Evening star., 1939-09-20
Landon Sees
Cash and Carry
On All Goods
Believes There Is
Strong Sentiment
For Legislation
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

SIdIlQ OH Tepedl Oh tlle arms ell.
barge, former Gov. ALT M. Landon
of Kansas, Republican Standard
bearer in 1886, said today he be-
lieved very strong sentiment ex-
listed in this country for extension
of the 'cash-and-carry" method of
sales to everything shipped from
this country to the belligerent ma
tons in Europe.
Mr.. Landon came to Washington
this morning with his old running
mate, Col. Frank Knox of Chicago,
on the invitation of President Roose-
welt to attend this afternoons White
House conference with congressional
leaders on neutrality legislation.
Both men expressed their desire
to cooperate" with the President,
and their approval of an adjourn
ment of politics" while this coun-
try's neutrality in the war is at
stake
Both insisted that the main thing
was to keep this country out Of
war-and that the vast majority Of
ment of the United States.
Urges Continuous Congress.
While declining to give his stand
on repeal of the mandatory embargo
against the sale and shipment of
arms and munitions, Mr.. Landon did
urge continuous Congress during
the European war because there is
more confidence in the united judg-
ment of the Representatives than
in any one mans opinion"
AS for repeal of the embargo Mr..
Landon said he wished to hear what
President Roosevelt had to say be-
fore he gave his own opinion.
Meanwhile. Senate Minority Leader
McNary of Oregon, who arrived on
the same train with Mr. Landon and
Col. Knox. took fiat stand against
repeal of the arms embargo. Sena-
tor McNary emphasized that the
issue is not and will not be political
one and based his decision on q
belief this country has a better
chance of keeping out of the war
as the law now stands. He said:
"As minority leader. want to say
first that politics is out the window.
No one is going to take any account
of partisanship. My sole concern is
keeping this country out of the war
and I think this best can be accom-
plshed by maintaining the present
Neutrality Act.
Since the war has commenced
in Europe, fear that any direct
or indirect favoritism shown to any
nation or group of nations might
involve us in the war"
Landon Here to Listen.
Discussing his position at a con-
ference with newspapermen in his
hotel room, Mr.. Landon said:
THE picture is changing so rap
idly, and in view of the Presidents
conference all I can say now is that
I have come to listen" He added
that six or seven weeks ago he had
given his views on the embargo
and the neutrality laws generally to
a magazine.
But they have not yet been pub
lished,' he said with a smile. THE
thing to do is to hear what the
President has to tell us.
There is one thing I am con-
vinced of, however, and that is
Congress should stay in session con-
tinuously during the emergency. The
people have confidence in the united
judgment of their elected repre-
sentatives in the House and Senate.
In this particular situation so much
depends on the slender thread of
incidents. The people have more con-
fdence in the judgment of Congress
as whole than in the judgment of
any one man"
Mr.. Landon would not amplify
this assertion but said he would ex-
press the same opinion to the Pres
ident if he had an opportunity.
Shift in Sentiment.
Discussing the sentiment of the
people in the Midwest, Mr.. Lam
don said there had been a most
interesting shift" in the last two
weeks.
Every one in my section of the
country wants this country to stay
out of war" he amplified. But they
had been rather fatalistic about it.
They were inclined to believe they
would be drawn into it anyway. It
was like the farmer Artemus Ward
told about who went to town say
ing: I'm going to town to get
drunk, and, gosh, how 1 hate it,
But all that has changed. The
people in the Midwest are con-
vinced we can stay out of this war
now"
Mr.. Landon was asked concerning
the attitude of the people in the
Midwest toward repeal of the en-
barge.
Families are divided" he said,
'as are political parties, over that
question"
Mr.. Landon was particularly en-
phatic in his statement that the
great majority of the people are in
favor of adoption of the "cash-and-
carry" plan. The impression he
gave was that he favored such a
plan.
Col. Knox was less reticent about
the arms embargo, saying he always
had been opposed to it. He indi-
(See LANDON, Page A-4J