The Washington times., 1936-02-01
LandOnUnites
Opposition
Forces
Bv James T. Williams, Jr.

y
Thoughtful Americans will not
overlook the significance Of the
following features Of the Kansas
Day Celebration at which Cover.
nor Landon delivered the ami
versary address.
This observance OF the seventy.
fifth anniversary Of the birthday
of Kansas was record breaking
on two scores:
First, More men and women
Of Kansas jOurneyed to Topeka
to attest their faith in the
leadership of their Governor
"AIf LandOn" to them-than
ever attended the Kansas Day
celebrations that have gone be.
fore. And:
SeeOnd, The following States
were represented among the
visiting Republicans who went
from outside the State to take
part in the celebration and
made the journey on their own
initiative and at their own ex-
pense:
Oklahoma, Nebraska, Mis-
souri,, Colorado and New Mex
icO-near neighbors Of Kansas;
Iowa, Illinois and Ohio, South
Dakota and MinnesOta-battIe-
ground States Of the Middle
West; and Massachusetts, New
York and Pennsylvania; and
Texas, Arizona and California.
GAINS STRENGTH
It has long been g foregone
conclusion that Governor Landon
would be strongly supported by
his own State of Kansas for the
Republican nomination for the
Presidency.
IT begins to appear that the
Governors political strength ex.
tends to the neighboring States
of Kansas and to other States in
the Middle West.
At the moment, this Is more
important, from the point Of view
of practical politics, than are the
friendly comments from Republi-
cans on the Atlantic and Pacific
Seaboards.
The confidence of Governor
Landon'S leadership manifested
in the region of which Kansas is
the center will serve as remind
er to the remainder of the coun-
try that it is among his friends
and neighborS who know him best
that his sincerity, modesty, ad-
ninistrative ability and capacity
for leadership are most appre-
ciated.
NATIONAL CHOICE
Shortly after Calvin CoIlidge
became President someone asked
a New England Senator what the
chances seemed to be Of Mr..
Coolidge'S nomination and cleo
ton to the Presidency as a candi-
date IN his own right. AS Vice
President he had been offered
little opportunity to demonstrate
to the country the qualifications
for the Presidency.
The Senator answered his queS-
toner in substantially these
words:
''Mr. Coolidge will consolidate
his own following, consisting Of
those who know him best and
are most in sympathy with his
gifts as an executive, his cOur-
age and common sense. Then he
will begin to draw support from
many quarters"
It is the increasing evidence of
Governor Landon'S strength in the
region where he lives, in the
neighborhood of the State where
he has twice been elected COVER
nor, and throughout the area Of
these Commonwealths where agri-
culture is the chief industry, that
is more and more attracting ma
tional attention to his availability
| for national leadership.
SPIRIT OF FAIR PLAY
The Presidential nominee of the
Cleveland convention must not
only win a majority Of the dele
gates to his support.
His leadership must be Of the
healing sort that will unite the
opposition to the Administration
now in power if the nominee Of
the Cleveland convention is to be
the next President Of the United
States.
Perhaps it is the realization of
this fact that accounts for the
approval which the governor of
Kansas is gaining through the
Middle West of the power Of mod
Grafton, the emphasis Of under.
statement and the spirit Of fair
play that distinguish his discus
sion Of State and national prob
lens pressing for solution.
1t was Abraham Lincoln who
always addressed the intelli-
gence Of man. Never their pref.
udice, their passion or their ig-
nOrance."