The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-06-04
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By Carter Field y
By Carter Field !

Washington.--Two groups OF Repub-
lican leaders wish James A. Farley
would keep right on hitting Gov. ALI
Nj. Landon Of Kansas. The harder the
better. Especially In the period be-
tween now and the converting of the
Republican convention at Cleveland.
One OF these Is the Old Guard die
hard contingent-the boys who want
to stop Landon. They hope Farley,
and for that matter the vitriol-penned
Charles Nicholson, will keep up bar
rage against the Kansas Coolidge.
The other group Is composed OF men
who believe Landon Is going to be nom-
mated, and who. while not particular
ly enthusiastic at the moment, intend
to support him with all their strength.
Their motive is to draw all the fire
possible now, rather than have the
Democratic smearlng machine move
into action only after the convention
In short they would like to know now
just what sort OF ammunition the Dem
ocrats intend to use against Landon.
Moreover, they operate on theory
frequently stated In connection with
the famous Alfred r. Smith speech be-
fore the Liberty league. Many Demo
Gratis as well as Republicans believe
that had this speech been delivered
next October. instead OF last winter, 1t
would have had tremendous effect.
Thus they would like all the charges
against Landon that can possibly be
brought put before the public now, In
stead Of later In the campaign.
The political sagacity OF this hope
Is SO generally recognized that most
politicians and observers here were
very much surprised that Farley should
have referred, even so Indirectly. to
Landon. They are particularly sur
pissed that Nicholson. who writes all
Farley's speeches. should have used
the expression governor OF typical
prairie state
Implied Sheer
This surprise is not because there
Is any logic In the theory that 1t might
irrItate citizens OF other prairie states.
There Is not much logic In politics,
anyhow. But there Is an implied sneer
In the words, which, coming from 4
New Yorker. might easily irritate two
men In this precinct and three women
In that all through the Middle West
might plant seed now which would
turn few voters In close states
against the New Deal, even though by
election day these same voters might
not have a conscious memory Of what
1t was that started them turning
against Roosevelt.
1t was, naturally, unprecedented. 1t
Is the sort OF phrase that creeps into
well-rounded sentence where the writ
er or speaker Is thinking OF the main
point, and does not realize that a sub
conscious thought on something en-
tIrely different has come to the surface.
But there 1t Is, and how can 1t be re-
tracted?
Meanwhile, most Democrats and Re-
publlcans alike In Washington agree
that Farley Is perfectly right In assum
Ing that Landon Is the man Franklin
u. Roosevelt VIII face One of the
prime movers In the undercover Frank
@. Lowden movement admitted with
some disgust 10 the writer that he did
not see how Landon could be stopped
He was particularly disguised with the
covered wagon" picture publicity,
but added. MAN alive, how the folks
eat 1t upi"
In the senate cloakrooms the old
timers still think Landon will not be
nominated. They think the Old Guard
will stop him, and their best bet Is Sem
ator Arthur H. Vandenberg. But 1t
would seem that they are overestima-
ting the Old Guard strength
Food and Drug Act
Mrs. Franklin d. Roosevelt is gener-
ally regarded by friends and foes alike
as go-getter. but she has not been
able, so far, to make much of dent
- In the Impasse which blocks passage of
the food and drug act. In which both
she and the President are very much
interested personally. though the Pres
ident does not regard II as a political
must" for this session.
1t may be that somewhere In Wash
ington can be found two people who
know something about the pending food
and drug legislation who agree as to
the merits Of Its provisions, and on what
Is going to happen, but 1t Is difficult to
locate them. Most OF those interested
are willing TO talk only In whispers
when they speak AT all on this deli
cate subject.
In the face of more spectacular
things, most news writer's have vir-
tualy ignored the subject Yet here Is
bill of enormous Importance to every
man, woman and child In America.
This Is not an attempt to say the
measure should be passed 1t Is very
difficult to determine that. For one
thing. those who think 1t Is going to
pass have no idea In what form II will
be when finally enacted.
Mrs. Roosevelt for instance. Ia
Enaxun n thtpk that the Hill ia vprv