Evening star., 1936-09-20
Continued From First Page)
on to another waiting group. leaving
us all feeling that we'd each had q
~e,.oIata oersoral conference

"Thst's a part of his genius" one
man with US said HE saves himself
. lot of wear and tear and time by
talking to most people in groups and
making everybody feel he's had private
attention. And the funny thing about
1t is each Of us has and Is remembered
individually afterward."
Each visitor Is allotted exactly the
space of time necessary to send him
away happy. Kansas can claim by
right the Governors precious minutes;
others receive it as matter OF cour-
tesy. His capacity for getting work
done is one of the most amazing things
have heard about him.
have heard it said that he has
Dopr radio voice. I had not heard
I'm over the air and was agreeably
surprised to discover that his speaking
voice possesses q quality that Is de-
cidedly pleasing. True. his tones may
lack the golden quality of a crooner,
but it is nevertheless pleasing voice
to hear, and he is a good converse
tionalist. He is at his best believe,
when talking with an animated group.
He does not attempt to dominate the
conversation. He can be decidedly
fascinating when discussing a subject
in which he is really interested. One
does not talk long with him before
detecting a well-stored, disciplined
mind He has nothing Of the actor
about him and as result rarely seeks
to dramatize a situation.
A Capitalist and Unashamed.
There is nothing Of the trimmer
about him. He is not afraid to be
known as a capitalist. Capital, ac-
cording to his dictionary, is wealth
employed in, or available for, produc-
ton. It results from ones willingness
to deprive ones self Of present bene-
fits to obtain future enjoyment.
Every one who saves thing that has
value is q capitalist, ne believes. Mr..
landon believes in saving things that
have value. His ancestors were
thrifty. frugal people. He knows that
what Is true of the individual, the
family, applies equally to the State
and Nation. If the Landons did not
have money to buy new car, am
confident they would be seen in last
years flivver. If there wasn't enough
money for expensive cuts of steak, I
imagine they would eat boiled beef.
1t is perhaps unfair to say that
Mr.. Lannon's success in business and
in politics has been unique. All that
has been unique, perhaps, has been
his viewpoint. In the reception room
at Topeka huge rubber pads cover
worn places in the carpet behind
most Of the desks. Whoever heard
Of a rubber mat on the floor when
q thick, luxurious new rug might be
had for the asking? How many
others thought Of stemming the tide,
of forcing the craft OF government
against the current? Few other
States did it. Who else in breasting
the current would have set a new
record in economy and efficiency? In
this respect Landon, the executive,
stands almost alone.
And his integrity in Office has al
ready been we'll tested. Six months
after Mr.. Landon became Governor
Of Kansas it was discovered that
some of his associates had become
involved in a scandal which cost the
State a considerable sum of money.
Among the guilty persons was one of
Landon's close political associates.
The Governor took personal charge
of the investigation. There was no
question about the guilt of the &C
cused persons Landon's most astute
advisers saw in this scandal the end
of the Governors political career.
For Landon there was no alternative.
The guilty persons went to the peni-
tentiary.
It was Willard Mayberry, head of
the Landon secretariat, who re-
marked, 1.-THE chief couldn't be tricky
If he tried" I like the Mayberry
appraisal. It is said of some men
that their word is as good as their
bond. 1t might well apply to Alfred
Landon. He is like that. Two OF
his principal characteristics stand out
like signposts. One is vein OF iron
running through his makeup that is
discernible in his poise, in his speech
and in his decisions.
He Means What He Says.
One recalls the telegram which was
read, preceding Hamilton's nominat-
ing speech, that Landon would be
the Republican standard bearer only
upon terms to which he could whole
heartedly subscribe. He desired Sen
ator William E. Borah's support, but
not at the price of his own convic-
tions. And make no mistake about
this: when Landon says thing he
means it.
The second characteristic is a sense
Of personal integrity that goes to the
roots of his being, I find myself IN
ready agreement with Mayberry; Lam
don couldn't be other than an honest
man If he tried. Integrity is in his
blood-a heritage perhaps from his
circuit-riding forbears. The Meth
odists may we'll be proud OF him. He
represents the best American tradi-
tions.
In short, Alfred M. Landon is Of
the people-one of them. When he
talks of relief for the farmer, he does
not use the language Of the rabble-
rousing vote coaxer, but talks as one
who has felt the sting of acrid sweat
in his eyes, who has tenderly caressed
the callouses in the palms of his
hands at the close of a long, weary
day. It is easy for him to think in
terms of human values.
As q means Of relaxation, he fire.
quently visits the picture
theaters in Topeka, to ningle with
his neighbors and friends. Some Of
these come from the farms-men in
denim shirts, loosened at the neck.
They, too, seek relaxation from the
bitter grind. He realizes that the
present farm program is wholly in
adequate to the situation; that the
plums have been going to those who
do not deserve the benefits, and that
the poor people, those who live close
to the soil, are no better Oh than be-
fore. He has plans, and they are
sensible ones. He knows that every