Evening star., 1936-05-15
In this connection, a newspaper dis
patch from Cleveland quotes friends
of Senator Borah as having said:

In this connection, a newspaper dls-
patch from Cleveland quotes friends
of Senator Borah as having said:
'As a compromise candidate. rea-
sonably acceptable to the conservative
and liberal thought in the party. Sen
ator Arthur H. Vandenberg of Mich
igan probably would command the
support of Senator Borah. Senator
Borah feels, it was said. that Senator
Vandenberg might be able to pull the
party through"
II Senator Borah should be for
Senator Vandenberg. If he should
push the Michigan Senator aggres-
sively and with Determination, such an
attitude on Mr. Boraf's part might
have considerable importance.
Attitude on Landon.
II Senator Borah comes to point
where he wishes aggressively to throw
all his strength into nominating Sen
ator Vandenberg, he would begin. pre-
sumably, by opposing other candidates
who are now farther ahead in the
race than Senator Vandenberg is.
The real question is what Senator
Borah would do about Gov. Landon.
Gov. Landon is now far ahead in the
race. Indeed. Gov. Landon Is very
close. psychologically. to the nominal
ton. Consequently, Senator Borah
could not give thought to bringing
about nomination Of Senator Vanden-
berg without first eliminating Gov
Landon. About Mr.. Borah's feeling
with regard to Gov Landon the dis
patch from Cleveland says:
Those who talked to Senator
Borah while he was here gathered
that he felt Gov. ALI M. Landon of
Kansas had lost much of the appeal
he once had for labor, the farmer and
for liberals in both parties. This loss
of prestige Senator Borah's confldants
attributed to Gov. Landon's associa-
ton with the Hearst-Merriam forces
in California and with regular organi-
zation leaders In some Of the Eastern
States"
The question is how the delegates
to the Republican National Conven-
ton would react to fortnight opposi-
ton against Gov. Landon by Senator
Borah. Conceivably the delegates
might decide it would be unwise to
nominate a candidate having the out
right opposition of Senator Borah and
his following. They might conclude
that Senator Vandenberg is as salts
factory as Gov. Landon and has the
advantage of being free from the liza
bility of Senator Borah's disapproval.
Landon Has Opposition.
1t would be comparatively easy for
the convention, if it should see fit, to
turn from Gov. Landon to Senator
Vandenberg. There are weighty
forces in the convention who are not
yet satisfied Of the wisdom Of nom
mating Gov Landon. His strength
does not rest on the number of del
egates bindingly instructed to support
him. OF these he has less than 200 in
a total of 1901. His leadership in the
race rests on psychological factors,
prestige, including the familiar band
wagon disposition of delegates to sup
port whoever is strongly in the lead.
These factors which give Gov. Landon
his leadership could change in the
interval between now and the con-
vention.
In any event, the Republican Con-
vention can hardly afford wantonly to
ignore Senator Borah. He is impor-
tant in himself, and because of his
following. He represents a sector of
American thought important for the
Republicans to hold. Besides, the Re-
publicans will need Senator Borah in
the campaign. The issues will almost
certainly include the Constitution and
the courts. For expounding that issue,
Senator Borah literally has no equal.
The difference, in the campaign, be-
tween a Republican candidate with
Senator Borah making energetic
speeches in his behalf, and a Repub-
lican candidate toward whom Senator
Borah is apathetic, could mean the
difference between victory and defeat.
tCopyrisht. 1850