War Talk from Kansas

WAR & PEACE

Right in deep Republican, dark isolationist Kansas, Alf Landon lost a man overboard last week from his peace-minded crew. The deserter was none other than Governor Payne Ratner.

Last winter Ratner sent the Legislature a special message which led to an almost unanimous resolution urging Congress to reject the Lend-Lease bill. But last week he stunned the American Legion State Convention in Topeka with one of the most rousing speeches ever heard in Kansas.

"Anything and everything, short only of an expeditionary force . . . must be sent to Britain to defeat Hitler . . . the Beast of Berlin," he cried. And again, his voice hoarse with intensity: "I say to you . . . it is time to stop appeasing Japan or any other aggressor nation."

Pleased and surprised as a child was Governor Ratner when Legionnaires gave him an ovation. To newsmen, from whom he has never hidden the fact that most of his speeches are ghostwritten, the Governor confided: "This one I did my self. I even typed the manuscript. No it." one except my wife saw it before I gave More than one man's dramatic change of heart contributed to this conversion.

Kansas lately has been restive under isolationist leadership. Governor Ratner, who keeps his ear close to the ground, knows the rumble of a stampede when he hears it approaching. With his speech last week he put himself squarely on the side he thinks will win when isolationism gets its first test in Kansas next year. If all goes as he expects, he may be next in line for sere old Arthur Capper's Senate seat.

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