The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-20
Five Race Rivals BuncEled After
 Kansan
BY LYLE c. WILSON

United Press Staff COrreBpOndentI
 Washington (UP) Half a dozen contestants for the Repub- Iican presidential nomination are preparing today to move on Cleve- land in the widest go,p. scram- bic for political preferment since Warren c. Harding outran the field in 1920,
 The Republican National Con- vention will meet in Cleveland, June 9, and in five days or less should present to the nation a candidate and platform to oppose the New Deal in lo36. Democrats will convene in Philadelphia, June g.
 High hopes and enthusiasm per- wade the republican party this year in contrast to l932. Rocked by caiamItouS reverses in 1892 and 1884, the g.o.p. sees an opportunity now to take advantage of democra" tic mistakes. Through the fat years of the l02os the g.op. raced to trouble born of depression ana from 1880 through three general elections was on the defensive.
 Back on Offensive
 Republican leaders plan now to take tho offensive for the first time since lo30 when the trend of popu. lar feeling was indicated by cleo" ton of c Democratic majority to the house of representatives.
 Governor Ali M. Landon is lead- ing the republican field as the bunt- ing and flags are uncased in Cleve. land for the big republican political week. Developing against him is an informal stop-Landon movement created by necessity of other con- tenders to get rid of the Kansan II their own candidates arc to have more than passing consideration.
 Strategy in all republican political camps this year is oriented to one agreed objective. That Is to regain the west won in 1882 by the Roose- Garner democratic tocket which carried oil but six northeastern states. Republicans are agreed that their Presidential nominee this year must be from the west or middle west The nominee for vice-presi- dent probably will come from the cast.
 Hoover Nominal Leader
 After Landon are punched i've major republican contenderS:
 Senator William F, Borah Of Idaho Frank Knox of Illinois, Sem ator Arthur II. Vandenberg of Mich- igan, Senator Frederick Steiwer of oregon and Senator Lester J. Dick ingon of Iowa. Former President Herbert c. Hoover is nominal leader of the republican party and will rank as such until the convention names its ie38 ticket. MT. Hoover is Q possible nominee but the odds against him are tremendous. Old Guard leaders oppose him and in- sist that the political blight of de- pression attaches to She Hoover name. But a deadlocked conYen- ton = provided 1t were deadlocked long enough - might turn to Hoover as Democrats in 1924 finally roared approval of John W. Davis.
 Those cheers in the Old Madison Square Garden after nine days sweaty battling were shouted more in joy that broke and weary dele gates at last could go home than as expression of enthusiasm for the just-chosen democratic nominee.
 Strength Seen Rising
 Contrasting with the weakness of the Hoover position at the Cleve- land National Convention next month is the opinion of many ob- servers that the former president would be a rather strong candidate if the convention did name him. In two years of speaking and writ ing, especially speeches delivered in the past 12 months, Mir. Hoover enjoyed an excellent press and re- gained some of his prestige. He probably is a more popular man to- day than in November, 1882, when he lost to President Roosevelt. on that occasion he boiled l5,7l5.OOO votes against 20,336,000 for MT. Roosevelt. Mir. Hoover might be ex- pected to run a better race this year.
 In common with Borah, Knox and the others, Mir. Hoover first must block Landon if he desires to satis- gs and personal political aspirations. Borah, Knox and Landon have been The hsost active republican candi- dates.
 Ianden Avoids Primaries
 Landon refused to enter primaries