Evening star., 1936-01-31
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC EILLIAM WILE.

Gov. Landons Kansas day speech,
officially signaling his Republican presi-
dental debut, was distinguished for
absence of flamboyancy or electioneering
claptrap Common sense is evidently
the political trade mark of the Sunf1ower
States favorite son. His talk bristled
with stuff answering that description, on
the paramount issues of constitutional
Ism. recovery economy. relief and agri-
culture The Governor obviously makes
no pretense of being spellbinder. Here
and there his address sprang striking
phrase-one of the best was that Amer
lea doesn't want to go floating aloft
in a stratospheric balloon of unkept
promises but his fOndeSt admirers can
hardly claim that Landon has any sill
ver-tongued tricks. He possesses what
may be far more useful in the sledge-
hammer campaign that 1886 threatens to
be-a gift for brass-tacks expression. So
far Landon's principal public utterances
have been read into the microphone from
manuscripts The country has still to
learn what sort of figure he cuts on
the hustings. If they have any qualns
about Landon's lack of eloquence, his
friends have only to remember that
neither Calvin Coolidge nor Herbert
Hoover rated as a Demosthenes.
Despite Senator Borah's speaking ac-
tivities and the organized efforts OF his
friends in various States to obtain dele
gates pledged to his support, the view
persists that the Idahoan's real objec-
tive is to dictate the Republican nonlina-
ton rather than secure it for himself.
He is credited with particularly ardent
desire to influence the writing OF the
G.. O. P. platform, chiefly its anti
monopoly plank. AS things are now
shaping it looks as if Borah might enter
the convention with something like 200
first-choice votes, or better. with plenty
of second-String strength. especially
among uninstructed delegations. Such
a phalanx would be long way from the
necessary nominating majority, but from
the outset it would make the Senator
force to be reckoned with at Cleveland.
All concerned concede that no Repub-
lican in sight compares with Borah in
power to dramatize the issues OF the
hour over the radio and before visible
audience. Washington's birthday will
find the Senator on the air over
Nationwide hook-up, which may be the
medium of the formal launching of his
candidacy.
No plans for anything of the sort have
been announced, but with the political
dynamite exploding in all directions, in
cluding his own vicinity. it wouldn't be
surprising if President Roosevelt decides
ere long to broadcast a f1reside chat on
the state of the Democratic union, or
what is left of it. F. D. r. isn't likely to
unburden himself right away, lest it look
too much as if he had been smoked out
by AL Smiths contention that the Pres
ident, not Joe Robinson, Is the one to
answer the Governors Liberty League
onslaught. Sooner or later it's a fore
gone conclusion that the master of the
New Deal will seize psychological oc-
casion to hit back at his detractors, Re-
publican and Democratic alike. Perhaps,
in view of current Treasury require
ments, Mr.. Roosevelt will choose as a
theme song ditty that might appro-
priately be called 1.-THE Budget Blues
a Rhapsody in Red"
Raucous poohs- -poohs well up from the
Democratic high command at the mere
suggestion that Gov. Talmadge's Dixie
revolt I'll ever get within gunshot OF
depriving Roosevelt and Garner OF
single electoral vote south Of Mason and
Dixons line. Yet the Solid South was
broken, and four States-Florida North
Carolina, Texas and Virginia-went Re-
publican In 1928 without anything nearly