Evening star., 1936-03-17
LANDON BACKERS
PRESS CAMPAIGN
Wichita Publisher Engages
in Hot Intra-Party Dis
pute With Borah.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Supporters OF ALI M. Landon
pressed on with their presidential
drive today, elated by the knowledge
that the Kansas Governor Is assured
of the 81 votes of Oklahoma at the
coming Republican National Conyen-
ton.
Even as the States convention
adopted the unit rule throwing its
full party strength to the Kansan, his
name figured in hot intra-party
dispute.
Louis Levand, publisher of the
Wichita (Kans) Beacon, charged
Senator .Borah of Idaho, ayowed cam
didate for the Republican nomination,
with making "baseless insinuations"
against Landon.
Borah quickly denied it and told
apology for your blundering defense
of him when no defense was called
for"
Ready to Back Charge.
The publishers communication to
Borah was based on the latter's charge
that the Standard Oil Co." was mix
ing in Oklahoma's Republican politics.
BY indirection and implication
Levand said, you have made grave
charges against Gov. ALT M Landon
of Kansas. Your attack on the Stand
ard Oil Co. and Oklahoma Oil interests
only are to be construed as rejecting
on the character of one of the coun-
trys outstanding Republican presiden-
tial possibilities"
Levand said Borah had injected
"baseless insinuations into a situation
which so far has been notable for the
absence of vilification and mudsling-
ing"
The Idahcen replied that he had
made no reference directly or indi-
rectly to Gov. Landon."
Il denounced the Standard Oil Co,
for its activities in trying to secure an
uninstructed delegation and for its
activities in seeking to control such
delegation he said Now you
claim in doing this I am attacking
Gov. Landon. Insofar as my charges
go / am prepared to support them.
."
After this exchange OF kilograms
Levand wired Borah last night that
press associations in reporting your
remarks Saturday night, specifically
mentioned Gov Landon as the target
of your attacks"
In view of the impending Repub-
lican Convention at which efforts
were to be made in favor of the Unit
rule in Gov. Landon's behalf" Lelend
said, mo other Interpretation of your
remarks could have been made"
OkIahomans Decry Charges.
Meanwhile in Oklahoma City, Re-
publican leaders continued to decry
Borahs charges.
c. c. Hawk, retiring State Repub-
lican chairman, declared there was
nothing to" the charge. Lew Wentz,
oil man and convention delegate, said
the Borah charge was bunk" w. G.
Skelly. national committeeman pre-
viorlsly said the Borah statement was
not worth answering"
Representative Fish. Republican. of
New York Joined Borah's attack on
Standard On and mentioned botn
Landon and Skelly by name.
Il am not surprised to hear that
Mr.. w G. Skelly of the Skelly Oil
Co. affiliated with the Standard Oil
group and Republican national COM
mitteeman from Oklahoma. has sue.
ceeded in delivering the Republican
delegates to the national convention
at Cleveland to Gov. Landon," said
Fish
To this Skelly replied:
Representa- tive Fish's statements are
not entitled to be dignified by an an
swer from me- I am only concerned
patriotically with our American Gov
eminent"
Landon on Vacation.
Oklahoma'S six delegates at large
we're instructed by the convention to
vote and work for Landon. Six dis
trict delegates already had been in
structed for Landon. Adoption Of the
unit rule giving the majority full sway
thus assured Landon the 81 votes at
Cleveland.
Landon himself-who has yet to say
he wants to occupy the White House
was away on vacation and had Moth
ing to say about the vote.
Another convention development in
cluded the announcement from Chair
man Henry P. Fletcher of the Repub-
lican National Committee. that the
keynote address at Cleveland June 9
will be given at night to afford the
general public a chance to hear the
broadcast.
This departure is justified, he said.
"in view of the increasing use Of
radio"