NOT A CANDIDATE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 19 January 1938, Page 5

NOT A CANDIDATE

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY. MU ALFRED M. LANDON. WASHINGTON. Dec. 22. Mr A. M. Landon emphatically removed himself from the 1940 presidential contest the other day with a statement which knowing observers quickly interpreted as challenging Mr Herbert Hoover to do the same thing.

For months Messrs London and Hoover have been engaged in polite but none the less strenuous spurring about Republican policy, while some other Republicans have clamoured for a re-examination of party philosophy and new blood in the leadership. It was inevitable that Washington should bear these facte in mind in reading Mr Landon’s statement, particularly an assertion that: “A man who is in the position of being suspected of being either an active or receptive candidate cannot render the service either to his party or to his country that I conceive to be patriotic duty and responsibility in the critical situation confronting us. TALK WITH CORRESPONDENTS. Mr Landon’s renunciation of lJ4t) White House ambitions was made known at a jovial reunion with Washington correspondents assigned to his campaign for the Presidency last year. . Seated upon a chaise lounge, he laughed and joked with the news men, noting with assumed ruefulness, that “it looks as if everybody in the gang except myself has a job in W ashington.” There were two interruptions: One, when the White House called inviting him to visit the 1 resident later in the day. and a second when Colonel Frank Knox Republican vice-presidential candidate lasr year, strode into the room and greeted hl Then a question as to whether Mr Landon wanted to “take another whirl” at the Republican nomination brought serious consideration. Airer hesitating for a moment, Mr Landon responded as though the qa estl °" been anticipated and as though he felt relieved at the answer he was m *Ht g ' is presumptuous to decline something that has , " ot H en °®ered Ito one.” he said. “A short time ago T would not have answered this ques tion. However, recent developments have convinced me that my acts as a citizen as the 1936 Republican candidate, frequently have been misconStr iTOT HAD ANT INTENTION. “For that reason and because personalities frequently con i'’f t " =«».KI-rV< " V question without »ny equivocation whatsoever any intention of being a candidate in 1940 and vn gte t lT m i nommation ’in the that the Republican national conven tic s, ifttifJitt mi -4 ■*- that high honour and FiT'it iulliuV upou. ■» to take this position in the spirit of keo faith P with the millions who have trusted me with their confidence.