Evening star., 1936-06-07

u,
1t is universally admitted that Gov.
Landon lacks some of those personal
traits which make President Roosevelt
an extraordinary effective campaigner.
But the truth is the Republicans, in
their whole field of aSpirants and
possibilities. have no one who can
with Mr.. Roosevelt in this
respect. Accepting that condition, the
have concluded they had
best make capital out of their lack.
They think the thing to do is to pre-
sent, not competitor on the PreSi-
dents own ground, but contrast to
him. The Republicans think that, if
the country is going to turn away from
one glamorous personality, one beau
tiful radio voice" they will not wish
to turn to another who is merely less
glamorous, but rather to one who is
utterly simple and without art.
Vandenberg Looms.
Consideration of Gov Landon's
qualifications for candidate and for
President have inevitably included
thought about possible alternatives.
Groups of leaders who for one reason
or another have given thought to re-
jecting Gov. Landon, have ended up
with saying, Yes, but who have we
to run against him?" That Mr.. Hoo
yer is the man best equipped by
experience and talent, everybody ad-
mits, but most of the Republican
leaders long ago decided that nomina-
ton of Mr.. Hoover would be ineXpe-
dent, that he in the role of candidate
would cause the country to recall his
association with the depression, an
association that was wholly acciden-
tai. but nevertheless constitutes a
handicap. Next to Mr.. Hoover, the
man of longest experience in govern
ment is Senator Borah. But after
Senator Borah failed to do we'll in
the Ohio primary no one, not even
Mr.. Borah himself, thought he could
be nominated.
In all discussions of possible alter
natives to Gov. Landon, Senator VAN
denberg has figured large. especially
lately, since his aggresSiveness against
the New Deal has been so energetic
and successful. To compare Senator
Vandenberg and Gov. Landon is diff
cult, because the men are so different.
Where Senator Vandenberg is aggres-
sive, Gov Landon is quietly sure
footed; where Senator Vandenberg has
oratorical ability. Gov. Landon is a
plain speaker Either of the two
could be a good candidate and a good
President, but they would be quite
different kinds of candidate and Pres
ident. Had Senator Vandenberg really
tried for the nomination. or had his
recent fame come earlier, or had
friends of his six months ago or
ganized behind him as Gov. Landons
friends organized-in that event con-
ceivably Senator Vandenberg might
now be as close to the nomination as
Gov Landon.
California Episode"
The one incident in Gov. Landons
otherwise fortunate progress that most
disturbed some Republican leaders is
what is called the California epi-
sode." In California a group of Re-
publican leaders, mainly younger men,
some six months ago decided to re-
juvenate the party in that State. to
overcome the effect of recent defeats
and factional schisms With this in
tention they decided to avert a con-
test for the States delegation to the
Republican National Convention. They
set up a harmony ticket" of unin-
Structed delegates. Before doing this
they asked Gov. Landon if an unin-
delegation would be satisfac-
tory to him. He replied that it would,
that indeed 81 have declined to enter
the primaries of any State because
1 do not wish to be put in the attitude
of running for the presidency. that
he thought the Republicans should
be free to make their choice without
organization in behalf
of any one possible candidate"
Thereafter william r. Hearst de-
cided to take hand in California
politics. He decided to
put up ticket of delegates instructed
for Mr.. Landon. To this, apparently,
Gov. Landon assented; certainly he
did not diSapprove. Technically, this
was not necessarily change of atti-
tude on Mr. Landon's part; he had
first declined to enter himself by his
own affirmative action, but thereafter
he did not forbid others to enter his
thair NIT
There ensued violent campaign in
California. There was much reproach
of Gov. Landon on the part of those
who had put up the harmony, un-
instructed ticket and had procured
his assent to that course. The Cali
fornia campaign became, to some ex-
tent, local one between Mr.. Hearst
and ex-President Hoover. for the latter
was affiliated with the harmony move
ment. In the end the Hearst slate
instructed for Gov. Landon was badly
beaten by the uninstructed slate.
Made Much of Incident.
The whole incident was made much
of by some members of the harmony
movement. They have put out two
long documented accounts of their
early friendly relations with Gov. Lam
don and their later disappointment.
These and other accounts of the
California episode" have reached
many of the delegates to the national
convention from other States. Friends
OF minor candidates for the presiden-
tial nomination have made much Of
the incident.
The points made against Gov Lam
don in connection with the Cali
fornia episode" are, of course, to some
extent allegations by persons who
felt hurt. The points charge that
Gov. Landon showed difference to
Mr.. Hearst, who is not a Democrat
and whose favor toward Gov. Landon
is regarded by some as a liability;
that Gov. Landon was not sufi-
ciently meticulous about keeping an
implied understanding or what the