Evening star., 1936-04-17
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Senator Borah may not be much nearer
the Republican presidential nomination
than he was before the Wisconsin or
Illinois primaries, but his impressively
demonstrated vote-getting power in both
states betokens that the Idahoan has a
personal following that Republican lead
erS cannot afford to ignore. It fore
shadows that the Senate veteran will be
able to throw certain amount of forked
lightning through the national conyen-
ton. His views as to both nominee and
platform will be houted at the risk of
those who affect to regard Borah's pref
erences and prejudiceS as unworthy of
consideration. Borah has now revealed
strength in MidweStern regions indis-
pensable to Republican success. If he
emerges from Cleveland resentful or re-
bellious and carries his grievance into
the campaign, he and his cohorts can
prove real thorn in the elephants hide.
Should Borah in Ohio next month roll I'D
vote comparable to that given him in
Wisconsin and Illinois-no matter how
slender the total of his pledged dele
gates-hes going to be a factor to be
reckoned with in November, II not in
June.
Col. Knox assured his remaining in the
G. o. p. race by topping the primary
poll in Illinois. Had he failed to do so,
the Chicago publisher would almost
automatically have faded from the pic
ture. According to his old New Hamp-
shire comrade, former Senator Moses,
Knox now has some 100 delegates COM
mitted to his candidacy, and prophecies
in other friendly quarters are that he
will marshal an initial strength Of 200.
That's still far behind the anticipated
first-ballot momentum of Gov. Landon,
estimated at anywhere from $50 to 400,
but it would establish Knox as a for
midable contender and, some dopesters
think assure him second place on Lam
don ticket, If he wants it. Should the
miracle of an alliance of Borah-Hoover
forces come to pass In the course of
'stop-Landon" movement, 1t might con-
ceivably influence enough votes for Col.
Knox to make him danger to the Kan
san. All to be said at the moment Is
that such a development is highly un-
likely. 1t still looks like Landon-or
Vandenberg.
New Dealers are elated over the bumper
crop of votes harvested by President
Roosevelt in the Wisconsin and Illinois
primaries. In the Badger State F. D. r.
bagged about twice as many votes as
were cast in the Republican primary. In
Chicago and Cook County Roosevelt re-
ceived almost more than twice the Borah-
Knox vote. Even in overwhelmingly Re-
publican downstate the President did
not run far behind the two Republican
rivals put together. With anti-Roose-
veltians urgently requiring to capture
the West, If they're to win this year, the
Presidents demonstrated popularity in
Wisconsin and Illinois is not designed
to hearten the enemy camp. Demo-
cratic leaders are reconciled to the
smashing of the powerful Kelly-Nash
organization in the Illinois gubernatorial
contest by the fact that Gov. Horner's
defeat for denomination might have
driven tens Of thousands of his friends
into the opposition fold in November.
The Governor has been consistent New
Deal supporter.
Col. William G. Harllee, United States
Marine Corps, retired, is in Washington,
acquainting friends with his plans to
make q whirlwind campaign to defeat
Senator James F. Byrnes of South Caro-
lima for denomination in the August pri-
mary. Harllee, outspoken critic of the
New Deal, takes his stand on "the shat
tered remnants of the 1892 Democratic
platform" A native of Florida, Col.
Harllee spent IS years in the Marine
Corps. Senator Byrnes' recognized prom
inence as White House spokesman In
Congress gives special point to Hairless