The Washington times., 1936-11-04
LAND0N BACK
ON JOB AS
GOVERNOR
BY KENNETH T. DOWNS

aside his bitter dis
at being defeated for
President Of the United States.
Governor Alfred M. Landon today
plunged back into his duties as
chief executive of Kansas.
Wearing q cheerful smile, the
Governor was on the job bright
and early, reporting at the State
house before 8 a. m.
He only took time out enough to
discuss a possible duck-hunting
trip with his trusted friend and
William Mayberry. He
smiled:
II guess we can take time to
talk duck hunting without hav-
ing q guilty conscience from
now on, can't WEI"
A basket Of some 200 kilograms
from all parts Of the country
awaited the Governor. That was
all there was in view to remind
him of the fact he was hopeful
candidate for President "a hours
ago.
Offices Deserted
The Governor might have eE.
joyed a secret, sardonic laugh at
the fact his offices were COM
pletely deserted, except for his en-
ployes and a couple Of early rising
There was not a single cigar
gnawing politician in sight. None
of the faces which have beamed
so hopefully, and expectantly. in
the anterooms Of the executive
chamber for the last few months
was to be seen. 1t was as though
they had all been caught in some
strange and devastating frost last
night.
After whisking through the mass
of kilograms, allowing himself a
wry smile at some Of them, the
tousle- haired governor plung d
into matters having to do with
the State board of administration
and examining some petitions for
parole.
At least during the early hours,
today was just another WedneS-
day so far as the governor Of
Kansas was concerned. There was
work to be done and he was get
ting at it.
The governor was really stunned
and deeply disappointed in his
defeat. The loss of his own State
hurt particularly, and astounded
him more than anything else in
this amazing election.
But he was a philosophical and
gracious loser.
So sincerely convinced was he
that he was going to be elected
that it was not until early his
morning that he conceded defeat,
hours after his StauncheSt sup.
porterS had formally acknowl
edged President RooSevelt's reelec-
ton.
Early RumblingS Ignored
Governor Landon heard the
first faint rumblings of the ava.
lanche to come yesterday after
noon aboard his "Sunflower Spe-
cial" train, as he was speeding
back to Topeka from his home
town, Independence, where he
and his family had voted.
Before the train had slid into
Topeka disquieting reports were
suffering over the trains radios
to the effect that President RooSe.
welt was leading in the early re-
turns from scattered Kansas pre-
cinctS.
The Governor and his advisers
were aStonished and a feeling Of
restlessneSs could be felt quite
plainly. Yet there was no dispo-
Sition to take these reports too
seriously at that time.
When the train arrived in To-
peka, early extras were on the
streets showing President RooSe-
welt leading generally throughout
the nation in the Scanty returns
then available. Still no one
worried over-much.
Friends Double Bets
The Governor and his family
drove straight to the executive
One or two members of
the party doubled their bets in
Topeka hotels in the face Of the
news at that time.
BY 1880 p. m, the Roosevelt
landslide was on in earnest. Gov.
ernor Landon, serene as usual,
and the members of his family,
to be the only calm per.
sons on the premises. The Gov
ernor retired to his room for a
nap and left orders that he did not
wish to be disturbed. BY 8 p. M
when the Governor arose and sent
out an invitation to the CORE
SpondentS, cameramen and sound
men to come into the mansion
for a buffet supper, the handwrit-
ing on the wall was all too evil
dent.
Governor Landon gave no evil
dence of knowing he was de-
feated, however. He was as gra-
cious and casual as he would be
at any informal gathering.
Approaching one group of
hard-boiled photographers who
were strangely silent and embar-
raised. he chuckled and said:
what are you fellows hang.
ing around here for with home
made dOughnuts and sand
wiches out there in the dining
room? Get out there"
He chided a couple of politi.
cal writer's, fast friends of his,