Evening star., 1936-04-01
LANDON LEADING
REPUBLICAN RACE
Boom Has Melted Him More
Delegates Today Than
Other Candidates.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

len weeks uenCe tHe RepuDucanS
assemble in national convention in
Cleveland to pick a candidate for
President. The candidates today go
round and round, and no one seems
to know where they are coming out.
The pace in this race for the nomi-
nation has been set at different times
by different candidates. Most of the
running was done early in the pre-
convention campaign by Col Frank
Knox, Chicago publisher. Senator
Borah Of Idaho, who believes all the
candidates should submit themselves
to the test in primary elections, set
the pace next. entering presidential
preferential primaries in many States.
Then came the boom for Gov. Alf M.
Landon of Kansas. pictured as a
budget balancer and another Calvin
Coolidge for silence.
Landon's boom has netted him more
delegates than any other candidate to
date. Kentucky Republicans in State
convention yesterday instructed their
delegates at large to support the
Kansan. Landon also has instructed
for him IA district delegates in Ken
lucky. The States four other district
delegates are uninstructed. Landon
already had in the bag the Kansas
delegation. delegates from Oklahoma
and New Mexico.
Landon Far From Majority.
Notwithstanding the strides which
the Landon boom has made, the Kan
sas Governor is far short Of a ma
jority Of the delegates to the national
convention. He may be far short Of
such support when the convention
assemblies. although his campaign Is
being pressed strongly.
Edging into the limelight Is the
senior Senator from Iowa, L. J. Dick
lnson. He is being put forward as a
possible compromise candidate. His
friends are busy seeking the support
of delegates to the convention as
second choice" and are meeting with
considerable success, 1t Is said.
Dickinson. it is urged. will be ac-
ceptable to the Middle West and also
to the East and New England.
Senator Dickinson has for months
been speaking around the country, as
well as in the Senate in attacking the
Roosevelt administration. He has op-
posed the New Deal from the start,
and that includes the agricultural pro-
gram with its corn-hog checks. Con-
sidering the number of these checks
which have gone to Iowa, Senator
Dickinson must be given credit for
having the courage of his convictions.
Dickinson Now in Iowa.
Dickinson was picked to be tenn
porary chairman and keynote speaker
Of the Republican National Conven-
ton Of 1892. In the past he has been
very active in Republican national
campaigns.
At present he is out in Iowa looking
after his local political fences, as he
comes up for denomination and re-
election to the Senate this year. The
Iowa primary takes place June l. SC
far only one candidate has announced
in opposition for the Republican nom-
ination for the Senate, Edward Man
ming, mayor of OttumWa.
There are reports that former Sen
ator Smith w. Brookhart will enter
the race and that he has gone back to
the State for that purpose. The Dick
inson people believe, however, that
the Senator will win the senatorial
nomination without a great deal OF
trouble. If he does, that will not inter-
fere in any way with his presidential
aspirations, for the Republican Ma
tional Convention does not open until
eight days after the Iowa primary.
The Republican State Convention in
Iowa on February % elected an "un-
instructed" delegation to the National
Convention. No effort was made tc
instruct the delegates for Dickinson, OF
to have the Senate Endorsed by the
convention for the presidential nom-
nation. However, 1t Is believed the
Iowa delegation will be found support
ing Dickinson on the first ballot in the
convention, particularly If his can
didacy has gained ground. and as long
thereafter as Dickinson has any
chance for the nomination.
Landon Drawn Into California.
1t looks as though Gov. Landon
would be unable to keep out Of at
least one primary race. that in Cali
fornia. William Randolph Hearst and
other hackers of Landon in that State
have insisted on putting forward a
Landon slate of delegates. Under the
State primary law, any one may put
forward a candidates name. Landon's
consent, therefore, was not necessary
His hackers went ahead in the face Of
Landon's assertion he would not go
into the California primary. Under
the California law, a candidate may
withdraw his name if he desires. Lam
don, however, apparently did not feel
like repudiating what Hearst and his
other friends in California had been
doing in his name. So the Landon
list stands.
The opposing list of delegate can
didates is ''uninstructed. It was
made up by various elements Of the
Republican party, including supporters
in the past Of Senator johnson as well
as of Herbert Hoover. It may be said
to have the backing Of the former
President, since he has been In favor