Evening star., 1936-07-23

a master of elegant expression and
yet vigorous invective.
Gov Landon is uneXciting, mild
hammered, simple to the extreme,
with even some Of those uncouth
characteristics which made Abraham
Lincoln the object Of considerable
adverse comment when he made his
first appearances in the East. Biog-
raphers say of Lincolns first speech
at Cooper Union early in 1860 In
New York City that it didn't register
with some of his listeners.
Witness Version.
"He began in deep voice, like
one accustomed to open-air speaking
and afraid of talking too loud; said
MIR. Cheerman' and used other
antiqued expressions. I said to my
self old fellow, you won't do: it's all
very well for the wild West, but this
will never 60 down in New York
Yet the man from the Prairie
State finally won the respect and ad-
miration of his audience. He did
not win the Democratic press. They
attacked him savagely as "a third
rate country lawyer" They spoke
of him as "a nullity" and said he
"could not speak good grammar"
But even Woodrow Wilson, who
wrote a splendid style and was fine
orator, did not get over" so to
speak, with his 1912 speech OF ac-
ceptance. There was no radio then.
The political leaders who came IN
pilgrimage to Seagirt, N. j.. listened
tolerantly enough, but most OF his
doctrine was over their heads. The
Republican press commented on the
speech as consisting mostly OF vague
generalities' and not SPECIFIC or
particular enough to tell what he
would do if elected.
First Big Chance.
No speech of acceptance in the
last fifty years stands out as a turn
ing point in the evolution OF cam
didate's record. Iandon, however, has
a real opportunity to advance MS
cause. He made only few pre-con-
vention speeches, but they we're not
universally listened to as will be the
one delivered tonight.
In a peculiar sense, therefore, Lam
don makes his debut to a wider and
more critical audience than ever be-
fore. Possessing none of the radio
skill that Mr.. Roosevelt has, the Kan
sas Governor depends more on the
weight of the words uttered than the
manner of their utterance.
Then there is the significance OF
what is included or omitted. Landon
presumably had at his disposal memo
randa and letters Of advice from Re-
publicans and independents through
out the country who no doubt felt that !
he should make this or that point in
his speech of acceptance. Landon had
ne difficult task of accepting or re-
jecting the many suggestions offered
and of picking out the ones that he
himself believed were worthy Of con-
sideration. He writes slowly and works
painstakingly over every word. He
suffers bigger handicap than Lin
coin had. He cannot talk just to the
audience in front of him and center
his attention on his own people from
the West. He must think of listeners
in every corner of the land.
So what Landon finally decided to
stress, what he considered essential in
the unfolding of his philosophy OF
government, this responsibility Is, in
deed, analogous to the everyday tasks
of the presidency, when, from every
side, comes suggestions and ideas as
to what particular public policy
should be.
1t is a test of the capacity OF judg-
ment of what should be said to a
miscellaneous audience that is listen
ing and what should be said as a
matter of principle for the studious
few who will examine with discrim-
mating care the value of his proposals
in their relation to technical aspects
of government policy.
Landon's speech of acceptance is
not his only opportunity of the cam
paign, but one that will add much to
his prestige in the contest if he does
strike the right note with the public
opinion of the hour.
(Copyright, 1860