Evening star., 1935-12-18

Cleveland won the Republican Ma
tional Convention mainly because Ohio
has no candidate for the presidential
nomination. 1t is in the cards that Rep
resentative Chester c. Bolton, who halls
from LyndhurSt, Cleveland suburb, and
who is chairman Of the Republican Con-
greSsional Campaign Committee, may be
rendered complimentary vote on bal
lot or two, but the Buckeye delegation for
all practical purposes will be heartwhole
and fancy free, unless pledged to some
contender who emergeS triumphant from
the preferential primary in May. The
Cleveland boosters who captured the
convention made effective capital of the
fact that the Lake Erie metropolis and
a number of other Ohio cities returned
to RepublicaniSm last month, indicating
that the prospect of winning the pivotal
State next year is altogether promising.
Republican leaders now believe it well
within their power to overcome the
$4,000 majority by which Roosevelt took
Ohio in 1882. Clevelanders also used as
a talking point the fact that seven Presi-
dents were natives of Ohio, and that
every candidate for the Office since the
Civil War who has carried the State has
been elected.
It was not only the circumstance that
a leading presidential aspirant-KnoX-
halls from Illinois that ruined Chicago's
chances of getting the Republican con-
vention. Memories of what happened
at the 1882 Democratic conclave un-
doubtedly played a certain role in the
committees decision. The galleries on
that occasion were filled with vociferous
ChicagoanS of wet proclivitieS and super
friendly sentiments toward Al Smith.
They indulged frequently in demonstra-
tions that were controlled with difficulty.
One of the noisieSt outbreaks occurred
when McAdoo started in to reveal the
California Texas deal that led to break
ing the deadlock and the ensuing NOM
ination of Roosevelt and Garner. At one
time bedlam reigned on a scale that re-
quired Mayor Tony Cermak to take the
platform and remind his ebullient fellow
townSmen that as Chicago was host to
the convention it was up to the galleries
to mend their ways. Republican COM
mitteemen and women evidently had no
desire for a possible repetition of the
Democrats Windy City experience.
n
kansas City lost out Tor more or less
the same reason that led to Chicago'S
defeat. The big Southwestern town is
so close to Kansas that the National Com
mittee didn't want to run the risk of a
convention hall packed inside and out
side with Landon enthusiasts. A sub
surface factor that operated against the
choice of Kansas City was the fear
that Midwest corn, hog and wheat farm
erS might stage triple-A march and
embarraSs the elephants disciples in the
midst of their quest for q platform de-
signed to lure agriculture from its al
legiance to the New Deal. There was
farm demonstration at 1928 convention
time in Kansas City.
X X
Amid firm-rooted optimism that VIC
tory beckonS, National Committee man
ayers contrived in spirit of party har-
mony to keep rival presidential candi-
dacies out of public discussion. But the
outstanding names were everybodys
whispers. Preferences and prejudiceS
varied widely, but the enthusiastic con-
sensus was that Roosevelt will be beaten
no matter whom the G. o. P. puts up.
A roundup Of committee sentiment de-
veloped random comments like these:
Borah, weak in the essential East be-
cause of his financial and prohibition
views; Hoover, handicapped by the stigma
of depression; Landon, burdened by q
dry record; Knox, conservative and
YandenherS.- -tarred ny sup