Evening star., 1924-02-10
UNOFFICIAL BOOM
FOR SMITH STARTS
Causes Speculation as to
When Actual Candidacy
Will Be Announced.
Special Dispatch to The Sat.r

|
| ALBANY. N. Y, February o.
With the launching of an unofficial
| boom for Gov. Smith of New York
for President in New York city this
week. which claims ramifications in
six states. and with the Inauguration
of preparations by the democratic
state committee for the state con-
vention to name delegates at large
to the national convention, specula-
| tion is at its height as to when Off
| cial announcement of Smiths presi-
| Dental candidacy is to be made.
Interest In the organization of the
Smith movement has reached the
point where attention Is being given
to the possibilities when his cam,
| paign manager will be selected and
what New York slater will be selected
! to place his name III nomination.
! it is believed in some democratic
circles that it would be an astute
move to have the Smith nominating
speech made by Lieut.. Gov. George
| r. LunE, who is considered to be
everything that Smith is not. While
| Gov. Smith is a resident of New York
city, wet and a Catholic. Lieut.. Gov.
Lunn is an up-stater, dry and for
mer Protestant preacher.
In favor of such a move it is ar
gued that nomination speech by
Protestant with the flow of oratory
at the command of Lieut.. Gov. Lunn
would exercise more profound ef-
feet than speech by one of the gov
/ ernor's own faith. If w. Bourke
Cochran, who placed Smiths name in
nomination at San Francisco four
years ago, were still living, the honor
probably would have devolved upon
him.
Delaney May BE Manager.
AS for the Smith campaign man
ager. John II. Es1aney of New York,
who is a close friend of the governor
and high in the councils of Tammany
Hall, is discussed as likely seIec-
tion. 1t is fairly evident that the
state convention. which is to meet in
Albany April Is, will name to the
big eight" or delegates at large
four men and four women who are
not especially identified with Tam
many Hall, but who will be united
for Smith.
The unofficial Smith boom launched
in New York this week was without
the knowledge of the governor. James
Mckinney. identified with the Cox
1920 campaign, has been selected as
the New York state headquarters
manager, and delegation was to
have called on the governor to win
his Endorsement. So far Smith has
been non-committal.
In an announcement. the unofficial
supporters of Smith claimed the con-
ference at which tho boom originated
was attended by representatives from
New York, New Jersey. Massachu-
setts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania
and Illinois. These representatives,
it was announced by Mrs. John NJ
Gallagher, commissioner of city rev.
enue of New York. one of the prime
movers, reported that Smith was
rapidly gathering strength in states
hitherto reported as only luke warm.
Calls Dry Conference.
This week Gov. Smith issued a call
for a state prohibition enforcement
conference to meet February 20,
which is regarded as being not with
out certain elements of humor, and
which is interpreted as being in
tended to mollify, to some extent,
the wet label that has been attached
to him.
Mayors, village presidents, police
officers and prosecuting officials have
been summoned by the governor to
take part in formulating a plan that
will make the state dry.
The governors political critics are
observing this move with a smile.
recollecting that not quite a year
ago he signed bill that wiped out
the states prohibition enforcement
law and kicked the last prop out
from under prohibition as it existed
on the states statute books.
ROBERT r. ARNOLD.