The Washington times., 1936-10-02


GOV. LANDON paign train.
The story probably shows a
G. o. P. trend. or something very
significant. Anyhow, it reveals
the Republican candidate as a
likable fellow. Here's the tale:
This game was impromptu. 1t
began during the party given to
the governor by the Milwaukee
journal Immediately after the
governor had finished a speech.
The party was held at the Hotel
Schrader. A definitely Germanic
hostelry with dark, figured wall
paper and fat upholstery. The
food served was also Teutonic, a
heavy buffet of thickly sliced cold
meats, massive sausages, cheeSeS,
rye and aniseed bread and rolls.
The Governor was in a partic-
ularly CHEEKY humor. People were
telling him that Ibis Social Secur-
ity speech" of the evening was ex-
cellent. That morning the St.
Louis Post Dispatch had come out
for him as President. He liked
that.
AS Mr.. Landon wandered around
the refreshment room he spied
several of his old bridge enemies
among the neWSpapermen. He
said:
"See here, you owe me $40.
7 mean to get it back tonight.
What about organizing a little
game right away"
William K. Hutchinson of the
International News, James Lloyd
Wright, of the Detroit Free Press,
and Ernest Lindley of the New
York Herald Tribune followed the
Governor into the sitting room Of
his suite. It was then about $50.
Ernes Lindley, who is the biog-
rapher of President Roosevelt, was
the Republican candidates part
ner.
The game went on intensly, for
hours. Governor Landon, so we
understand, is not flashing, why
not-take-a-chance player. Nor does
he follow the latest rules Of Mr..
Culbertson or any other authority.
He plays his own game in his own
conservative way. But he wants to
win.
At II o'clock he hadn't his
money back, and he showed no
sign of quitting. His special train
awaited him in the Milwaukee
Station. It had been waiting since
9 o'clock. For everyone thought
the Governor would be too tired
to go to the Milwaukee Journal
party.
At o'clock the train was chug
ging away petulantly, still on the
siding. It had expected to receive
the Governor hours before, to bear
him away to some quiet stop in the
country for a good nights sleep.
At half-past one, no Governor.
At 2 o'clock he finally arrived,
walking briskly. It was now the
wrong hour for even candidates
special to take to the tracks with
out risk of accident. The train
had to spend most of the remain
ing night in the station.
The next morning the Governor
was up early. Before many Of the
people on the train we're awake, he
went off to see Former Governor
1owden on his 4,500-acre farm.
Incidentally, it was Governor Low
den who announced the sound
American doctrine Of the small
family farm.
When the correspondents finally
caught up with Candidate Landon
he was looking more than ordinary
well in a borrowed riding habit, a
more splendid habit than the
Governor usually wears when he
rides, but a trifle large. The
breeches were of grey whipcord.
The coat of the best black.
The boots we're superb, English
boots of that rare brown which
shades into a Silvery grey. The
sort of boots you see in window
on Bond Street but seldom on a
mans legs.
Mr.. Lowden's English groom
knelt down to fasten the spurs
of Mr.. Lowden's boots. The Gov
ernor of KANSAS put on his own
spurs.
And away the two went, Ian
don and Lowden. With Mr..
Lowden's pretty young daughter
riding between them.
Unfortunately we cannot report
that the Governor got his money
back at the bridge game. The
gentlemen with whom he played
are wandering in remote places
writing about the campaign. But
the impression of those who heard
about the game was that Mr.. Ian
don did not collect. But he wore
down the enemy in four hours
and a half trying.