Evening star., 1936-07-24
100000 IN CROWD
HEARING LANDON
Day-Long Celebration L
Featured by typical
Prairie Parade"
BY JOHN III. CLINE,
STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.


Topeka, Kans., July 24.-Amid
seenes reminiscent of an older era in
American political history, Gov. ALI M
Landon tonight accepted the Repub-
Jican nomination for the presidency
while nearly 100000 prairie" people
punctuated virtually every sentence OF
his vigorous acceptance speech with
ringing cheers.
The ceremonies attending the ac-
ceptance of the nomination climaxed q
day of jubilant celebration featured by
a typical prairie parade" which
wound for two hours before the eyes
of thousands of spectators -massed
along the line of march.
As the parade had for its theme the
rugged simplicity of pioneer life In
the West from its early days, so did
the acceptance speech ceremony SYM
bolize Gov. Landon's distaste for pomp
and dramatization.
Only Buglers Announce Arrival.
With only a quartet of National
Guard buglers to announce his arrival
he walked down the south steps of the
old State capitol. Spreading fanwiSe
before him to the farthest reaches ot
the State House grounds stood wildly
cheering throng that had come through
the sitting heat to hear him accept
the nomination for the highest public
honor this Nation can confer
The multitude under the old. shade
trees was overwhelmingly composed Of
average" Americans. Sum-
men had left their coats behind. They
do not wear them at home and they
did not wear them here They had
come to hear what Gov. Landon had
to say; not to dress up for him.
Women, bearing the unmistakable
marks of the hard farm life they lead
stood with the men throughout the
entire speech. Intently, men and wom-
en- hung on his every word, for they
had come to appraise what he had te
offer; not to stage perfunctory dem
onstration for him.
Accompanying the Governor as he
walked on the platform were his wife
his daughter Peggy, his father and
Mrs. Landon's mother. Mrs. Sam E
Cobb The women obviously were
pleased with the tumultuous reception
accorded him, but no hint of emotion
passed across the stern face of his
father, although his eyes never left his
son as the latter was speaking.
America" Opens Ceremony.
The ceremony opened with the sing
ing Of America" by the crowd. Most
Rev. Francis Johannes, Bishop oi
Leayenworth, pronounced the invoca.
ton.
AS the Governor arrived brilliant
red and green flares placed around
the capitol dome were lighted. They
could be seen from miles away on the
level prairie country.
As Gov Landon finished speaking
a short but enthusiastic demonstration
was stopped by the brilliant fireworks
display.
But before the throng had broken
up there occurred one more instance
illustrative of the informality of the
Landons and their neighbors. High
up on a platform out in the crowd a
youngster yelled in strident tones, Hi,
there, Peggy Smilingly the Gov
ernor's daughter acknowledged this
greeting,
The demonstration, prior to his
speech. was as spontaneous as any
thing Of its kind can be-
Adjt. Gen. M. r. Mclean, marshal
of the parade. started his preparations
only two weeks ago. A Well-planned
program had been arranged, but this
was sadly disrupted as many of the
maSsed thousands of spectators along
the line of march broke through the
ranks of National Guardsmen and
Joined the parade.
First in line came the familiar
spirit of 1776," closely followed by
100 real cowboys, who were brought in
from the cow country in the flint hills
of Western Kansas for the occasion.
The cowboys cavorted down Topeka's
wide streets on rearing horses, tossing
an occasional lariat into the crowds
of spectators just for the fun of watch
ing them dodge.
100 Bands in Procession.
A total of 100 bands and Is drum
and bugle corps, blaring forth the
strains of "Oh, Suzanna,' the Landon
campaign song, kept the spirits of the
crowd and marchers at a high pitch.
OF outstanding interest was the only
'Deadwood stage coach" surviving
from the days when these awkward
vehicles made regular runs from Dead
wood, S. OAK, to Cheyenne, Wyo.
This coach has been preserved at
Deadwood and was taken apart and
shipped to Topeka for the parade. 1t
was hauled by 4-horse hitch, with