

Gratified Admiral

Sirs: