Evening star., 1936-05-19

gates already chosen had important
places In the Hoover administration
and are ardent admirers of the former
President. 1t has been expected that
these delegates, coming from many of
the States, would vote for Mr.. Hoo
yer on the first ballot in the conven-
ton.
Furthermore, Mr.. Hoover's friends
in the California delegation have con-
sidered giving him the vote of the
whole delegation on the first ballot. 1t
is known, however, that Mr.. Hoover
put his foot down on this proposal.
The California delegates are "unin-
structed." They defeated a slate Of
Landon- instructed delegates, backed
by William Randolph Hearst and Gov.
Merriam. Hoover and his friends
stood strongly for the "uninstructed"
slate. Now, Mr.. Hoover, maintains
the California delegation should act,
not for him, but as uninstructed dele
gates.
Effect Of Announcement.
The announcement of Mr.. Hoover
that he is not candidate releases
these friends of his who are delegates
to the National Convention from any
obligation they may feel to vote for
him there. Doubtless some of them
will vote for him anyway. Others may
feel that they are at liberty to support
one of the candidates.
In his statement to the press Mr..
Hoover. referring to the agricultural
program of the G. O. p, said, For
mer Gov. Lowden of Illinois should
be asked to write the agricultural
plank for the convention"
Change Is Noted.
Eight years ago Lowden was the
chief contender with MIR. Hoover for
the Republican presidential nomina-
ton. Lowden believed in the old
McNary- -Haugen equalization fee"
plan for farm relief. Lowdsn in a
rage finally abandoned his candidacy
and left the convention city and the
field to Mr.. Hoover. In those days
Mr.. Hoover and Mr.. Lowden did not
see eye to eye at all in regard to the
farm problem. Apparently that con-
dition has changed.
Lowden Is highly regarded in the
East as well as in the West. He
served as chairman of the Republican
grass roots" conference in Spring.
field. Ill. last Summer He is about 73
years old, however. and this has mill
tated against his possible candidacy
for the Republican presidential NOM
ination this year. Also, Illinois has
favorite son candidate in Col. Frank
Knox, Chicago publisher.
Mentioned for Second Place.
Despite his age. Mr.. Lowden is
being seriously mentioned as a DOS
sible vice presidential candidate, on a
ticket with Gov. Landon as the can
didate for President. Whether Mr..
Lowden would accept such a nomina-
tion is not definitely known.
If Mr.. Lowden is to write the farm
plank for the Republicans, as sug-
gested by Mr.. Hoover and a day or
two ago by Harrison Spangler. Re-
publican national committeeman for
Iowa in charge of the Western head
quarters, it may be a soil-conserva-
tion measure. If so, it will give the
States greater control than under the
present Roosevelt act.
Lowden, in an interview with the
Associated Press last January. out
lined such plan. In brief 1t called
for grants by the Federal Govern
ment to the States to pay bounties to
the farmers for removing from culti-
vation from rs to so per cent of their
land from production. The acres re-
tired from cultivation of the usual
crops would be planted in soil-cor-
serving legumes. The purpose would
be to combat soil erosion and surplus
crops.
Control of Expenditures.
Lowden proposed that the control
OF the money expenditure should be
under the State colleges of agricul-
ture. In this way, he said, the objec-
tion OF the Supreme Court to the A.
A. A. would be met and agricultural
production would be dealt with as
purely local matter.
Lowden has been In Europe for
several months. but is expected to re-
turn by the end of this month.
It is known that Gov. Landon of
has some very definite ideas
regarding the farm problem and the
farm plank for the Republican ma