Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-01-26
BORAH STAND ON BONUS
NIGHT CONFUSE VOTERS
Presidential Possibility's Views Upon
Values of New Deal Also Desired.
SAYS Political Commentator.

nearly than he consistently has been
anything else, member of the little
group of Senators called Progressive
Republicans" That group, more
nearly than any other, has been Sem
stor Borah's permanent affiliation. He
was never Democrat. Of course.
While he never has formally broken
: away from the Republican party, yet
his Republicanisn decidedly has not
been either orthodox or continuous.
More than with any other group, his
affiliation has been with the Progress
sive Republicans in the Senate Dur
ing 30 years these have been shift
ing group Of anywhere from 10 to
IA or IS Senators-Senators elected
nominally as Republicans, but fire.
quently departing from the party po-
sition, and in some sessions voting
almost as many times with the Demo-
Gratis as with the Republicans.
Now out, of these 10 or IL Pro-
gressive Republican Senators, 4 have
definitely gone over to the New
Deal. In the campaign between Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr.. Hoover, Senators
Norris OF Nebraska, johnson of Cali
fornia, Cutting of New Mexico and
La Toilette of Wisconsin, all formally
supported Mr. Roosevelt. Senator
Borah did not do that; he went no
farther than merely to be silent
throughout the campaign. Since the
New Deal has been with us several
of the Progressive Republican Sen
ators have been, n varying degree,
sympathetic to the New Deal. In the
circumstance 1t is no wonder If some
make troubled queries whether Sem
ator Borah is a convinced and de-
pendable opponent Of the New Deal.
Some of ehese public doubts and
uncertainties Senator Borah may clear
up in the address he is to make in
New York next Tuesday night. It
will be an important event. Senator
Borah will be making the first public
address since he permitted himself 20
be numbered among candidates for
the Republican presidential nominal
ton.
Gov. Landon's Personality.
In addition 10 Senator Borahs
speech next Tuesday night, another
Republican Presidential possibility.
Gov Landon of Kansas, is scheduled
to make speech on Wednesday night.
There will be widespread curiosity
both about the Governors views and
about his personality.
In connection with personality, there
is suggestion which think would be
useful to him. (The suggestion is
equally open to other aspirants for
the presidency: indeed, to every public
man. Persons who have gone to
Topeka-there have been many Of
them-to take look at Gov. Landon
report that he is man of simple and
unpretentious personality Gnciden-
tally. every such person that l have
talked to has come back with favor
able impression of the GovernorD II
Gov Landon's personality is simple
and unpretentious. he will do we'll to
make his campaign on what God has
given him and not try to be anything
other than what he is I have feel
ing that the American public is COM
ing to put high value on the quail
ties of simplicity. unpretentiousnes
and directness in public men.
In the drifting away from President
Roosevelt that is apparently going on.
I suspect one reason is that some OF
the people have become little weary
with Mr. Roosevelt's particular kind
of personality At first most of the
people liked it, but lately they have
| IN lot
Managers and patrons of motion-pic-
ture houses in which the President is
shown in action say that audiences
do not take much interest. The the
alter managers, judging their audiences
and the pictures they show by the
motion-picture standard, probably
may conclude that Mr.. Roosevelt's type
has overstayed the early enthusiasm
which welcomed it. The motion-pic-
ture industry is familiar with the
rapid passing of types It seems likely
that the people are coming to take
less interest in public man who, in
his public appearances before the
camera and otherwise, is conspicuous
for the facility with which he fills the
role. If it is true that the public is
losing its taste for public men who
have the arts of ingratiation. maybe
the type the public will grope for is
one that is simple, unpretentious and
direct
Voice Not Ability Index.
1t is said, too, that Gov. Landon
has not good radio voice" Well,
one hopes the Governor will not take
any lessons in radio voice culture.
1t may be the public has come to
4 feel that a good radio voice is
matter of physical equipment, whether
in an actor or in a public man: and
that possession of a good radio voice
is no necessary evidence of qualities
of craftsmanship in the posseSsor. I
doubt whether the coming presidential
election is going to be decided on the
relative charm of the candidates radio
voices
In all areas of public life, public
men-Senators, Governors, mayors
and what-not-have overdone the
camera manner. For the degree to
which many public men have come
to act like motion-picture figures. the
motion picture itself and the news.
reels are partly responsible The ener-
getic young men who go out with the
newsreel cameras think the public
wants what they call action pic
lures" and so they ask their subjects
to pose. to make gestures to emit
wise cracks" and in general to act as
many of the public men would not act
if they followed their own inclinations.
Consequently the public sees pictures
of public men doing things which
the public will recognize as being
done only for the sake of the camera.
I surmise that the public is no longer
favorably impressed with so-called
candid camera" pictures Of public
men doing intimate things.
tCopyright 1850
Eo6oro1 E.noncsnU Hall