Evening star., 1924-04-16
SMITH ACTION PUTS
new LIFE INTO FIGHT
Candidacy Injects Wet and Dry
and Sectariah Issues in
Campaign.
CERTAIN OF OPPOSITION
Friends Will Make Hard Battle
for New York Governor.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

The contest for the Democratic
presidential nomination, which has
been In the doldrums of Uncertainty
for the past few weeks has been in
fused with new life and more definite
activity by the action of the New
York state convention in Albany yes
terday. Gov. Alfred e. Smith. who UP
TO this time has been regarded as a
potential candidate, now becomes a
declared candidate, in his statement
that ne would accept the nomina tion
II rendered him.
While insisting that he had done
nothing and will not do anything
himself to secure the nomination he
said, IF the required number of dele
gates in the national convention
takes your view of IL, will he hon.
ored beyond the power of expression
to lead the forces of my party in the
next campaign"
Thus he throws his hat in the presi
Dental ring and politicians agree i,
Is hat Of large dimensions. Among
democrats here. 1t is agreed that his
candidacy will have to be given seri-
Gus attention. There is strong oppo-
the fround that sectarian and other
considerations initiate against his
success at the polls in November. al
though his personal popularity Is in
many ways recognized.
Friends to he Active
So, in the next few weeks as the
democratic primaries come along in
increasing number there will be ac-
tivity in the camp of his supporters
and more strenuous efforts will be
put forth by the leaders who depre-
cate his candidacy on the grounds
mentioned. He will give the other
potential and declared candidates
something, to worry about and more
work TO do to defend their own lines
and break down his.
AT any rate. they know where he
stands and realize that they have a
has an aggressive and resourceful
following who believe in him and
fiout the suggestions that he is too
heavily handicapped to win victory at
the polls
One feature OF the demonstration
in his behalf In yesterdays state
convention was manifestation OF the
fact that the support of Gov. Smith
is not confined to Tammapy. 1t has
been charged. over and over again
candidate; that Tammany did not
have real heart in the case but was
building up a following "for trading
purposes"s- that is TO gay that this
hard boiled organization; led by
Boss" Murphy was using Gov
Smith as a pawn.
support Outside Tammany.
Yesterday. however, when the reso-
luton was adopted declaring that the
New York delegates to the national
convention should support Gov. Smith
IL is related in the dispatches thai
there was marked approval by the
delegates from upstate and that vo-
ciferous Tammany did not furnish
all the enthusiasm
Another feature was the approval
of the woman delegates OF his can
didacy. This was described as being
due 70 Gov. Smiths unwavering sup.
port of legislation demanded by the
friends will Immediately set up a
campaign among the women of other
states TO support the governors can.
didacy on account of what he could
do for national legislation demanded
by them if he were elected TO the
1t is expected by the politicians
that there will be an immediate
stirring up of activity among the
drys. Gov. Smith is recognized as
the leader of the vets" in politics
The wet and dry. issue now comes
definitely into national politics In the
Democratic party with a definite
leader.
Some of the most influential Demo
Gratis in the higher ups in the
party have all along deprecated the
injection OF that issue into the pres
identiaI campaign and have sought tc
dissuade Gov. Smith from becoming 9
a candidate for the nomination or
the ground that it must inevitably y
come with his candidacy. They now
recognize that it is here and are ex-
pected to oppose his nomination.