Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 June 1936 — Page 14
INDON HAS SOPHISTICATION BUT ‘JUST FOLKS’ ROLE FITS 'HIMWELL, WRITER ASSERTS
- Governor Couldn't Have Gone to Cleveland If He Had Wanted to, Davis Says; Campaign Tactics Prohibited Such Action.
BY FORREST DAVIS
’
Times Special Writer
TOPEKA, June 12—The Cleveland convention may
have missed Alf M. Landon’s ingratiating presence.
Landon
himself, following the set path of his “old folks at home” ‘campaign here in ‘I'opeka, may have congratulated himself on escaping the sticky excitements of the foregathered
statesmen over in Ohio.
The small town, mid-American habits of Topeka fit the candidate like an old shoe. Unpreteptious friendliness is a cult in Kansas—and Alf Landon is no.dissenter.
But whatever his personal wishes; ‘Kansas could not have exchanged the s
the Governor of ller goldfish bowl
in which he has existed the last six months for Cleveland had
he desired.
However sweetly the long
awn-out cheers of
the multitude at Cleveland might have rung in his ears, the
stern pattern of his carefully tailored campaign for the nomination — and the presidency—forbade his mingling
with the politicians. A home-folks candidate is Landon. A man not alone of the people,'but a man of the “folks”: his role, written as shrewdly as any stock - Hollywood romance, directed that he should stay back here in the Missouri Valley, accessible, affable, talking oil, wheat, catfishing or even golf with his neighbors _ while the Republican bigwigs responded off yonder ta the will of the people. That is the official picture, although, as every one knows, the candidate was present at Cleveland in all save his physical body. The
— : | marvels of ‘modern communication
contrived, just beyond the sight of the populace, to. weave his own momentary thoughts and notions into those of his backers and, eventually, into the completed job at the convention,
Candidate Masters His Role
By now the candidate masters his role. For months he has recited
the lines as thousands of pilgrims Joo
journeyed to this leafy capital for a peek at the man who 24 hours a day was conspicuously not seeking the office of President. For a peek, a handshake, a grip or phrase to be treasured when the visitor qualified as an “I-knew-him-whenner.” A constant flow of visitors has worn out the broadloom covering the floor of the long, high outer of-
fice over in the domed Capitol of Hundreds have tarried hopefully in" the_ chairs ning the walls; whiling the time by studying the faces of past governors unbitten
enlarged photographs framed neatly and economically In native wood. The path to the inner. office, where the Governor might be seen through an always open door, has been trod by money cranks, longhaired prairie wizards, curious tourists, nervous city bankers and ward-
‘heeling mugs, relics of the Bull Moose crusade.
‘Landon bent a polite ear to them all.
Lunch for The Eminent
That was the tactic. Eminent visitors might be, and were, bundled off to the Governor's wide-ver-andahed mansion for lunch, or dinner. The people were forced to satisfy themselves with a casual —but warm—contact with the candidate there in the office where betimes he transacted the business of Kansas. At home. Landon might be "a companionable man of the world— a moderately rich small-town business man and oil promoter, familiar with nice table usage, good tailors and the bridle paths. Here in the Capitol he was just one of the boys. No “side” whatever. Smilingly, the candidate shook hands with the people. An arm might be thrown, by a gesture seemingly spontaneous, over . the shoulder of a dusty pioneer from the plains. The day I called at the Landon shrine was, the attendants assured me, typical.
Chairs Are Crowded
The chairs around the wall were crowded. Visitors formed little groups to talk Landon and politics while awaiting their turn. A pair of middle-aged women stenographers labored in a corner. The scene was brisk and cheerful; no one lowered his voice, greetings by the Governor's staff rang across the
m., I talked with a man from one of the Dakotas. _ “All hell can’t keep Roosevelt from carrying my state,” he assured me jovially, He had dropped in merely for ‘a look at the prairie candidate. Nearby were two gentlemen talking poultry. The Governor emerged from his office and the crowd suddenly was packed * all ‘about him. A local friend had arrested his progress to
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brag about a catch of bass the night before.
Crowd Laughs at Sally “Some folks have all the luck” | the Governor drawled. * “You're either a good fisherman or a remarkable liar,” he added. The crowd roared at. this sally, richly | appreciating the great man’s wit. Later, in the sanctum, informality prevailed. The Governor happily displayed a telegram from a partisan in Texas: a message coupling good wishes with a derogatory’ comment on Jim Farley. He hearkened attentively to the man from the Dakotas, who by now was deliver-
ternational. chicken congress in
In private conversation, the Govspoke modest]
the »quality of the pasturage in the
Russell. He had. it’ was apparent, no doubt that Kansas was “coming back” regardless of what happened to his own aspirations. Elsewhere in Topeka, however, the visitor was informed that the country’s salvation depended, in some way, on the translation to the White House of a plain Westerner.
Two Navy Fliers Reported Killed By United Press SANTIAGO Cuba, June 12.—A dispatch from Caimanera reported today that an American Navy seaplane plunged into the sea near Guantanamo and that two men in it were_ killed.
lush Flint hills, the oil boom at.
LANDON'S CHIEF | AI. IS FIGHTER!
Young, Aggressive Kansan
Seen as Able Oupanent of Jim Jim Farley.
By United Press CLEVELAND, June 12.—A squarejawed, determined Topeka, Kan. attorney, who still is in politics because certain ‘opponents made him mad 15 years ago, set out today to return the Republican Party to national power. “He is red-haired, bive-eyed John Daniel Miller Hamilton, 44, presidential campaign manager for Kansas’ Gov. Alfred Mossman Landon. Opposition aplenty will James A. Farley, Democratic master strategist, find in John Hamilton. A clever maneuverer, Mr. Hamilton may be expected to match the Postmaster General's every more. Mr. Hamilton’s first job ended last night when his candidate was nominated by acclamation. His second—a five-month campaign to seat: Gov. Landon in the White House—began today. The nomination campaign—elimaxed by the last 10 days of deft maneuvers here—served notice on President Roosevelt's manager
{only better than average support, | defeated the Klan candidate for
afterward the two joined forces. It was Mr. Landon who was
and | responsible for Mr. Hamilton's elec-
Of athletic build, Mr. Hamilton preferred to ‘sit atop a modernistic table at press conferences, than in an overstuffed chair. His feet dangled, he looked toward the floor as a correspondent phrased a question to trip him into admission of the latest “deal.” ~ It didn’t take John Hamilton long to flash back his answer. He raised his head, looked straight at his questioner and fired away; seldom gesturing with his reply. Arriving here 10 days ago with
Mr. Hamilton wound up last night with Mr, Landon’s name the only one offered to the convention for the nomination.
Once Opposed Landon
He once was on the opposite side of the Kansas Republican fence from the man for whom he has won the highest honor the party can bestow. Mr. Landon managed a guberna-
torial campaign for Clyde A. Reed. Mr. Hamilton directed the opposition camp. Mr. Landon won and
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tion as national committeeman in| 1932. The political manager is Iowa-
born, attended Phillips Academy at
Andover, Mass., and finished his law course at Northwestern University, Chicago. His present law parther, Ralph T. O'Neill, is a Dem-
oe was held office as a county judge and as a member of the state Legislature, where he was Speaker of the House.
Fought Ku-Klux Klan
It was during his term as county judge 15 years ago that Mr. Hamilton was about to quit politics and devote his time to private practice. A delegation called on him and threatened that if he did not join the Ku-Klux Klan he would never again hold public office. The ultimatum made him so mad that he decided to stay in politics and “see the thing through.” He was elected to the state Legislature against Klan opposition and then
Speaker of the House. .
Mr. Hamilton is married, father of a : boy and girl.
the
PROPHETS LEAVING. CITY AFTER SESSIONS
awarding of Prizes Prizes Ends Four-Day Convention Here. Indianapolis returned to normalcy of average city sounds today as the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm left for their homes following a four-day convention here. Advancement of national officers, awarding of ‘ prizes, closed the yesterday
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