Evening star., 1936-03-27
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Because Of deep-seated popular an
tipathy to anything remotely savoring
of entangling alliances. it's regarded
highly probably that the Senate will
scrutinize minutely the pledge into which
the United States and Great Britain
have just entered to maintain parity as
between their respective fleets and not
engage in any form of naval competi-
ton. The pledge is not incorporated in
the Anglo-Franco-American three-power
Qualitative" limitation treaty, which re-
Quires Senate ratification. It's contained
in notes exchanged between AmbasSa-
dor Norman H. Davis and Foreign Secre-
tary Anthony Eden. State Department
officials emphasize that no question of
an alliance is involved in any sense what
ever. The Davis-Eden correspondence,
it's explained, merely reafirms views that
have governed the naval policies Of the
two countries since the Washington
Armament Conference. Nevertheless, the
alliance idea may be raised in some sensi-
tive isolationist quarter. If there's any
danger that it may hold up ratification,
categorical assurances designed to re-
move senatorial qualms will doubtless
be forthcoming from President Roose-
velt or Secretary Hull.
Gov. Landon's people are now at q
point at which they confidently discuss
their hero's convention prospects in
terms of figures. They claim he Is as
sured at this early stage of at least 125
delegates from west of the Mississippi,
and that enough more are in sight in
other sections particularly in the East, to
foreshadow a first-ballot strength of
well over 200 votes and nomination on
the third or fourth ballot. The Kan
sans supporters are not overawed by the
whirlwind campaigns of Borah and
Knox. They say the Governor under no
circumstances will be stampeded into
State primary contests with the Idahoan
and the Illinoisan. Uninstructed dele
cations from all parts of the country, ac-
cording to Landon enthusiasts, will be
found clambering onto the Kansan's
band wagon relatively early in proceed
ings on the shores of Lake Erie in the
second week of June.
In general, the Governors boosters pre-
dict he will have almost as smooth sail
ing at Cleveland as President Roosevelt
expects at Philadelphia.
n r Il II
Day by day, in every way, the Sum
flower States favorite son seems to be
striving to deserve the title of the Kansas
Coolidge. Having adopted thrift, econ
omy and common sense" as his keynote
policies, he also is practicing, as far as
pre-convention strategy is concerned, the
outstanding Coolidge virtue of silence.
Landon's latest effort to pattern after the
taciturn Vermonter seems to be the use
of an "oficial spokesman" in the person
of John Hamilton, formerly of the head
quarters staff of the Republican Ma
tional Committee, who Is now devoting
himself exclusively to the Landon can
didacy. Mr.. Hamilton chose the medium
of a Nationwide broadcast the other
night officially to present" Gov. Landon
to the country as an aspirant for the Re-
publican presidential nomination and
outline his program. The KanSan reSo-
lutely refuses invitations to speak IN
person in this part of the country.
"How Congress Makes Laws" is the
title Of q forthcoming book by former
Senator Clarence G. Dill, Democrat, of
Warrington etats. Based upon his 10