Evening star., 1936-05-31
Two Contenders for the
Republican Choice
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

The Republican party-like q village
belle choosing between suitors-thinks
that 1t knows the lucky gentleman to be
honored, but still harbors misgivings.
Gov. Alfred Landon Of Kansas was
on the scene early, pleading his case
directly and through influential friends.
He made an excellent impression, his
record was attractive, he was sincere
and looked like a man to lead the party
to fame and fortune in the coming po-
litical battle. All seemed set for June
choice.
Then q new suitor actively entered the
picture. Senator Arthur Vandenberg of
Michigan had been available all along.
He already had made his way In the po-
litical world with an impressive Senate
record. But he hesitated to press his
case. His friends say that, until very
recently, he really was not interested
in being his party's choice, and through
that lack Of early interest he lost the
inside track.
Gov. Landon came into prominence as
one Of four Republicans elected as Gov
ernors in q period of Democratic land
slides. His State, Kansas, chanced to be
located in part Of the country vitally
needed for party success in 1886. And
the Governor, at a time when govern
mental extravaganza was the prime po-
litical issue, had to his credit State
budget in which outgo and income were
balanced through frugality.
Only now, when his opponents for the
nomination are largely eliminated, has
the party started a searching inquiry
fntn ha fN-
leading in the sort of knock -down-and-
drag-out fight that lies ahead.
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The following criticisms are being
made within the Republican party itself
by those who are directing last-minute
argument for different decision than
the one generally expected.
First, these critics say, Gov. Landon
is not a strong campaigner. His hackers
talk of front porch campaign with
relatively few forays on the stump. They
argue that the country is tired of the
well-tuned radio voice and the plausible
stories Of the stump speaker. Others
argue differently.
Next, according to his critics, the Gov
ernor has no clear record of New Deal
opposition. Rather, they assert, his views
on farm policy, on currency and on the
Constitution are not greatly different
from those Of President Roosevelt.
Finally, the Governors critics argue,
Mr.. Landon Is without experience in
dealing with problems of national scope
and would need to spend too much Of
his campaign time explaining rather
than attacking.
Gov Iandon's partv opy,opeptc oIso
are aware Of the ammunition being
stored up in Washington for use by
Democrats in dealing with the descrip-
ton Of the Governor as a man who has
a successful formula for solving the Ma
tion's budget problem.
The record in Kansas is being worked
up with special care by departments of
the Federal Government concerned in it.
Every one now knows how that State
has established its place among the
group of States with balanced budget.
Much of the Governors fame rests on
that fact and on the fact that taxes
have been reduced in the process of
achieving a balance. But not everybody
knows the side of the story developed
here by Government departments for
later use.
This part Of the story-of which Gov.
Landon and the country will hear much
In the event Of his omination-involves
the following oficial figures:
To help Kansas deal with unemploy-
ment, the Federal Government contrib
uted $39, 9,949. 400 for direct relief, $ll,-
800 .466 in C. w. A. jobs and, through
May 3. a total of SIS, $50 600 for w. P. A.
jobs. This amounted to $67 ,0Ss 1885, while
the State government contributed
$470877.
To help Kansas agriculture, the Fed
eral Government paid farmers of that
State $87, ,459 259 in rental and benefit
payments, it disbursed $7,526,Ol8 in
drought relief checks and is paying about
$15,000,000 in winding up the original
A. A. A. Figures on the probable new
soil conservation program payments are
not available. But about $110, 900 900 of
Federal money has gone and is going to
Kansas farmers.
To help save Kansas farms and homes
from mortgage foreclosure, the Farm
Credit Administration poured 1l7,574, 100
into the State in 40,624 loans, while the
Home Owners Loan Corp. made 18,497
loans on city property for total of
$SzyS0S,otZ.
To help Kansas banks and other finan-
cial institutions, the Reconstruction
Finance Corp. loaned $16, ,491 AIT, and to
bolster its construction industry, the
Public Works Administration paid out
$32,228,174.
In other words, Mr.. Roosevelt is get
ting ready to contend that his New Deal,
not the Governor, balanced the Kansas
budget with a deluge of $375, ,722, 1876
poured from the Federal Treasury into
that State during the last three years.
Ohcials here say that there is no
record Of Gov. Landon opposing the
policies Of the National Government that
led to these payments, but that there
is record of the States request for
more Federal money, while its State taxes
were being cut.
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Senator vandenburg has q record
Of consistent opposition to the Presi-
dents policies. He is shrewd politician
and an effective campaigner who knows
all of the tricks of the trade. Single
handed, he bested the Democratic lead
ership in the White House and in the
Senate on the following issues:
l. Continued appropriations for the
Presidents plan to spend $50, 900 to
put the moon to work making electricity
on the Bay of Fundy along the Maine
Coast.
2. Continued appropriations for the
mysterious 100000. 900 Florida Ship
Canal