Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-10
The Political Mill
By G.. Could Lincoln.

promise OF making political history.
For the first time since President
Roosevelt took office, the Republican
opposition is undertaking at this
meeting TO direct its attacks against
the head Of the Democratic party and
of the New Deal personally. Also
these Republicans plan TO force the
President to take up the issue first
suggested by himself recently-the
issue of extending the power Of the
Federal Government. They are max
ing that issue paramount. Further
more, they are insisting that the
President and his New Dealers are
intent upon a constitutional amend
ment to grant the Federal Govern
ment this greater power. They are
trying to force the President into an
open declaration for q constitutional
amendment Barring that, they hope
TO make him declare himself against
such an amendment.
All the talk among the delegates to
the conference is to the effect that
the President made a serious mistake
when he declared himself in favor of
greater powers for the Federal Gov
eminent and implied. although he
made no definite statement, that a
constitutional amendment would be
necessary. If they are correct, the
Midwest is antagonistic to such a
plan. They are willing to 60 10 the
bat on this issue.
This grass roots" conference of
Republicans is made up of men and
women from a vast stretch of Amer
lean territory They have come from
as far north as Minnesota and Wis
conSin, from as far south as Okla
hOma, from as far west as the plains
OF Kansas and Nebraska and from as
far east as Indiana. They have come
to play their part in the revival of
the G. o. P. enthusiastically. They
have come seeking a declaration of
principles. Many of them declare
that they must have new leaders, al
/ though everything possible has been
done to prevent the meeting from be-
ing turned into a boom for any of the
various presidential possibilities ="
None of the expected candidates for
! the Republican presidential nominal
I ton is present.
The conference. however, has
aroused great interest in Republican
circles throughout the country. That
interest is evidenced by the fact that
members of the National Committee
from many OF the States not included
in the conference are present. They
have come from Idaho, Ohio, Penn
! sylvania, Texas and many of the other
States. Invitations were sent out to
/ the members of the National Commit
tee TO be present. There was one eX-
ceptiOn, Chairman Henry P. Fletcher.
Harrison E. Spangler in charge of the
arrangements, while admitting this TO
be the case. declined 10 explain. The
general opinion was expressed that
this was intended not in any way as a
slight to the national chairman, but
10 keep the conference as clearly a
regional matter as possible. Midwest
ern affair and exclusive OF any Sug-
gestion of Eastern influence. Mr..
Fletchers presence it is said, would be
calculated to make it appear that it
was a national conference. Also ne
halls from Pennsylvania, an Eastern
State.
The determination of the confer
ence TO place on President Roosevelt
himself responsibility for the New Deal
and its measures was voiced by Spang-
Ter at a press conference, when he
/ said:
not o11-aNr fro
/ any artificial note in its speeches or
! resolutions. We intend TO pin down
to the responsible head the blame
where it belongs instead OF some I'M
derSeeretary.
One of the most prominent Repuo-
/ licans from Kansas attending the con-
/ ference insists that the next Repuo-
! lcan nominee for President must come
from the Midwest. According to him,
. the three most likely looking presiden-
| tial possibilities are ALI M. Landon
! of the Sunf1ower State, Senator Arthur
Vandenberg of Michigan and Col
Frank Knox, publisher of the Chicago
Daily News Iandon. he insists. would
make a strong candidate. He has
been a good Governor. He has no
"entanglements" with the Old Guard.
Nor has he been in q position where ne
felt compelled to vote for any of the
/ New Deal measures. as did some OF
the other Republicans OF the Senate
and House Landon was secretary 10
Henry Allen when the latter was Gov
ernor of Kansas. He has made money
in the oil business. His principal
drawback. it is admitted, is that he is
no orator and not even good pubic
speaker.
/ There are reports that the Knox
: candidacy is making Roadway. The
! Chicago publisher has considerable
sunnort in the East, it is said. and his
friends are quietly lining up key men
and prospective delegates to the next
national convention in a number OIL
States However, he may have ngnt
on his hands to control the entire ILL
nois delegation at the convention
Esera R. Whitla, Republican ma
tional committeeman for Idaho, mere
! as a guest of the conference, sees IN
Senator William E. Borah the loeai
Republican nominee against president
Roosevelt next year. The Senator can
have the Idaho delegation without
turning his hand. according to Mr..
Whitla, and he will have it unless ne
expressly says NO.
Mrs. Katherine K. Brown, Repup-
ljcan national committeewoman 1or
Ohio. saws that the G. o. P. is oecom-
ing more and more active in her state
she is firm in the conviction that II
will be possible to carry the Buckeye
state for the next Republican nominee
for President.
Former Senator Charles Deneen Is
here as the chairman of the ILLINOIS
delegation. Illinois. which a few
wears ago was one Of the banner
Republican States. has fallen into
the hands of the Democrats almost
completely. The Republicans have
real lob in this State. One of their
chief difficulties is the plethora OF
! 1870, fo,t;ops and a Querilla warfare