The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-12-06


Rep. Howard Buffet of Ne
braska blew the whistle on Will
kie at the very start Of the meet
ing, introducing Landon as .
man who was neither a Social
list nor a Democrat before he re-
ceived the Republican Presidential
nomination, nor a New Dealer or
bomber traveller afterward."
Landon first read a prepared
and rather dull diatribe denounc-
ing New Deal domestic policies
and warning Republicans against
endorsing Roosevelt's SoViet-col-
laboration until we know all the
facts about the Moscow confer
ence." Having finished this, he
was peppered with provocative
questions about Willkie.
Rep. Louis Ebenezer Miller OF
MoSollri inquired If Landon lever
intended to write q travelOgue."
The Kansan grinned this one off.
He answered most other questions
regarding Willkie in monosyllables
and refused to mention Willkie by
name at any time. However, he
uncorked one indirect blast when
asked if anyone had the Repub-
lican nomination Gin the bag,
claim Willkie repeatedly made
when he addressed the COP
freshmen some weeks back.
'"That's perfectly absurd, and
I don't care who said it," Lam
don replied. mo one can say at
this time who will be the party
nominee in 1914
ALMOST SECRETARY OF WAR
Landon was his usual colorless
self and the meeting dragged bad
ly in spots. However, all ears
pricked up when the Kansan gave
an inside account of how he was
almost appointed" Secretary OF
War during the 1910 campaign.
He had received a feeler on the
Cabinet appointment from Frank
Altschul of New York, relative of
former Governor Lehman. When
Landon evinced interest, Altschul,
according to Landon, arranged a
White House luncheon at which
the matter was to be talked over.
However, Landon chose this mo-
ment to issue a public blast
against third term for Roosevelt
and the luncheon was called off.
This was in June, 1910, shortly
before Frank Knox was named
Secretary of the Navy and Henry
Stimson became Secretary Of War.
According to Landon, Knox auth
orized him to issue a statement
stating that both he and Landon
would refuse Cabinet appoint
mentS.
II told Frank Knox that he
should make his own statement"
LandOn revealed. IL had called
a press conference for $3.50 in
the afternoon to make an an
nouncement and suggested to
Knox that he meet the press
at a."
At the last minute, Knox changed
his mind. Later he told Lam
don that he was convinced Roose-
welt wouldn't run for third term.
According to Landon, Knox asked
the President bluntly if he would
run again. 'My nerves wouldn't
stand it," the President told Knox,
according to Landon.
"The President phOned me
long distance when 1 returned
to Kansas and ap0lOgized for
cancelling the luncheon" Ian
don added. "He said that it
had only been postponed and
invited me to the White House
the next time I came to Wash
ington."
However, there were no more
feelers regarding a Cabinet post,
the Kansan remarked. Shortly
afterward, Henry Stimson was
named Secretary of War.
PROTECTING THE
PRESIDENT ABROAD
The only people in the U. s. A.
who are really made unhappy by
the Presidents trayels---especially
overSeas--are the Secret Service.
They spend sleepless nights until
he comes home again, worried
that something may happen.
On last winters overseas junket
to CaSablanca, an extraordinary
Journey because they spend so much