The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-02
Landon Is Growing
as Drive Develops
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER

TOPEKA, Kas. May 1.-THE big league poltlcal
l. education of Gov. Landon began about last &c
tober That was about the time ne nrSG began w
receive serious consideration possible Repuoncan
presidential nominee For six or seven months WIFI
out any great amount of speaking ON MS part, MS
strength has steadily increased until ne Is the iore
most contender. What has happened TO Lanoon ninl
self during this period? -,
tolLed with him last october and again this
week The difference between Landon tnen ana now
is Immediately apparent. There mas peen opvlou S
growth and development. The dlHerence Is e'oo
deal like that which comes over cohege Hesiiail
nv the time he reaches his senior year stage 1rlghC
has been replaced by confidence knowledge mas
been absorbed rapidly. His horizon mas expanoeo'
The country boy is not thinking back on MS Silai
town high school days but is looking out toward the
world into which he expects shortly 10 De Gnrown'
and he is sobery trying to get his bearings. 1nae Is
the kindsof growth that has taken place IN hahoon.
He has absorbed from visitors. Any morning IN his
Office Won will see a cross-section OF America, an
Eastern banker party of California TOURISTS some
body life former Senator Frelinghuysen OF new Jer"
sey visiting editor, politician ne knew IN .ne
1912 Bull Moose campaign, Kansas farmer and MS
wife Some of these visitors have something 10 give
him. others are looking for something from him, ne
takes them as they come.
Landon breaks the grind by getting out OF Topeka
a good deal. One day he is across the line attend
ing an Oklahoma pioneer day celebration. few
DAYS later he is in Kansas City making short talk
to the graduates of Baldwin University. Or he
to Troy Kas. to crown an apple queen.
ONE of Landon's days this week went something
Olike this During morning Office hours he saw an
Eastern business man; held conference with his
legislative leaders the constitutional amendment
which will be required to enact social security egs
lation the original Kansas plan having been rejected
at Washington because it proposed 10 work With
county rather than state, funds; three Topeka
newspaper correspondents; shook hands and chatted
briefly with perhaps 20 casual visitors; climbed into
his roadster with friend and at IL m. set out for
Clay Center Kas. to attend the funeral OF college
clasSmate.
He stopped at Manhattan, Kas. for lunch, saw
several political friends in the hotel and gathered
them around his table Telephoned one or two 9TH
ers, who promptly dropped in and talked state af-
fairs Arriving at Clay Center, he stopped at one
newspaper Office visited with the editor. telephoned
the other who came by and accompanied him to the
funeral called on the widow, and drove back to To-
peka, arriving at the end of 250-mile trip by
D. m.
He had a friend in at dinner. issued statement
commenting on the Massachusetts, primary, and after
an hour or so the porch discussing social insur
ance reciprocal tariffs money complement walked
downtown with his dinner visitors and on to his
office for an evenings work. Occasionally he hides
out to dig and chew over policies. He has studied
Richberg's book on NRA, Epstens work on social in
surance, Hallgreens Gay Reformer." to illustrate
the variety of his reading. OF course, he follows
newspaper and radio discussion closely. At the mo-
ment he Is giving much thought to the kind of plat
form he hopes his friends viii advance at Cleveland