AMERICAN POLITICS

Evening Star, Issue 22327, 1 May 1936, Page 1

AMERICAN POLITICS

ROOSEVELT'S OPPONENT STILL A MYSTERY In a few months’ time the Republican Convention to nominate a Presidential candidate will open in Cleveland, and no one yet has the vaguest notion as to who will be chosen as the party’s official standard bearer in the fight to oust Air Roosevelt from office, writes Douglas Williams, from New York to the ‘ Daily Telegraph.’ Amid a babel of dissentient tongues, all ready and willing to hurl criticism at New Deal policies, not one authoritative voice is heard in leadership, cither to enunciate a definite party form or to select an individual candidate. Several trial horses will undoubtedly be given a run within the next month or so to test public feeling, but it is probable that the final decision will be delayed as long as possible and that speculation as to the identity of the Republican contender will continue unabated right up to the assembly of the nominating Convention in Cleveland next Juno. NO STANDARD BEARER. Afuch manoeuvring for preferred positions is now in progress among half a dozen potential candidates, some of whom have already thrown their hats into tho political ring; but in sharp contrast to the situation existing in the Democratic camp, cither now’ or in 1932, no one man can yet be singled out as the party's chosen standard bearer. Senator Borah, a Congressional veteran of 30 years’ service and highly respected throughout the nation for his personal integrity and independence of action, has already entered the contest. Regarded as tho spearhead of the Liberal forces, his “ opening gun ” speech, recently delivered in a Brooklyn auditorium, aroused considerable comment. but was criticised by many as ignoring immediate practical issues facing the country, such as the Budget, the currency, and Federal expenditures. His suggestion for a sort of modified Townsend pension plan, whereby all aged people would receive £l2 a month from the Government, is also likely to alienate the Conservative elements in i tho electorate. | Side by side with Borah as an obvi-1 ous candidate is the former President, I Herbert Hoover, He has not yet admitted his intention to enter the ring, but his frequent excursions up and down the country attacking the present Administration in a series of vitriolic speeches force the j conclusion that he' has more than aj mere academic interest in the forthcoming contest. Hoover, however, is a sbewd politician and will doubtless maintain reticence as to his own personal objectives until the political kaleidoscope has settled down into a less conferee! pattern. VERY CONSERVATIVE. Mr Hoover epitomises Republican ultra-conservatism, and will undoubt-, edly seek an alignment diametrically j opposed to the liberal tendencies of the excoriated New Deal. Air Borah, on i tho other hand, whose record shows he 1 has supported Roosevelt more than he has opposed him, will hope to draw ad-; herents from the Progressive wing of j liis party. j Hoover and Borah are no longer on tho terms of close friendship that marked their political affiliation in the 1928 Smith-Hoover battle, and in recent years their paths have gone far apart, until to-day the political philosophy of one is anathema to the other. Tho natural conclusion would be that neither can win tho nomination, and it is equally difficult to see how a compromise can be reached between them. Apart from the personalities of Air Hoover and Air Borah, a number of other picturesque characters project themselves on to the Republican screen. First of these is Alfred Landon, Prohibition Governor of Kansas, I recently discovered by Air Randolph Hearst as the ” Cal Coolidge ” of the West.

He is temperate and fair, and gifted with sound judgment and moderate opinions. He speaks in homely, simple language, and Ids preaching of the old, derided gospel of thrift and economy falls with soothing effect on the ears of a nation temporarily deafened by the clamour of grandiose schemes of wild spending and riotous extravagance.

The Kansas Governor, however, is little known outside his State boundaries, and it remains to be seen whether_ ho can develop enough preConvention strength to make him an important factor in the initial balloting. National support given him so far has come chiefly from tho Hearst newspaper chain, an endorsement that some of his opponents have been cruel enough to describe as “ the kiss of death.” COLONEL KNOX.

Another likely candidate is Colonel Frank Knox, the übiquitous publisher of the Chicago ‘ Daily Nows.’ a relative newcomer to the boisterous city that sprawls along the shore of Lake Aiicliigan. Colonel Knox disavows Liberal tendencies, and bis pronounced conservatism, similar to that of Air Hoover, serves to balance the scale against Borah and Landon among the avowed contenders.

Any consideration of Republican Presidential possibilities is incomplete without some examination of the ‘‘ dark horses ’’—personalities which sometimes emerge unexpectedly from a convention deadlock. In this field of speculation looms another Aliddle Westerner, Senator Arthur Vanclcnburg. Young as ages go in tho Senate, still little more than 50. the Michigan Senator has pursued a compromise policy in Washington politics, both supporting and opposing various New Deal policies. His relations with Air Hoover are not unfriendly, and the vigorous attacks ho has made from time to time on some of the more radical phases of the Now Ileal have stamped him as acceptable to conservative elements. He is probably in. a stronger position to take advantage of a possible HooverBorali impasse than half a dozen other aspirants who may be brought forward. Other “ dark horses ” arc former Secretary of the Treasury Ogdon Alills. Congressman James Wadsworth, and Bertrand Snell ('cade- of the House A 1 iuority)—all New Yorkers of no special prominence at the moment.