The Washington times., 1924-06-23

illinois Leader, With So Votes
In His Hand, Has More
Power Than Shown
BY JACK LAIT.
Copyright. 1924, by international
NAIga cS,-1ytna \

BY JACK LAIT.
Copyright, 1924, by International
News Service.)
NEW YORK, June 23.-Thsre
seems. to be q general careless
habit Of uniting Brennan, Taggart
and Guffy into a trinity because
they are the surviving big ones
Of the old school, now that Charles
w. Murphy has passed away and
Norman E. Mack, while still in
the main wagon, is out Of the
drivers seat.
It became quite clear, however,
to an inquirer who has gone
through many a. hot battle with
these democratic steerers. that
George Brennan, the Illinois sue
Cessor to Roger Sullivan, is in
the trio only as far as. conven-
ton courtesy demands, and that
his views and purposes are at a
tangent from those Of his two old
cronies. <.
Controls IS Votes.
Guffy and Taggart, though Tag.
CART Is for Ralston, are likely to
be Al Smith men when it comes
down to the heavy shooting. But
Brennan, while the surface philoso.
piers take him for granted as a
Smithsonian, Is by no means to
be counted on in the column Of
New York's entry.
Illinois has fifty-eight uninstruct.
ed votes, and most Of those will
be Instructed, when the time comes,
by nobody else but this Brennan,
the rotund, gray haired little gen
tlenlan who is as cushion tired as
Cal Coolidge and a whole lot more
mysterious.
Brennan's Candidate.
And the chances this morning
were that when Brennan sends cut
the word" the world will have five
letters, but they win not be Smith
at all; they win be Dever.
The word may not come during
the first several countings Of per-
spring Democratic noses. Bren.
mans type Of leaders are against
grandstand plays. It's the last
count that counts.
And Brennan, after all, is first
for Illinois. It wouldn't hurt his
standing to bring home q Presi-
Dental nomination for his State,
especially wound around Bill Dever,
who is tremendously popular OF
home. liked by the vets for his
liberal views, and the drys for his
fierce enforcement OF the laws as
they stand. - a
With the G. o. P. thinking to
land Illinois, q vital and doubtful
area, through Dawes, who isn't an
Illinoisan at all, and isn't as strong
at home as some outsiders think,
Dever can be offered to the con.
vention as having a direct punch
appeal beyond his own merits as a
man, a citizen and public figure.
Don't Believe In Smith.
Brennan believes in Dever, though
they are not and never have been
hand in glove. just as many of
the professional politicians stood by
Woodrow Wilson because they re-
allied his strength rather than be.
cause they liked his style.
Brennan, by the same symptoms
does not believe in Smith. Per-
sonally he Is sympathetic" to the
nomination and elevation of the
New York governor; but politically,
for himself and the party. he can.
not ''see" Al at an.
Taggart, who is q very sick man.
scarcely able to sit up, comes here
to support Indiana's man without
much hope Of getting him very far.
His next turn is probably Smith.
There is great deal of Smith
smoke without really SO much
Smith fire underneath. Were this
convention in Idaho or Tennessee.
Smith would be listed with Under.
wood and Davis-just q possibility.
Taggart Is for George Brennan
harder and firmer than for any.
body else, and Brennan will swing
Taggart and Taggart will swing
Indiana, and Indiana has thirty
votes which will be loose after the
first Ralston complimentary decla.
ration.
Attitude of Dixie.
The south, being the only really
dependable democratic territory is.
as always, on the offside, practical.
ly solid for McAdoo, who isn't seri.
ously considered by any Of the big
gunners. McAdoo is a bit more
formidable than our AL, but only a
bit. What Guffy of PENNSYLVANIA
will do is therefore Of most decisive
Importance, with seventy-six votes
for Smith and no where to 60,
most likely, after the big cheering
that will usher Smith in and out.
1t Is not at all unlikely that Guffy
will listen to a Dever proposition.
New York is in the pocket of
Smith. himself, who is in the pocket
of both a candidate and "boss,"
not unusual this year, as it was
forever made notorious in Cleveland
by President Coolidge. Smith can't
hold out forever, though, and prob.
ably isn't the type that viii want
to. In his heart he probably
knows that only far-off possibility
can make him logical"
II he is willing to "trade" he
can at once establish himself az
controlling a formidable portion OF
national democratic power, and he
himself, will admit that IL he IL
ever to be a candidate for the Presi
dency, this year is perhaps the
least advantageous for him.