Plentywood herald., 1936-04-16
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES
GROUPS NOW IN ACTION
HOOVER LEADS ATTACK
LANDON APPEARS AHEAD
BORAH, THE PUZZLE
KNOX AND THE TARIFF
WILL BORAH BOLT?
TWO COURT DECISIONS
AVERAGE 20 YEARS. 4 MONTHS
AVERAGE 20 YEARS, 4 MONTHS

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what the 1,00l delegates will do is the
main topic of speculation at the ma
tional capital. With presidential pre-
ferential primaries already under way
a bitter battle is being waged for con-
troll of the convention, the delegates
not being bound by the votes cast in
the primaries of some States.
Several groups, or factions, are in
volved, including ID the Borah back
ers, (2) the Hoover supporters ded-
icated to rallying the party behind de-
nunciation of the New Deal; and (3)
the so-called Old Guard, operating be-
hind the banners of various favorite
sons but really anxious for an unfet-
tered flock of delegates and an op-
portunity to repeat ancient tactics OF
the conference rooms.
The situation revolves mainly
around four men at this writing, al
though lesser stars walk the boards
of the drama as the curtain prepares
to ascend. Former President Herbert
Hoover, who delivered his seventh at
tack on the New Deal at Fort Wayne,
Ind, recently, is not now considered
possible choice of the delegates al
though, as the titular leader of the
party, he has made effective speeches
and delivered some advice to his fell
low Republicans.
Recently breaking his silence to
deny published reports that he was
backing Senator Vandenberg, of Mi
chigan, Mr.. Hoover, through his Sec
retary, declared he had encouraged no
particular candidate, being engaged
''solely in fighting the New Deal" He
advocated lambasting the administra-
ton policies, the framing of a "cour-
ageous and constructive program, the
nomination of the best qualified
man and the united effort of all Re-
publicans to win the election.
There are some Republicans who
would like to see Mr.. Hoover lead the
attack against Roosevelt next fall and
human nature being what it is, the
chances are that the former President
would welcome the opportunity. Ger
tainly, there is some logic in the idea
but, at the same time, many party
leaders candidly admit that the OBJ
stacles are too many. Besides, his re-
nomination would be certain to alien
ate some of the so-called liberal ell
ement, including Senator Borah, whose
help the nominee must have, if pos
sible.
Gov. Landon, of Kansas, is generally
considered to have the lead position at
this time, with delegates assured in
Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
He has not personally taken part in
any primary and neither approved nor
repudiated any delegate who chooses
to run under his name. Declining to
enter upon a campaign, the governor
holds that party unity and harmony
are paramount but his supporters may
push him forward in several tests. He
has gained support in the East where
his Kansas record is held up to admir-
alton, has the approval of Hearst and
his newspapers over the nation and
the backing of substantial Republic
ans, in the business and political sense
Senator Borah, actively campaign
ing for the favor of voters in num-
ber of States, is the enigma of the par
ty and probably the key to its pros
poets in the fall. Reasonably certain
of delegates from five or six Western
States the Idahoan, facing hostile con-
troll of party machinery, has surprised
everybody by waging a vigorous at
tack upon the "old leaders" of the
party. His idea, apparently, is to ac
quire rank -and-file mandate to make
convention fight to purge the party
of old-line bosses, star chamber man.
mutations and the adoption of lib
eral platform.
Col. Frank Knox, Chicago publisher,
has been pushing his candidacy in Il
linois, where he faces Borah chal-
Fenge at the polls next week. The
newspaper man has made aggressive
speeches but his prospects, sagging a
bit already, will be utterly demolished
unless he captures the delegates from
his own State The Colonel has been
making orthodox Republican address,
es but he worried the Old Guard bit
the other day when he suggested Sci
entific tariff reduction to gain the
largest possible foreign market for ag-
riculture" He has urged economy,
currency stabilization, States rights
and a civil service removed from pol
itics.
Three other names are in the run
ming" They are Senators all, Vanden-
berg of Michigan, Dickinson of Iowa
and Steiwer of Oregon, with most of
the talk being about the first two as
possible compromise candidates. Mr..
Vandenberg has resolutely insisted
that he is not a candidate but his rec
ord is in opposition to most of the New
Deal measures. The others have re-
Gently taken occasion to tear into the
Administrations centralized bureau
cracy" and planned economy" and
are in calling distance if there is a
deadlock at Cleveland.
Borah is the puzzle-shere is no
doubt of that in the minds of the Old
Guard, who are wondering whether
the Idaho senator will bolt if he is
thoroughly beaten at Cleveland. While
he has never bolted his party, his in
activity in 1912 and 1882 emphasized
the importance of his activity. Just
now he declines to pledge his support