Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1936-06-04

cred. They talked
ABOUT the forthcoming Republican Ma
tlonal convention and they mentioned
Governor Landon Of Kansas; Col.
Frank Knox of Illinois, Sen. Arthur
Vandenberg of Michigan, and others,
out never was the name of Lowden
mentioned.
In the short space of a fortnight,
there has come first whisper Of the
name of Lowden, then a mention of
him as a possible Republican nominee
and finally full voice that approx
mates a draft Lowden" movement.
A few weeks ago l reported to you
In these columns that the prospects
were very good for the Republican Ma
tional convention to turn to a dark
horse. There was no name at that
time upon which anyone could pin a
prediction but there were circum-
stances, undercurrent in character,
that seemed to point the way to the
nomination of man not then in the
forefront of political representations.
OF course, with the Republican con-
vention delegates pledged and I'M
pledged here, there, and everywhere,
1t Is possible for almost anything to
happen but my information is that the
leaders desire, most of all to avoid a
bitter battle. They wish to avoid the
very thing which New Deal political
strategists have been seeking to TO-
ment. Only the final ballot will tell the
story, Of course, but it does appear at
this time that the Republican leader
ship may display some good horse
sense and seek to accomplish nomi-
nation without splitting their party
wide open.
This draft Lowden" movement has
come on with almost startling sudden
ness as have indicated above. 1t has
resulted from the fact, apparently, that
Mr.. Lowden, while he was governor
of Illinois number Of years ago and
since that time, has built up for him.
self a record as u friend Of agricul-
ture. Thus, the strategy would seem
to be that the Republican leadership
Is turning to man who can give Pres
ident Roosevelt run for his money in
the farm belt states.
AS far as 1 know, Mr.. Lowden has
not been consulted respecting the NOM
>ination. 1t would seem, however, that
II he were nominated he would accept
despite the fact that he has not sought
the nomination In any way nor has he
been very active in politics since he
hn 60
dency in 1920. 1t was on that occa-
sion, it will be remembered, that he
and the late General Leonard Wood
fought through into convention dead
lock and Warren G. Harding Of Ohio
finally was nominated as a compro-
mise candidate.
1t is difficult to see how the con-
servative element In the Republican
party could refuse to back Mr.. Low
den and 1t is equally difficult to see
how the farm representation and the
liberals in the party could withhold
their support when the Lowden farm
record is considered. But all of this
represents subject matter that must
await convention action because, after
all, there are still other candidates
who have blocks Of delegates behind
them and they may be unwilling to
withdraw unless they are satisfied with
the dark horse that finally trots out
onto the convention platform.
One hears more and more discussion
In Washington these days Of the tax
middle in which
l0x President Roosevelt
MIDDLE has found himself. I
think 1t Is fair to
say that his prestige has suffered con-
siderably from the way his proposed
tax increase was handled and I think
1t is the general consensus that this
years tax bill was a proposition to
which the President gave too little
thought.
Sometime in the future, the history
of the New Deal will be written in a
clear and comprehensive manner. The
story then will show in retrospect that
which we can hardly understand now
the good and the bad in the bewil-
dering adventures attempted under the
policies Of reform and recovery. 1 be-
lieve those who write that history will
dwell upon the 1886 tax legislation as
one Of the important political weak
nesses developed by Mr. Roosevelt
AS far as l know, there has never
been public official who has been
entirely consistent at all times In his
methods and policies. Mr.. Roosevelt,
being human, has been inconsistent |
like all Of the rest and there was no |
reason to expect that he would be the |
one exception despite the fact that |
some of his followers maintain that he |
cannot make mistakes.
But to link the tax legislation with |
the fact that Mr.. Roosevelt Is human,
let me call attention to the further fact
that he has been bold, even daring, In
many Of his moves. Where his quick |
decisions have been sound, the coun-
try has been benefited. Where he has
made mistakes by acting too quickly,
his spokesman have sought to deny
that there were errors.
The reason / have called attention
to Mr.. Roosevelt's mistakes on the tax
legislation is chiefly to show something
of a new awakening on the part of
rNNa. II.