The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-11-03
FAMILY GOES
WITH HIM
TO POLLS
American Hero Tale
Fiqure Casts His Vote
At Defeat Scene
BY KENNETH T. DOWNS

INDEPENDENCE, KanS., Oct. 3.
0N.SO .-Governo Alfred M. Lam
don cast his vote for President at
$40 a. M, today.
An hour later, in brief radio
broadcast to the nation, he urged
every other American citizen to
exercise his right to franchise be
fore the polls closed tonight. He
said:
"The ballot box stands like a
block house in the path that
leads to the destruction of the
republic.
ANY citizen who doesn't vote
neglects and evades the response
bilities of citizenship"
Hero of a typical American true
story of success, Governor Lam
don voted for himself for President
of the United States in the same
place where, a novice at politics,
he was defeated for local precinct
committeeman seven years ago.
NO OIlS COulu IAdNC SuSOSNA 4ANAAA
his manner that he was a candl-
date for the highest elective Of
flee within the gift of mankind.
today, however. He was as unaS-
Stunning and cheerful as any other
plain citizen filing into the voting
booths.
With the Governor were Mrs.
Landon, Peggy Ann Landon. his
daughter, and John M. Landon'
his father.
They were given an enthusiastic
ovation by the hundreds OF persons
who had gathered around the
frost-covered station to welcome
the towns most distinguished resi-
dent.
Shouts Hello ALT"
There were shouts of Hello
ALI" all over the place.
And ne answered:
"I'm glad to be here.
81 can call many of you by
your first names and you call
me by NINE"
A 19-gun salute was fired by
Mayor Mitchell's reception COM
mittee. The Mid Continent and
High School Band played "Oh
Susannah."
The Governor and his family
were placed at the head of long
parade of autos which circled
around the town, past groups Of
yelling spectators, and past the
high school where he was cheered
wildly by the students.
LandOn Casts Vote
A dense crowd was packed
around the Dick Arnold autcmo-
bile agency, waiting for the gov
ernor to vote. A salesroom OF
the agency, located only two
blocks from the white frame
house which has been the Landon
home for 80 years, was the gov
ernor's polling place today.
The Landons obtained their
ballots from Mrs. G. A. Jenkins,
clerk, and she noted them as
being the fiftieth, fifty-first and
filty-second voters of the morn
ing.
News reel cameras ground and
Sill photographers flashlights
popped for several minutes be-
fore the governor stepped into a
canvas draped voting booth. Mrs.
Landon and his father took ad-
Joining booths and the crowd
stared at their feet, sticking out
beneath the canvas, for the five
minutes it took them to mark
their ballots.
Calm in Last Talk
Governor Landon's last talk to
the electorate plainly reflected his
calm state of mind, his equanin-
ity, which has amazed veteran
political reporters who have seen
other candidates in these great
elections in States bordering on
hysteria on the eve before the
voters mark their verdict.
It was a simple and dignified
message, without any trace of per
sonal animus, in which he asked
his fellow citizens to "go to the
polls resolved to maintain the
eternal principles that have made
us great-love of liberty, a pas.
sion for justice, and the habit Of
tolerance"
Mayor Ralph Mitchell an
nounced that he already has on
hand a silk hat for Governor Ian
don for his Inauguration as Presi-
dent. The mayor previously mas
given the Governor all his cam
paign hats.
After voting, the Governor and
his family went to the Booth
Hotel. An early luncheon has
been arranged for them by the
Landon Business Women's League
and other Landon workers.
MeCh0n0- Pen Club