Evening star., 1936-06-07

| ~ LEVELAND, June 6.-The stage
is set for an historic Repub-
lican National Convention
On Tuesday the Republicans
from every part of the country gather
here to nominate a leader to wrest
control of the Federal Government
from New Deal Franklin D. Roosevelt,
if he can.
Not since 1920. Immediately after
the World War and eight years of
Democratic rule, have the Republicans
faced task in any way comparable.
Two points have been generally
conceded by the Republicans. First,
the party nominee for President must
be liberal" and, second, that he must
be from the West or Middle West. It
looks as though both these conditions
would be fulfilled. ,
For unless there Is q tremendous
Epset-not now expected-the nomi-
nation will go to Gov. Alfred M. Lam
don of Kansas. Landon has today a
| far greater lead in the race for the
nomination than had Herbert Hoover
in 1923. or Frank o. Lowden, Hiram
Johnson or Leonard Wood in 1920
In 1920 it was the dark horse"
Harding of Ohio, who emerged a win
ner after a deadlock in the conven-
ton. No matter how much other
candidates and opponents of Landon
may desire it, a deadlock of the COM
ing convention does not appear to he
on the card at all. 1t is Only a ques-
tion as to whether Landon will be
nominated on the first or second
ballot.
Foes TO Spar for Time.
1t seems, therefore, that the fierce
battle for the presidential nomination
which had been expected has petered
out. True, opponents Of Landon are
seeking desperately to find flaws in his
armor or to form some kind of an
alliance that will prevent a Landon
nomination for at least four ballots.
If the Landon thrust can be held of
so long, the anti-Landon Republicans
feel that his strength will face, End
another candidate can be nominated.
The drift to Landon, which began
months ago. has been steady, and in
recent days has come with a rush.
Two of the aspirantS for the Repub-
lican nomination tried to head of
Landon by open campaigning-Sen-
ator Borah of Idaho and Col. Frank
Knox, publisher Of the Chicago Daily
News. Two others, Senator Arthur
H. Vandenberg of Michigan and Sen
ator Lester ]. Dickinson of Iowa,
played a waiting game. None of
them had any marked success.
For weeks there have been rumors
that something would happen to blow
Landon out Of the water. Even now
those rumorS are circulated here.
Mostly eyes are turned to Senator
Borah. progressive Republican, to
turn the trick. The rumors have had
to do with Landon's connections with
the oil business, or alleged deals with
the Republican old guard of the
East. Despite these rumors, nothing
has happened.
Large Firecracker Needed.
Landon has been an independent"
oil operator and never hooked up with
the big companies. Whether Borah
will attempt an eleventh hour coup
remains to be seen. He is expected
to reach Cleveland tomorrow night.
If other opponents of Landon have
their way, however, the Idaho Senator
win be persuaded to place a fire.
cracker under the seat of the Kansas
Governor. But even if he does, it
may fail to explode, for Landon has
become intrenched in the minds and
hearts Of millions of run-of the mine
Republicans, and through them In
the minds If not the hearts of a.
majority of the delegates of the
Republican National Convention. It
would have to be a very large and
effective explosion to disledge him..
Borah Is not a delegate, or an
alternate, to the national convention.
He might find it difficult to obtain
the floor of the national convention
for a speech if he tried. The only
way for him to do so would be
through an invitation of the con-
vention itself.
There are two prominent Repub-
licans, both of whom may have as
pirations for the Republican nominal,
ton, who will address the national
convention. They are former sPresi.
dent Herbert Hoover and Senator
steiwer Of oregon. Hoover, as the