Evening star., 1936-03-15
How Presidential
Race Is Lining Up
By Ocen L. Scott.

AS they head around the first turn in
elimination trials for the November
presidential race, contestants Just now
stand in the following order:
Franklin Roosevelt, winning by de-
fault for the Democrats.
Alfred Landon, Governor of Kansas,
decisively out In front among big field
entered for the Republicans.
But, with three months to 60 before
the definite selection of candidates, any
thing still can happen in the Republican
race. Entries other than Landon are
punched at the moment, waiting for an
opening to dash ahead. Their DISPOSE
ton is about as follows:
Senator william E. Borah, wise to all
Of the tricks Of the game, ready to try
to trip up any Of the runners not to
his liking, even If the result Is disbar-
ment for himself. He Is out to win, but,
II not able to take the honor, his OBJ
jective is to keep that honor from going
to an individual not acceptable to him.
Borah strategy is to fight for as many
pledged delegates as possible.
Herbert Hoover, former President, now
educated in many Of the tricks Of the
political game and also determined to
elbow out or trip UP runners who are
distasteful. Each Of the two, Senator
Borah and Mr.. Hoover, is determined
to eliminate the other, as we'll as friends
of the other, If that is possible. Their
maneuvers will be the center of closest
attention in the final months. Hoover
strategy is to arrange unpledged State
doiona finnc hlo tn rnruoyntiOYr hor-
gaining.
Frank Knox, publisher Of the Chicago
Daily News, out in front few months
ago, appears now to be a bit winded
as a result of the early pace setting He
now has pledged support from his for
mer home State, New Hampshire, and
is trying hard to get back into the run
ming by getting help from the South.
Knox strategy is to fight for delegations
from some States and to dicker for those
from others.
Senator Arthur Vandenberg Of Michi-
gan, jogging along, is depending on a
tangle among other runners to give him
a chance to capitalize on the confusion
and to push through to the prize. His
strategy is to attract as much public
attention as possible. but to lie low on
any campaign for delegates.
y s. X
The Landon lead in this field Is COM
manding. The Kansas Governor is being
Shrewdly advised by experienced poll
ticians and newspaper men. He has made
few false steps as yet His strategy is to
avoid battles with the other contestants,
to take an interest in "favorite son"
delegations, to arrange for pledged dele
cations where that is possible without
fighting other candidates and to allow
managers to arrange the practical de-
tails involved in maneuvering for victory
in a convention of 1,00l delegates.
Senator Borah is reported to be in
creasingly suspicious of the Landon can
didacy. He is taking note that the east
ern wing of the Republican party-in-
cluding the leaders he is determined to
unseat-are showing friendliness to the
Kansas Governor.
II any tripping is done to cut short
the Landon sprint, Senator Borah prob
ably will do it.
The Democratic political planners are
pretty we'll convinced at this stage that
there will be no tripping of Gov. Landon
and are laying their lines accordingly.
For the Democrats, about the only re-
naming question Of party Importance Is
this:
Who If anybody, will take a walk"
at Philadelphia?
There is no opposing candidate who
harbors q thought that he can stop the
denomination of President Roosevelt Col.
Henry Breckinridge of New York, Col.
Charles A. Lindberghs attorney and a
former Assistant Secretary of State, Is
entering some presidential preference
primaries in opposition to the President,
but more as q gesture than otherWlse'
He expects few results.
Most of the conservative Democratic
Senators, who might have led a con-
vention walking delegation, now are edg-
ing back into the fold. Senator Tydlngs
of Maryland, Senators Glass and BYRD OF
Virginia, and Senator Bailey OF North
Carolina, among others, are forgetting
their differences with the President as
campaign time draws nearer.
Gov Eugene Talmadge OF Georgia,
who once imagined himself as sue
cessor to the late Huey Long In leading
the Roosevelt opposition, has been un-
able to strike fire. He may not even
get a seat in the convention.
r. X X
That leaves Al Smith Of New York,
former Gov. Ely of Massachusetts, and
former Senator Jim Reed Of Missouri to
direct the walking delegates In the
Democratic assembly. And there Is no
assurance that either Mr.. Ely or Mr..
Reed will even get into the convention.
except as possible visitors.
In other words, regularity Is basic IN
the politicians creed.
There often is much talking OF q
"bolt" from one party to the other
and more talk about coalition" Of
Democrats and Republicans, but, when
the campaign guns start to thunder, the
politicians, except on rare occasions. are
found running back to the shelter OF
their old party. They are doing 1t now.
y \ y
Then what of the campaign coming
up?
Democrats are planning on the basis
of Gov. Landon as the Republican
nominee.
The line of attack and Of defense is
becoming clear.
President Roosevelt will be charged
with failure to prescribe an effective
remedy for the country's ills. The proof
of failure will rest on continued large.
scale unemployment and a record
breaking relief bill. Its cause will be
attributed to wild-eyed experiments that
led the country away from constitutional
Government created huge bureaucracy,