Evening star., 1936-03-06
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Now that Kansas Republicans have
formally presented his name to the party
and the Nation, Gov. Landons presiden-
tial candidacy Is henceforth to be re-
garded as official and avowed.- Hitherto
the fiction has been maintained that he
was in no respect seeking support and
that no finger was being lifted on his
behalf. It must be assumed that this
weeks State convention at Wichita, in
adopting Landon-for- President resolu-
ton and instructing the Kansas delega-
ton to vote for him until he Is nomi-
mated or releases It," acted with the Gov
ernor's full knowledge and consent. His
hat, in other words, Is now definitely In
the ring. The immediate result, it's
expected, will be the launching OF irlten-
sive and systematic drives for delega-
tions wherever conditions are promising.
Latent Landon strength exists all over
the country. In numerous States now
planning to send either uninstructed
delegations or at the outset to support
favorite sons at Cleveland 1t Is an open
secret that there's deep substratum OF
sentiment ready to be thrown to Landon
at the psychological moment.
AA -
Old political hands expert In the tricks
of the pre-convention trade wonder
whether the Landon boom has attained
momentum too soon. The theory is that
when a candidate Is far out in front at
this stage rivals are encouraged to gang
up'' on him. In other words, it's feared
that the situation may be jockeyed into
a position where it's q case OF Landon
- SuA G~yl tn 6nStA
ers refuse to view the situation with
any alarm. Popular polls, they say, show
him so far in advance of all competitors
that his f1rst-ballot strength will precipl-
tate an early scramble for the band
wagon. At this writing Borah is the
man Landon has to beat. If both the
Idahoan and the Kansan turn up with
a couple of hundred delegates apiece.
the impression grows that they'll fight
each other out Of the race and that q
dark horse will be the eventual winner
Most authorities are still inclined to
guess his name will be Vandenberg.
Politicians, business leaders and reve-
nue. specialists are trying to figure out
whose brain child the administrations
new tax program is. President Roose-
welt himself, Of course, has long held
strong views about the necessity OF re-
forming and simplifying the corporate
tax structure. Secretary Of the Treasury
Morgenthau and his general counsel.
Herman Oliphant, are accounted in in
formed washington quarters as having
played a major role in formulating the
proposals now riveting the attention OF
Congress and the country. There's wide
spread belief, too, that L. H. Parker, able
chief Of stan of the Joint Congressional
Committee on Internal Revenue Taxa
ton, had an influential hand in working
out the scheme. Capitol Hills recognized
tax expert, Mr.. Parker has long been
looked upon as a sort OF liaison off1cer
between the legislative and executive
ends of Pennsylvania avenue.
+
Negotiation Of the new treaty between
Panama and the United States is in large
degree of personal triumph for Senor
DR.. Ricardo j. Alfaro, who first came to
washington as the isthmian republics
Minister in 1922. He had previously been
its minister of foreign affairs. After
eight or nine years Of diplomatic duty
here, Dr. Alfaro served term as Presi.
dent of Panama. He resumed his min
isterial post at Washington in 1882. For
years, both at home and In this country,
Or. Alfafu labofed necessarily for the
treaty revision which has at last taken
place. Matters were materially adj
vanced by the visit which President Har-
Eaodio Arias paid to the nited States