The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-05
a. GOVERNORS
MUSCLE IN ON
PRESIDENT RACE
Stand Better Chances OF
Winning White House,
History Shows.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER,
rnIted Press STAFF Correspondent

WASHINGTON. June 5.-Gover-
nors have come into the foreground
in unusual numbers as apparent
presidential aspirants, muscling into
q field in which United States SEN
ators usually are the more con-
spicuous group.
-Four governors made utterances
at the Governors conference in
French Lick, Ind, this week which
stamped them in the minds Of prac-
tically all politicians as aspirants for
a presidential nomination next year
Three potential contenders heard
from we're Democrats-Governors
Franklin D. Roosevelt Of New York.
Albert c. Richie of Maryland, and
George White Of Ohio. The fourth
was Governor Clifford Pinchot of
Pennsylvania. an irregular Repub-
lican, who is being urged by some
progressives to oppose President
Hoover for the Republican nomina-
ton next year
Break Through Restrictions
All four broke through the re-
strictions Of a non-controversial
agenda to talk about depression,
prohibition, power, wheat and other
national issues Of presidential size.
In the early presidential specula-
ton numerous senators usually
sprout booms, most of them meet
an early freeze. Senators are in
better position because Of unre-
stricted senate rules to make what
are in fact stump speeches on ma
tional issues.
The nature of the senate's work
throws a number of senators into
strategic roles with regard to ma
tional policies. Furthermore,
gallery of newspaper correspondents
is in constant attendance to give
national prominence to senatorial
activities.
Ranks Higher Than Governor
Then there is the modern con-
ception that a senator ranks higher
in the scale than a governor. All
governors want to be senators, but
no senator is seen going back to oe
governor of his state. When Sen
ator Norris (Rep., Neb), once talked
about quitting the senate to run for
Governor, it was a political sensa-
ton
With the growth Of the nation and
the Welding of the units in the fed
eral system, the view of the senate
as practically council Of ambassa-
doris of the sovereign states disap-
peared so that the governor, once
the more dominant figure, has been
assigned now to the second table.
Therefore unless a governor has a
striking and exceptionally forceful
personality, or is Governor of New
York, which makes him ex-off1cio a
presidential possibility, he has hard
going competing with a senator
standing on the gigantic national
sounding board at Washington,
Senators Fall Behind
Yet statistics show that after the
early booms run their course, SEN
ators for one reason or another, fall
behind. The chances favor the
governors. OF twenty-four men
nominated for the presidency by
major parties since the Civil war,
plus the candidacy Of the elder
Robert M. Lafollette of Wisconsin
in 1924, exactly half were governors
or former governors.
Five were senators, including La
Toilette, who became a national
figure first as Governor of Wiscon-
sin. Blaine, Benjamin Harrison and
Harding were senators before they
were nominated for President. Gar
field was elected to the senate, but
before he took his seat, he was
nominated for President and re-
signed