The Washington times., 1936-02-11
ILLINOIS EYED
AS FIELD BY
B0RAH
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON
RnteEaati0nal News Service


Intsraati0Aal News Service
Senator william E. Borah R.)
Of Idaho was holding a series Of
conferences by long-diStance tele
phone today with friends in I'LL
noiS, for the purpose of deciding
whether to enter the preferential
primaries in that State for the
Republican Presidential nomina'
tion.
Already, an avowed candidate
for the c. o. P. nomination, Sen
ator Rorah told International News
Service he would decide within
the next two days whether to in
wade Illinois. He must file his in
tention to do so by next Friday IN
order to be eligible for the primary
on April Il. Illinois will have 81
votes at the Cleveland convention
Knox In Tight Spot
The Idahoan'S decision will have
grave significance for Col. Frank
Knox, the Chicago publisher fre'
quently mentioned as Illinois "fav'
orite son" candidate. If Senator
Borah enters the primary, Colonel
Knox must decide whether to con.
test it or not.
The whole political future OF
Colonel Knox will be wrapped up
in that decision. If he entered
q contest against Senator BOrah
and lost, he would be eliminated
from further consideration. If
he beat Senator Borah handily,
he might become q certainty for
nomination. If he steps aside. he
might be handing the nomination
over to Senator Borah.
Senator Borah and Colonel
Knox are close personal friends,
although not political allies.
Colonel Knox recently paid a
courtesy visit to Senator Borah,
ut which they agreed on q num-
ber Of issues to be discussed in
the coming campaign. Later,
Senator Borah sent word to
Colonel Knox that he would ad-
Fise the nlinoiSan If he decided
Co enter the Illinois primary.
The Knox forces have felt
Senator Borah would not enter
Illinois. They based this be-
lief upon the fact that leaders
of every Republican faction in
Illinois indorsed Colonel Knox as
favorite son.
Support Is Promised
On the other hand. several
vf these factional leaders have
Urged Senator Borah privately to
enter a campaign against Colonel
Knox. They have informed Sen
ator Borah he will sweep the
southern section Of the State and
get an even break" in Chicago.
These advices came from Repub-
1fean faetional chieftains, who
were offended two years ago
when Knox's newspaper opposed
the reelection Of the Republican
governor, Len Small.
IF Senator Borah enters the
primary, he will campaign Illinois
during the first two weeks of April.
He has been promised sufficient
financial support to cover the cost
Of such a campaign.
His entry into the Illinois pri-
mary would give "Old Guard"
leaders thought. Thus far, he has
launched a nominal campaign in
New York, and Statewide cam
paigns in Ohio, Minnesota, South
Dakota, and wisconsin. with T.
linoiS, these States will furnish ass
voateS at Cleveland. On top Of this,
he is maneuvering to enter the
Texas, North Dakota, Colorado
and Oregon primaries, with IS
more votes.
With so many votes in sight, Re
publican leaders regard his II
lfnOiS decision as highly important.
While they refuse to comment
publicly, they generally agree that
an Illinois victory for Senator
B0rah would make him a DOM
inant figure at the Cleveland con-
vention