The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-11-21
Hopkins Faux Pas


jected by Harry l.. Hopkins faux pas
In attacking Gov. Alfred M. Landon
Of Kansas, the resentment that the
never put up thin dime accusation
aroused, and the prompt necessity for
q backdoWn are. In the order named.
James A. Farley and Governor Lam
don.
Farley's chagrin is natural enough.
One OF the cleverest organizers and
politicians of our time, he naturally
hates to see his shrewdly planned
campaign messed up by bungling, even
II he himself is not responsible.
15andon's disappointment Is far more
subtle. but just as sound politically
1t can be explained In four words: It
came too soon.
The point is that Landon knows
perfectly well he Is getting out In
front far too quickly. He has been
publicly advertised as the probable
nominee In too many quarters. For
instance, by William Randolph Hearst.
who has been giving the Kansas Coo
llge plenty Of publicity both in his
newspapers and magazines. Then 1t
was allowed to leak out that President
Roosevelt told several friends on his
way across the country to San Diego
that he figured 1t would be Landon
who would oppose him In 1886.
Which, incidentally, Is the answer
to the venom and force with which
Hopkins struck.
Landon Is a comparatively young
man. but he has seen enough OF pol
tiles to know that the old tradition
about candidates getting too far out
In front too soon Is not just an old
wives tale. Most of the time 1t works
A Bit of History
For example, 1920, When the Re-
publican national committee met In
Washington In December, just six
months before the convention, 1t APP
peared that Leonard Wood was vir-
tually nominated. A glance back at
the newspaper files of that month will
show TINT virtually every reporter In
Washington writing for out-of town
papers, and regardless OF the slants
OF his own paper. was impressed by
the Wood strength. In fact, II the
convention had been convened the day
the national committee adjourned,
Wood would have been nominated on
the first ballot.
All the other candidates "ganged"
him. He made some bad mistakes, and
when the convention met all but
few enthusiasts knew he had no
chance.
-Four years later William q. McAioo
was out In front for the Democratic
Alfred r. Smith was a
close rnnner-up. Both were wrecked
by an Issue which neither had any
thing to do with starting. 1t was
aimed at McAdoo, but 1t prevented
the nomination of either.
The nominations Of Smith, In 1923,
and Roosevelt, In 1882. seem excep-
lions to the rule. but they prove MOTH
Ing. For Smith was given nomlna-
ton known In advance to be absolute
ly hopeless. and 1t was given to heal
the religious breach made In 1924.
Roosevelt got head start very large
ly because the South and the Bible
Belt were scared to death that Smith
would take the nomination again.
There are many who think that II
Smith had taken himself out OF the
race. even at the converting Of the con-
Roosevelt would never have
been named.
Landon was sitting very nicely, in
Iced. up to the Hopkins blast, with
Herbert Hoover and Senator William
=. Rorah virtually shooting at each
,ther. Col. Franklin Knox harrying the
and Landon just get
ing lot OF good publicity. But the
Effect of the Hopkins boomerang may
,aslly be to center the fire Of friends |
# Hoover. ReFah- Knox. to men
ion only three, on the Kansas guyer-
iorl
Copyright. w MI ssryio~.