Evening star., 1936-02-16
HARMONIOUS CONCLAVE
SEEN FOR REPUBLICANS
Small Blocks of Delegates Will Be
Obtained by Candidates, but
Emotional Trend Is Lacking.

way, before dnyDOQy else has QOne SO,
announces definitely that he is can.
didate for the nomination. Even so,
there still remains disposition on the
part Of leaders and newspapers to
doubt whether Senator Borah is a
candidate in the sense of really want
ing the nomination. 1t should be
added, however, that a considerable
number of close observers have come
to think that Senator Borah genuinely
wants the nomination.
Speculation on Other Motives.
Those who continue to doubt
whether Senator Borah's wish to get
the nomination is as strong as that OF
some others speculate about the Sec
ondary motives he might have. Some
surmise his purpose may merely be to
assemble behind him a considerable
block of delegates in the convention
who will help him write into the party
platform certain planks that he par
ticularly desires. The surmise that
this is Senator Borah's primary pur-
pose is given a certain amount of au-
thenticity by some of his own early
utterances about his plans several
weeks ago. Those early utterances
stressed, not the wish on his part to
have the presidential nomination, but
rather his determination that the Re
publicans should have a platform OF
the kind he deems desirable.
Yet other politicians and commen-
tators think Senator Borah's primary
purpose is not necessarily to get him
self nominated, but to prevent the
nomination of one or another OF the
other possibilities. Yet others surmise
that the Senator's major purpose is to
direct the nomination toward some one
whom he approves. In this connec-
ton, Senator Vandenberg of Michigan
is often mentioned as the presumed
beneficiary of Senator Borah's favor.
Still others surmise that the desire
really nearest to the Senator's heart
is to be reelected to the Senate for
what will be, if it comes, sixth con-
secutive term, and that he regards run
ming in the Nation for the presiden-
tial nomination as a good way 70
strengthen himself for getting the Sen
atorship from his own State.
While an accurate summary OF the
thought of political leaders and news
paper men in Washington must men
ton the existence of continued skep-
ticism about whether Senator Borah
really wants the nomination. 1t is also
true that many who formerly had
these doubts have now come to believe
the Idaho Senator is out for the nomi-
nation as earnestly as any one else.
The question will be answered some
time. Possibly it may be answered
by the results in some Of the early
primaries in States in which Mr..
Borah has entered his name. The
answer, in short, may lie as much
in the minds Of the voters as in the
Senator'S own. If Senator Borah
should win some early primary in a
fairly large State, and win 1t de.
cisively, there would then be little
doubt that he and his hackers would
try earnestly for the nomination.
vote-getter Is Necessary.
Into discussions of the qualifica-
tions of Republican possibilities for
the presidential nomination, of who
would be the best candidate, many
considerations enter. The main con-
sideration Is, what one Of the pos.
sibilities would get the most votes?
Conceding, of course, that the cam
didate must be a man who, II elected,
would make O good President, the
question is which one of them would
get the most votes in contest against
Mr.. Roosevelt, who, Of course, viii be
the Democratic candidate.
In such q discussion there is q dis
position to emphasize personality. 1t
Is assumed by many that the Re-
publican candidate should be 9 strik-
ing figure, that he should have charm
of personality, and especially that he
should have o good radio voice. A
good radio voice" has come to be
stressed as much as power OF thought
or soundness Of views. It Is pointed
out that several Of the Republican
possibilities are relatively unknown;
that q comparatively little known
man, II nominated, will have only
four months in which to make his
impression on the public, and that
therefore striking qualities Of per-
sonality, including effectiveness in use
of the radio, Is highly necessary.
But we can be sure Of this? Is II
necessary to subordinate power Of
thought to power Of voice and charm
Continued on Eighth Page.l