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Show Landon "Withdraws" WHAT ALFRED LANDON told newspapermen newspaper-men in Washington as he arrived for a Grid-Iron Grid-Iron club dinner is somewhat difficult to weigh. Is it important, interesting, instructive, or what? "I will not accept the nomination in the remote re-mote contingency that the Republican national convention should offer it to me," he said to reporters. re-porters. Almost while they were talking, a White House secretary invited the Kansan to drop in at the White House for a chaL The chat could not be important, probably would be inter- ''"g p..My i;M h. in.tnwliv On ft Simi lar occasion a year ago, the president and the G. O. P. standard-bearer of 1936 had a talk. It was about fishing, Mr. Landon said. If they continue con-tinue the subject, Mr. Roosevelt may add a verse or chapter on the basis of his latest exploits in the Carribean. Keyhole listeners could learn something to their advantage by tuning in if they happen also to be fishermen. If the vice presi- dent happened in on them, he could try to explain ex-plain how he goes deer hunting with a shotgun. What the chat amounts to is perhaps no more than a continuation of amenities which began when the president called the governors of. the drouth states together. There he and the governor gov-ernor of Kansas, as a presidential aspirant, met for the first time. They gave the country a fine example of good manners as friendly enemies, and gentlemen both. This seemly behavior deserves de-serves to become an American tradition. Mr. Landon's notice of withdrawal from any possible presidential contest is not important for the simple reason that he has said so before. Reiteration in Washington only makes it "official" "offi-cial" and adds a note of finality. It can become be-come intensely important, though, when the Hoover-Landon - Vandenberg Hamilton schism gets worse or is healed. Having "his freedom" in three-cornered situation could give him possession posses-sion of the balance of power. In such an event he would scarcely be handled roughly by those in the other two corners. It is a little indelicate to say it, but he can build up a fine nuisance value. He impressed upon the reporters that he is not withdrswing from politics, hopes to be more useful to his party, that some of his recent re-cent acts have been "misconstrued," and gave them the appearance of a man who had relieved his chest of a great load. So, lacking the importance of newsworthiness strictly because it is a twice-told tale, there Is high potential Importance In it looking ahead to the time the wheels start turning in high gear as the 1940 decisions are about to be made. No doubt astute observers will be pointing out in the next few days just what Mr. Landon has in the back of his head. Let's look at the record what did Mr. Landon say were his deepest and innermost thoughts? He didn't say. For the moment he becomes the G. O. P.'s mystery man. The past does not always foretell the future. |