The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-02
MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1896,


TINE political wisdom of restraint is demonstrated
as Gov. ALT Landon edges forward in his can
didacy for the Republican presidential nomination.
Other candidates have blown hot and cold as
their shrin cries about dictatorship the wreck of
democracy and the Stacking of liberties have
captured the front page for a day and passed from
the public mind the next.
1t is no accident that Landons political poten-
talities have loomed steadily larger. For he has
kept his head
An example is his treatment of the relief problem
in his speech at Lincoln Neb.
Whereas other Republican orators have talked as
if the depression was the invention of the Demo-
Gratis and the extending of Federal relief a New
Deal innovation which automatically pauperzed
what had been rugged and sef-suficient segment
of our population. The Kansas Governor doesn't
insult the intelligence Of the electorate.
Federal financial aid was obviously necessary in
our recent emergency" he admits.
T7HEN he attacks the policy where it is weakest
l. in the execution Here excerpts:
The WPA program has slammed the door to en-
ployment on public works to every one except per-
manent relief clients AS a result, those who might
otherwise have become self-sustaning have been
forced back on relief in order to obtain temporary
employment
"Idealists may have been at the front door
preaching social justice, but party henchmen have
been at the back door handing out jobs"
Let us as Republicans, make it clear to the needy
everywhere that the changes we pledge will bring
order out of chaos by purgng the Federal relief adj
ministraton of craftsmanship, of waste and mcom-
petence, In short, what we propose is to make
relief both honest and effective"
On agriculture he doesn't just go along with the
Supreme Court because Save the Constitution"
happens TO be the popular Republican campaign
technique this year. Though of the main rea-
sons given by the court for throwing out AAA was
that farming is strictly local affair, Landon says:
Among all the problems that are pressing for
consideration today if there is that is truly ma
tional it is the distress of agriculture"
TN most of the Republican oratory there has been
that back to-the- old-order appeal the answer
to our present experimentation. But not from
Landon.
I'VE can not go back to the days before the de-
preston We must go forward facing
problems"
And then some common sense on Federal finance:
IF we are overburdened by debt, we can not go
forward In a word must persevere until
have balanced our budget. After ali, however, lib
eral we are. whatever progressive instinct tempts
us and inspires us, common sense and sound policy
tell us that we can only be liberal af
ford to be and pay debts and live in decent self
respect. ..
IF the money is spent, must get it somehow,
some way If spend what do not have, to-
day, we must pay the bill tomorrow. Every time
we put off present obligations mortgage future
rewards and future opportunities"
There many things about the Landon candi-
dacy do not hke-for instance the ambiguity with
which he talks of the need of greater farm pur-
chasing power without venturing detailed program
to achieve it. But even that is an admission that
he hasn't all the answers-a confession most cam
paign hopefuls haven't mustered the modesty to
express Anyway ambiguity apparently is smarter
politics than stridency.
Nor do we like the odor of many reactionary and
selfish persons who have attached themselves to the
Landon candidacy.
But at least they have been Shrewd enough to
pick politician who has the capacity to distinguish
himself by not running in herd"