The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-13
Borah May Spurn
Republican Ticket
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER

VXTASHINGTON, May 13-It is an even bet, or
w possibly better that Senator Borah will refuse
to support the Republican presidential ticket this
year
Borah is bitter toward the Old Guard leaders in
Ohio, National Committeeman Walter F. Brown and
State Chairman Ed Schorr. He considers them
allies of Charles D. Filles and other old line inside
party leaders, whose domination Borah has been
fighting Borah also feels that Landon and his man
ager, John D. Hamilton, have been playing with the
Ohio Bosses This further increases his distaste for
what is likely to happen at Cleveland, and makes it
more probable than that he will refuse to sup
port Landon as the nominee.
The fact that Borah never has bolted the party
is cited to indicate that he will not bolt this time
On the contrary, he has been twtted so much about
that and Old Guard leaders have taken it so much
for granted that Borah would knucke down in the
end that the effect is to goad him into breaking over
this time and showing them.
Borah intends to go to the Cleveland convention
But he declined to be delegate That means he
will not sit the platform committee nor be able
to make fight on the convention floor
He now is fighting the Old Guard group The
probability is that he will fight his Cleveland battle
through the press, and wind up with sizzling de-
nuncation of the convention boss-controled
affair, run by the same old crowd that was repudi-
ated by the country in 1882. Borah would thereby
sound the keynote for the Democratic CAMPAIGN
which will devote its attention not so much to the
candidate, but to the familiar faces in the back
ground The Democratic strategy is to keep telling
the country that the old crowd, with a fresh
face out in 'front.' is trying to get back into power If
Landon Is the candidate, the tendency will be to
ignore him as much as possible and concentrate on
the Old Guard bosses.
There is still possibility that Landon can defeat
this strategy Landon leaders claim to have brought
their candidate to his present prominence not
through, but in spite of, the Old Guard Bosses
Landons defeat at the hands of the Eastern leaders
In the recent contest over the keynoter helps sun
port this contention
Yet all of the old line boys veterans at swinging
on the bandwagon, will try to appear prominent and
influential in the picture at Cleveland 1t is possible
that some incident may bring Landon into head on
collision with them and demonstrate to the country
that he not their baby That would spoil the pic
ture which Borah and the Democrats expect to draw
Republicans face difficulty in drafting their
monetary platform pankS because of the uncertainty
in France over devaluation of the franc. The new
French leftist government will be just getting its
bearings when the convention meets in June
Republicans want to repeal the Presidents power
to alter the gold content of the dollar freezing it
at the present value and to declare for gold bullion
standard But with European monetary affairs in
midar it would be risky for the Republicans to take
dogmatic position. The Administration insists that
the government must have a free hand until cur
rencies in Europe stabilized.
Republican National Chairman Fletcher intimates
that Republican mail has been tempered with Gov
Talmadge has a better story about mail tampering
Georgia cracker wrote letter addressed to THE
Lord" at Washington asking for 5000. The letter
went to the dead-letter Office. Employees took nm a
collection and sent him $l0G
Within few days another letter from him arrived
in the dead-etter Office, also addressed to The
Lord" 1t said: THANK you for answering nv
prayer. asked for 5000 but when the letter cot here
there was only $780, though. ought to warn Won
about New Dealers tampering with your mail"
One Southern utilities company so investigators
mere discovered, has rule that when any policy"
matters TO be discussed officials must not write or
telegraph but use long distance telephone personal
messenger, or go in person.