Evening star., 1936-03-23
M|SSOUR|FAVORS
LANDON AND KNOX
Democrats SolidIy Behind
Roosevelt Independents
Hold Balance.
the Associated Press.


lining up almost solidly behind Frank
lin D. Roosevelt for denomination, It's
Republicans are just beginning to give
serious consideration to presidential
candidates.
Until recently the G. o. P. in this
State has just been anti-RooSevelt
and anti-New Deal, but names OF ia
vorites are being brought TO the front
as county and congressional conven-
tions for selecting delegates to the
Cleveland convention get under way.
Today, six district delegates will be
chosen at st. Louis, and two at Her
mann, Mo- A total of "a will be Sc
lected before the State convention
April 27, when six delegates at large
will be picked.
Two neighbors-Gov. Iandon OF
Kansas and Frank Knox of Illinois
have a following here, but so far no
presidential candidate has made any
out n-the-open campaign for dele
gates. Landon has been indorSed at
several preliminary precinct and
county meetings.
Both Bid for Independents.
Both parties will make every bid
possible during the campaign for the
support of Missouris independent vot-
erS.
In this group-a powerful force
which has welded sufficient strength
TO throw the State behind every win
ming President since the turn Of the
century-lieS the answer of whether
Roosevelt again will get this States
support.
Although at odds on most questions
Democrats and Republicans alike are
in apparent agreement that the No
Vember election will be decided sole
ly on whether q continuance Of the
New Deal is favored.
Even the State issue of "bossism, "
through which the Republicans are
seeking to regain control Of the State
government from T. j. Pendergast Of
Kansas City, head of the Democratic
organization, is expected to play a
secondary part in this years cam
paign.
Reed Opposes New Deal
Most Democratic leaders have ex
pressed the opinion that Roosevelt
could easily repeat his 1882 victory
in Missouri
One notable exception, however, is
former United States Senator James
A. Reed, now "a. He has openly an
nollnced he will oppose the reelection
Of Roosevelt in every honorable way"
On the other hand, the State ad-
miniStration, headed by Gov. Guy B.
Park, has co-operated with the Presi-
dent in every way possible, and has
indicated 1T will continue to support
him.
The task of directing the Republic
an campaign has fallen to Grover w.
Dalton of Poplar Bluff, State Commit
tee chairman, since Arthur M. Curtis,
Missouri's national committeeman, de-
parted early this month for Wash
ington to assume an executive posi-
tion on the staff of the National Com
mittee.
Opposes Instructed Delegates.
1t was Dalton who recently sug-
gested to group of MidWestern Re-
publican leaders at Chicago that the
campaign in this section should be
directed at President Roosevelt per-
sonally, saying the Executive alone
was responsible for appointments and
for all policies formulated by men Sc
lected by him.
In connection with intraparty af-
fairs, Chairman Dalton has opposed
instruction of delegates for any par
ticuIar candidate, calling it poor poll
tics to ite the hands of delegates three
months ahead of the convention"
In several districts the Republicans
plan TO put up stiff battle to gain
congressional berths. At present,
Dewey Short, the Ozarks orator, is the
only Republican Representative out of
Missouri's 13 in the Lower House.
Stark Runs for Governor.
The States Senators, Bennett C.
Clark and Harry S. Truman, both
Democrats, do not come up for elec-
ton this year.
Mai. Lloyd G. Stark, nurSeryman,
has the Pendergast Endorsement for
the Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor. He will be opposed in the Au-
gust primary by William Hirth, farm
editor, who is running on an anti
boss platform.
Two former State officials-Ed H.
Winter, Lieutenant Governor from
1929 to 1888, and Jesse w. Barrett,
attorney general from 1921 to 1926
are the leading candidates for the
RnrnaIhlinnr,