The Washington times., 1936-02-13
FREE-F0R-ALL
LOOMING IN
ILLINOIS
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON


International News Service
Prospects Of . free-for-all Re
publican "dog-fight" in the nli-
nois presidential preferential pri-
maries loomed today. Rumors
reached Capitol Hill that Gov.
Alfred M. Landon Of Kansas
planned to enter the battle
against both Col. Frank Knox.
the "favorite son." and Senator
william e. Borah, native son,
who moved to Idaho, for the
States 81 delegates.
II Governor Landon does pre-
sent his name, it will give the
nation an opportunity to Judge
the respective strength Of the
three outstanding candidates for
the Republican nomination. It
also win insure q red-hot cam
paign for the April IA primary.
Political observers here, fami-
liar with the Illinois situation, ex-
pressed belief Colonel Knox would
be favored over Senator Borah in
q direct contest between them.
This belief was based upon the
action of virtually every Repub-
lican ward leader in Chicago and
Of the Republican State Commit
tee in having endorsed his favor
ite son" candidacy.
With Governor Landon entering
into a three-way contest, observ-
erS were divided in their predic-
tions of the outcome. Some be-
lieved Colonel Knox would be an
easier winner in such q contest,
while others declared Senator
Borah would win, with Colonel
Knox and Governor Landon divi-
ding the more conservative vote Of
the Republican Party.
It was pointed out that with
Governor Landon in the race, q
decisive victory for any one Of the
three would be tantamount to NOM
ination. Observers held that If
Governor Landon or Senator
Borah carried the state by q real
majority, his nomination could
not be stopped. On the other
hand, If Colonel Knox-even as q
favorite son-won decisively over
his two leading competitors, his
nomination would seem assured.
With Senator Borah publicly
announcing he would be a candi-
date against Knox in the Illinois
primary, that States delegation
In Congress adopted q strictly
neutral position. Even the Demo
Gratis were reluctant to discuss
the outcome.
Representative Chauncey W.
Reed (RO Of Wet Chicago, in
dorsed both Colonel Knox and
Senator Borah but gave the
ledge" to Colonel Knox'S pros
poets for victory. He said:
'sIt looks like Knox has the
edge. He Is the Rav0rite SON
candidate, even though BOrah
was born in Illinois. Also, he
has been indOrSed by many
ward leaders and by the State
central committee. He has been
campaigning for months and
getting full publicity through.
out the State.
"On the other hand, BOrah
Is very well thought of in Illi-
nOis. 1t will prove a very inter-
esting campaign. The outcome
is hard to predict. / think
either man can carry Illinois
over President Roosevelt next
November. Both are good men
and personally, I'd like to vote
for both Of them"
Another Republican Represen-
tative declining to be quoted pub
icly, said Landon sentiment was
strong in the southern rural sec
tions of the State. He predicted
Governor Landon would run
ahead of both Senator Borah and
Colonel Knox in the southern
farm areas.
A Democrat, who also asked
that his name be withheld, said
'Tt's a Republican family
quarrel and with LandOn in it,
there will be a merry battle. 1
don't believe BOrah win figure
very heavily and while LandOn
has his strength in the south,
I believe the Republican Organi-
zation will stand by Knox, its
favOrite son."