Evening star., 1936-08-24
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY C. COULD LINCOLN.

FALMOUTH, Mass, August IA
couple of things have happened in the
last couple Of days. politically speaking.
Gov. ALI M. Landon of Kansas Repub-
ncan nominee for President, began his
campaigning and gave some Of the people
Of the East q chance to see him for
the first time At the same time, Lam
don stated the main issue Of the presi-
dental campaign as he sees it-whether
'the American way" Is to be kicked over
board.
The Roosevelt New Dealers, he said, are
intent upon having the Federal Govern
ment restrict production, dole out jobs
and parcel out business opportunities"
That, in Landon's opinion, is not the
American way. Furthermore. 1t is not
the way the American people like. If he
is right-and q great many people seem
to think he is-the New Dealers may yet
be in for tough time in November.
The first stumping speech of the Gov
ernor of Kansas, delivered at his BIRTH
place in Western Pennsylvania, was gen.
eral in terms. He did not offer any
panaceas. At the bottom of 1t was the
theory that hard work, plus plenty OF
production, was what this country
needs. It is not a new idea, although
it seems to have been forgotten in recent
years. One thing seems true. Gov. Lam
don has improved his speaking delivery,
and his address went over the radio to
millions of listeners in really acceptable
fashion.
Landon has two more main speeches
to deliver during his present invasion
Of the East, one in Chautauqua and the
other in Buffalo, both located in up
state" New York. He is leaving New
York City to q later date in the campaign.
In that he is following precedent. Most
presidential candidates have in the past
made a speech in Greater New York as
kind OF Wind-up of their campaigning.
AS q matter or fact, the latter part Of
August is early for campaign speeches.
Landon. however, has been little known
to the country at large If the people are
lot of travelling, and in a country as vast
as the United States he cannot do 1t
all in a months time.
The Republican candidates reception
has been good up to date. There Is q
very natural curiosity to see this product
of the great farming area Of the country.
There is a tremendous amount Of in
terest in the campaign, which is consid-
cred by many as the most important in
years. Millions of voters have already
made up their minds what they are going
to do at the polls in November. There
are. however. as always, other millions
who are still on the fence, ready to
hop one way or the other, as . result
of later consideration of the issues and
the men involved in the election. Landon
is making many brief, rear-end train
speeches to crowds which gather along
the route which his train takes. It
seems a safe bet that even his principal
speeches will be brief and to the point.
When he delivered his acceptance ad-
dress in Topeka q month ago, he spoke
for only half an hour. His speech in
Pennsylvania was less than half an hour
in delivery.
Forty years ago the late William Jen-
nings Bryan Of Nebraska, q neighboring
State of Kansas, was rushing up and
down the country seeking the presidency.
He was opposed by the late William Nc
Kinley. Bryan was in . sense the New
Dealer Of that day. He had many notions
which did not fit in with "the American
way" In that year, as now, the Demo-
cratic party, whose presidential nominee
Bryan was. was split. The Cleveland
Democrats, so-called, put ticket Of their
own in the field. This year the anti
Roosevelt Democrats, who correspond to
the Cleveland Democrats Of 40 years ago,
have not put second Democratic ticket
in the field, but they have organized for
q fight to prevent the reelection Of
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Senator James Couzens has tossed q
bomb into the political cauldron in
Michigan. The veteran progressive-who
happens to be the wealthiest man in the
United States Senate and one of the
wealthiest men in the country, has de-
clared himself unequivocally for the re-
election of President Roosevelt. He did
not join the Democratic party-for he
is running for the Republican senatorial
nomination. He merely followed the
course several other Republican Senators
adopted in 1932-among them Hiram
johnson of California, George w. Norris
Of Nebraska and the late Bronson Cut
ting of New Mexico.
Couzens has as an opponent in the
Republican senatorial primary, former
Gov WILDER M. Brucker. Couzens' decla-
ration in favor of Roosevelt may have
the effect Of taking away from him .
number Of Republican votes. On the
other hand, it may bring to him the
votes Of many supporters of President
Roosevelt. There have been rumors for
q long time that Chairman Farley of
the Democratic National Committee was
anxious to have Couzens nominated and
Endorsed by the Democrats. Couzens has
always been a great vote getter in Mich
igan. particularly in Detroit, the big city
of the State in which he lives and OF
which he was once mayor.
Couzens' declaration in favor of Roose-
welt and against the Republican national
ticket will be considered q great break"
for the New Dealers party in Michigan.
which has shown signs of returning to
its old Republican moorings. If he re-
ceives the Republican nomination for
Senator and campaigns, as he promises
to do, for Roosevelt thereafter, the situa-
ton will be greatly mixed up in that
State. It Is true, however, that man
may command many votes for himself
that he cannot transfer to another
candidate.
The Junior Senator from Michigan,
Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, is out
for the Republican national ticket In.
deed, he Is expected to be one of the