Evening star., 1936-06-09


DA"" tionary influences
and the same odd Guard manipula-
ton still prevail But the inside war
fare continues nevertheless and it is
a safe conclusion that the boring
from within which Landon support
ers are carrying on will mean
rather sweeping transformation, even
In the so-called "Old Guard States.
The reader. however. must not get
the impression that "Old Guard and
conservative" are in this respect
synonymous. Conservatives are, in
many instances, being replaced by
conservatives. but the political con-
troll of the past is being taken over
by new set of faces.
Fight on Fundamentals.
So far as issues are concerned, the
cleavage inside the Republican party
remains fundamental. The Eastern
conservatives are insistent that there
is no use promising the moon and
that it is much better to face the
facts. There is no really radical op
position here 1t is sort of mild
radicalism, a kind of practical pro-
gressivism. reflected by William Allen
White and Henry Allen of Kansas.
There is a disposition to meet the
East more than half way in arriving
at satisfactory phraseology, but the
difficulty is to get agreement on the
fundamentals.
Senator Borah's announced position
In favor of a strong anti-monopoly
plank is in line with what has been
expected, and 1t is not going to be diff
cult to satisfy him on that point. AS
for the currency plank in which he
has also interested himself. the
chances are this convention will not
go on record in favor of a rigid gold
standard" which is the way Senator
Borah denounces 1t. There are too
many enlightened advisers in the Re-
publican party who hail from the
East and who recognize that a rigid
gold standard is a thing of the past
in world in which managed curren-
cies is the rule rather than the eX-
ception.
Gold Fight Inevitable.
There are some Eastern Conserva-
tives. too who do not wish to deprive
the President of the power to fix, in
an emergency, the gold value of our
monetary unit within certain limits,
as at present authorized by Con-
gress, though a fight on this is in
evitable and it is too early to say
how it will turn out. The currency
plank finally written will aim at the
establishment Of a sound monetary
unit and perhaps convertibility of
our currency into specie as a neces-
sary element of soundness, but the
manner of achieving it will hardly be
specified. except that international
stabilization will be urged.
Senator Borah occupies a COM
fnanding position. but only in a po-
tential sense. He could make trouble
If the LandoniteS do not appear to
be meeting his viewpoint But he
would have to get the privileges of
the floor to accomplish that purpose.
Being a candidate he is himself not
a delegate. 1t is not likely the rules
would be suspended to give him
chance to argue his platform ideas.
but, on the other hand. there is a de-
termined effort in the Landon camp
to placate the Senator from Idaho if
possible.
Scene at Rising of Curtain.
AS the convention opens the situa-
tion may be summed up as follows:
Gov. Landon has the nomination |
assured at this writing. This is be- |
cause the preliminary work done in |
his behalf has been thorough and |
effective in every respect. A stop |
Landon" movement can only come
out of platform row. 1t cannot |
arise out of combinations or coaH- |
tions, for thus far the opposition to
Landon Is unco-ordinated and |
heterogeneous. The urge to achieve |
q victory In November supersedes all |
other considerations. Hence, a man |
sger for candidate in opposition to |!
1andon hesitates to do anything
openly to break down the Landon
prestige here.
The only chance for cleavage is |
on principles. Here the stage is set |
for a platform fight. but the Landon |
managers appear shrewd enough to
meet that kind of tactics. If any
thing, Borah is helping the Landon |
cause by his fight on Eastern con-
servatism. He gives momentum and |
justification to the Landon drive to |
develop a progressive platform 1t |
is not impossible for this convention |
to wind up with a Landon-Borah |
ticket, though the Idaho Senator |
would appear to be opposed to any
second-place consideration.
Borah's influence may be felt in |
the final selection of a Landon-
Vandenberg slate Notwithstanding the
Michigan Senator's declination. The |
next combination would be Landon |
and Steiwer-Kansas and Oregon
the covered wagon" trail in 1896 |
politics with a pointed implication of |
return to fundamental American
ism and the rugged character of |
honesty and thrift which character
lied the early pioneers.
Landon Strength Grows.
The Landon strength continues to |
grow. His vote on the first ballot will |
be so close to majority that even if
the Landon managers wish to restrain
1t so as to give 'favorite sons" a
chance, some of the delegation will
insist on switching their vote on the
first roll call SO as to climb the pro-
verbal band wagon
The possibility always exists of an
upset due to a fight on platform, but
the Landon managers are preparing
for eventualities. They will meet the
Borah viewpoint wherever necessary
not because they are anxious to get
his delegates. but because they want
him to campaign for the ticket. AZ