Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1936-05-21

SeeR 10 strategists are
Disrupt G. o. P. bending every eff
fort toward pro-
gram designed to make knock-down
and drag-out fight Of that session. 1t
is not disclosing any secret to say that
the New Dealers are using this weapon
up to the hilt because disruption of the
Republican party would make victory
easy for Candidate Roosevelt.
Predictions In politics always are
perilous. Governor ALI M. Landon Of
Kansas seems to be in the lead at this
time for the Republican nomination,
but there are many observers through
out the country who contend that the
~ ansas Coolidge" cannot win, and
that various other aspirants for the
nomination, men whose hats are in the
ring, likewise must be counted out.
This is to say that feeling is growing
that dark horse will be nominated.
From the strictly Washington view
point, which may be different than else
where IN the country, astute political
must be swift change in sentiment to
keep the nomination away from Cover
nor Landon. Yet, it must be said that
politics is fraught with just such
things and so 1t is entirely possible
that the Republican nominee may be
someone other than the present appar-
ent leader in the race.
Those who feel that Governor Lam
don will be the nominee claim he has
played his cards well. But others in
sist that the Kansas governor made a
bad mistake in allowing his name to
be linked with the Hearst faction in
California. Indeed, l have heard COM
ment that this fact alone will defeat
Governor Landon.
1t has been interesting to observe the
maneuvers of the New Deal strategists
=, with reference to the
Net0 Deal Landon boom. Some
Strategy observers conten d
that the efforts be-
ing put forth from New Deal quarters
in an attempt to discredit Governor
Landon were being engineered because
the New Deal fears Governor Landon
as a Roosevelt opponent more than it
fears some Of the other candidates for
the nomination. Frank r. Kent, the
Washington commentator for the DEM
Ocratic Baltimore Sun, asserted that
the New Deal activity against Landon's
nomination constituted "the best evil
dence Of the increasing probability" of
the Kansas governors nomination. Mr..
Kent did not say that which some
other informed writer's feel, namely,
that the Landon candidacy would mean
a bitter campaign on the part of the
Roosevelt forces to re-elect the Presi-
dent. Nevertheless, 1t has been inter-
esting to note the various ways in
which Roosevelt spokesman and Demo-
cratic publicity men have been trying
to show the country that Governor
Landon is not the man who should be
minated.
have no quarrel with these efforts.
1t is the game of politics. Virtually
anything goes. 1t is to be assumed that
present Republican maneuvers will be
concentrated in few weeks on Mr..
Roosevelt personally as the Democratic
candidate. In fact, one hears express
sions around Washington that for the
first time in Mr.. Roosevelts political
career, he is going to be directly under
fire.
Just In this connection, one can re-
call that through most of the New Deal
administration, criticism of New Deal
policies and plans. almost without ex-
ception, was directed at Roosevelt ap-
pointees. The President himself has
been exceptionally free from the type
Of personal attack that frequently char
acterizes political opposition. He has
had absolutely none of the kind of
criticism that occurred In the Hoover
administration and was directed at
Herbert Hoover, personally.
SO, as we look at the campaign pic.
ture just ahead Of the Republican con-
vention and only a month in advance
Of the meeting of the Democrats at
Philadelphia where President Roose.
welt will be renominated, without Cd
position in his own party, think II
can be said without fear of contradic.
ton that both candidates this year are
going to be smeared personally Just as
fast and as long as the ammunition
holds out.
While we are talking about the forth.
coming quadrennial conventions, the
-, two keynote speak.
The ers naturally enter
Keynoters into any discussion
Senator Alben w
Barley OF Kentucky will do the key.
noting for the Democrats at Philadel
phia and Senator Frederick Stelwer OF
Oregon will deliver the main address
to the Cleveland convention Of the Re
publicans. Senator Barley was the
keynoter at the Chicago convention
when Mr.. Roosevelt was nominated BY
the Democrats four years ago and, al
though 1t is a subject not freely dis
cussed, 1t is said in high places that
Mr.. Roosevelt wanted the same mar
to do the job again. believing the Ken