Evening star., 1935-03-28
ThePOlitical Mill
BY C. Could Lincoln.

A Midwest Republican convention
In Kansas City Is the latest proposal
to save the G. o. p. While the mat
ter Is still somewhat nebulous, it is
supposed that this convention will
draft platform which will lift the
Republican party out Of the doldrums.
Gov. ALI M. Landon of Kansas, who
has been in Washington for several
Gays, started the talk about the Mid
west convention. Gov. Landon has
been mentioned as a presidential pos
sibfity for the Republicans next year.
He was one of the few Republicans
who won anything in the campaign Of
1884 and it has been generally pre-
dicted that he would have the sup
port of delegations from Missouri,
Kansas and several other nearby
States when the Republican National
Convention comes along However, 1t
is asserted by Gov. Landon and others
interested in this Midwest convention
Of Republicans that it is not the pur-
pose to put any candidates forward
for President. The purpose Is merely
to bring about a rebirth of the Re-
publican party with o return to the
principles of Lincoln.
+ Il X
William Allen White, veteran Kan
sas editor, has been credited in the
gossip about the coming Midwest Re-
publican convention with being a
prime mover In the plan. Indeed, it
was Mr.. Whites idea, it was said. And
furthermore, Mr.. White was to have
much to do with the drafting of the
platform. Mr.. White, with consider
able modesty. disclaims knowing any
thing about the proposed convention,
except what he has read In the news
papers. However. he sees possibilities
in the plan and insists that the Re
publican party must guarantee the
common man something specific in
the unmiStakable terms of a covenant" "
Denouncing the New Deal of the
Roosevelt Democrats is not enough,
in his opinion. Mr.. White wants the
Republican party to promise the peo-
pie economic security" He wants
the G. o. P. to enact laws to insure
the people against the uncertainties
Of i'll health, the poverty of old age
and the degradation of unemployment.
1t all sounds like the economic
security plans advanced by President
Roosevelt and the Democratic New
Dealers. Perhaps Mr.. White and the
Midwest Republicans will be able
to convince the people that their
panaceas are more efficacious, more
palatable than the Democratic rem
edies. Mr.. Whites plan for an iron
clad covenant with the people to do
certain definite possible things which
will relieve the pressure of want and
the fear Of approaching poverty" is
quite a chunk to bite off.
A lot is being said about the pro-
lection of the liberties of the people
along with social security. The kind
of social security that is run by
Government bureau has more to do
with political handouts than with
liberties. The enactment of proper
laws TO safeguard the people and
to make it possible for them to pro-
vide their social security is quite
another thing.
A*&
Last Summer the Republicans met
in Chicago for ''rebirth," "rejuvena-
ton" or whatever it is desired to call
it. That meeting was Of the elected
representatives of the G. o. P, the
Republican National Committee. The
meeting, of course, was Of representa-
tives of all parts of the country. The
East. represented by Charles D. Hilles
Of New York, John j. Roraback of
Connecticut and other stalwarts of
the party, took the Middle West for
ride at this meeting. There was
struggle between the Hilles- Roraback
faction and the faction headed by
Walter Brown of Ohio. Mark L. Requa
Of California and others who have
stood with former President Hoover.
The result was more or less of dog
fall. although the Hilles- Roraback
faction was unable to put across its
candidate for chairman. But the Mid
west and more progressive Republican
group was pinched between these two
factions. So the Midwest is going to
run a show of its own this coming
Summer. The East and the Pacific
Coast. apparently, need not apply. Up
to date there has been a chorus Of
polite approval of the Midwest con-
vention from Eastern Republicans
and from those of the Far West.
What comes out of the convention,
however. will be considered on its
merits later on. However, Republic
ans from any part of the country
naturally consider that Republican
gathering in Kansas City would stir
national interest in the Republican
party, and that is desirable.
While the Republicans are stewing
away about rebirth Of the G. o. p,
the Democrats seem in fair way to
develop an issue which may be of value
to the Republicans. 1t has to do with
money. billions of dollars which the
American people must pay, one way
or another. At present the Govern
ment is handing this money out for
all kinds of projects and for relief.
The Democratic administration has
just put through a $4,000, 900 600 ap-
preparation bill-it is still in the con-
ference stage, to be sure, but there
seems no doubt about the sum of
money which will be appropriated.
There Is no indication whatever that
the administration is going to bring
an end to the spending orgy. Rather,
things point to more and more ap-
propriations, all of which must come
out of the peoples pockets in the
shape Of excise or special sales taxes
and in income taxes. There Is to be
another demand for more money
when the social security legislation
is put through. That is going to cost
much more than appears on the sur
face. Maybe the Republicans will be
wise enough to take advantage of this
issue of money spending when 1t
gathers force.
Democrats are nursing along the
idea that progressive Republicans