Evening star., 1936-09-20
This Man Gov. Landon!

by the President; that the integrity
and authority Of the Supreme Court
have been fiouted, or that the rights
and liberties of American citizens
have been violated. II Mr.. Landon
were a Democrat think he would
still believe that the New Deal has
dishonored our country by repudiat-
Ing its most sacred obligations; 1t has
been guilty of frightful wastes and
extravaganza, using public funds for
partisan political purposes; it has Gre
ated q vast multitude of new offices.
filed them with its favorites, set up
centralized bureaucracy and sent
out swarms Of inspectors to harass
our people; 1t has bred fear and hesi-
tation in commerce and industry,
thus discouraging new enterprises,
preventing employment and prolong-
ing the depression" In the words OF
the Republican platform.
Although Gov. Landon himself
wrote only q part Of that document.
he was thoroughly familiar with every
thought and every phrase.
When he speaks about sound cur
rency he has in mind q convertible
gold standard. When he urges sta
bilization "as soon as we can do 50
with regard to our national interests
and as soon as other nations have
sufficient stability to justify such ac-
tion,' it represents q great deal OF
thinking. and it is, incidentally, his
own thinking. Mr.. Landon has little
confidence in those who contend for
a dollar whose value can be manipu-
lated at will. He sees too clearly the
danger of sickening imitation that
would erase values and do the Nation
irreparable harm. His training warns
him that a continued orgy OF spend
ing may bring a reputation Of the
Governments debt, directly or through
the medium of imitation, and in any
event will result in greatly reduced
standard Of living because OF an in
tolerable tax burden.
It is, think, perfectly obvious to
Gov. Landon that we must either con-
tinue the present social and economic
order or substitute for it some sys-
tenn that has fair chance to succeed
I think he regards the present system
unsatisfactory as it has proved itself
in many respects to be), as by and
large the most satisfactory system that
the civilized world has yet developed
on an adequate scale. He sees, more
clearly than most people, that a long
period would be necessary to introduce
and definitely prove or disprove an
other system-probably as much as Sc
or Is years-and so 1t becomes in
creasingly obvious to him that this is
a matter requiring deliberate and
carefully thought out action.
He Sees the Economic Cloud.
He has seen and properly interpreted
the growing cloud in the economic sky
Today it Is no larger than a mans
hand, but 1t is an ominous cloud and
could portend cyclone. If, through
stupidity on the part of industry, that
cloud Is permitted to assume the pro-
portions of cyclone, big business will
have only itself to blame. Special
privileges for q favored few has nc
place in this mans clean-cut, forward
looking thinking. In the first place
that isn't honest; in the second, it il
economically unsound. He has earned
some of the good things of life fol
himself; he demands the same right
for others. He believes in a COM
Portable standard of living for any
one who is willing to work. His social
security plank is sincere expression
of his philosophy. think he regards
a modification of the power held BY
some great American fortunes as in
evitable, but he would have the modi-
fcation brought about by honest and
scientific means.
1t was not alone the need of presi.
Dental timber that brought Landor
into the limelight. Even his political
opponents agree that he has been able
and efficient In handling the affairs Of
Kansas. The cost of running the State
has been reduced nearly IS per cent
under his management. Deficits have
been transferred into cash balances
The balance sheet no longer shows
contingent liabilities representing large
sums spent in anticipation of tax col.
lections. Public schools have beer
consolidated, effecting a substantial
saving, but providing the children with
improved facilities. These are merely
some Of the outstanding things that
have been done, and it is showing
that can't be laughed away. Un.
doubtedly Landon has displayed un.
usual acumen and executive ability o.
high order. If one suggests some.
thing of this sort he will tell you thai