Evening star., 1936-04-10

Thanks to Wisconsin, Senator Borah's
big sombrero is still in the ring. His
supporters are immensely encouraged by
his capture of % of the "a Badger State
delegates. They look upon it as an
auSpicious start for his remaining con-
tests in or 10 other States. The Ida
hoan's supporters now pin their hopes
on what happens in Illinois April IA
primary, where he meets Col. Frank
Knox in head-on collision. BorahiteS
are not claiming they will defeat Knox,
who has the powerful backing of the
regular Republican State organization,
but they'll be grieveusly disappointed If
the Senator fails to bag at least a sub
stantial batch of his native States rep
resentation at Cleveland. The psyche
logical effect of even a limited victory
would be of unquestionable advantage
to Borah in other primaries. especially
nearby Ohio.
That Borah will enter the convention
with a first ballot strength of not less
than 100 votes, or little more, is now
described as a conservative estimate by
his Washington campaign headquarters.
The figure includes, as a nucleus, Wis
consin's %, Oregon's 10 and IdahoS 3,
with the rest coming from Nebraska,
Washington State, North and South
Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada,
Utah and New MeXico-all claimed as
Borah territory. In the East, despite a
recent defeat in New York, Borah pros
poets are said to be substantial IN many
districts of West Virginia, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania. There has been no
decision about filing on his behalf for
the Maryland primary. Senator Borah
will be at Cleveland in June, presiding
over his own convention headquarters.
but it's unlikely that as an avowed presi-
dental aspirant he will seek to be
delegate at large from his home State.
Should the Idahoan fail to make the
nomination grade himself, he counts on
having at least strength enough to In
f1uence the conventions choice Of both
candidate and platform. Then Borah
will 60 back to Boise City ana run lor
sixth term in the Senate.
Roy A. Roberts, managing editor OF
the Kansas City Star and reputed master
mind of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. move
ment, is visitor to Washington. Natu-
rally he rejoices to find the view WIDE
spread in the Capital, where he was once
on duty as a newspaper correspondent,
that the Governors cause is fourlshlng
to a degree that makes most political
observers hereabout think his nomina-
ton already a fairly sure thing. rms
belief is based on the indication that
everything west of the Mississippi, with
the exception of q tier of Northwestern
and Far Western States, seems to be
solid for Landon, with Eastern "unln-
structed" sentiment crystallizing Tor MIN
from hour to hour. Hitherto the Landon
boom has been almost wholly spon-
taneous proposition. Henceforth, espe-
cially along the Atlantic seaboard, there
will be organized effort on the Gov.
ernors- behalf under the direction OF
John Hamilton, formerly Of Republican
National Committee headquarters In
Washington, who is now making the
Landon boom a whole time job. Hamll-
ton is expected to be chosen to place
Landon in nomination at Cleveland.
With President RooSevelts return 70
Washington, the pre-convention cam
paign will cease to be the exclusively
Republican affair it has been In the re-
cent past and take on something more
of q Democratic hue. This will notably
be the case following F. D. RS Jeher-
son day speech at Baltimore next week.
New Dealers explain it's unnecessary for
the na6rneHt kA Vvaska AHef0Y or