Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-06
PLANS FOR SOUTHERN BAPTIST
GATHERING NEAR COMPLETION
COMP L|CATED RACE
SEEN IF Al SMITH
WINS NOM|NAT ION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE


WASHINGTON, May 3.-The GER
tainty that President Coolidge will
be nominated on the Republican tick
ct has turned political discussion
here almost entirely to the Demo
cratic race, interest in which in the
last few days has become intensi-
fled through the activities Of those
favoring Governor Al Smith, of New
York.
The speech of Senator Willis,
Republican, Of Ohio, challenging the
Democrats to nominate McAdoo and
warning them that the campaign
would turn on the fact that McAdoo
was Doheny's lawyer. has furnished
surprise Hitherto the Republi
cans have seemed, to want McAdoo
nominated because they thought he
was easiest to defeat. They did not
interogate him extensively when he
was before a senate investigating
committee as they hoped to do more
interrogating if he were the nominee.
The growing strength of McAdoo in
several states has been puZzling to-
the professional politicians of both
parties who have assumed that he
was already eliminated because he
served as a corporation lawyer and
received large fees.
But nobody here is assuming that
the Democ attic nomination is assur-
ed to any candidate and the talk
from New York state about Cover
nor Al Smith has really stirred up
more comment here in the last few
days than anything else. The Smith
Boom is frankly regarded as a Sc
rlouS one and no two people engaged
actively in politics here seemed to be
agreed about the direction the boom
will take
Several Republicans are secretly
hoping the Democrats will not name
AL Smith because they appreciate
what a complicated campaign would
enSue. Party lines might be broken
by religious ties. A bitter struggle
would be bound to ensue with re.
spect to the wet and dry issue. The
friends of President Coolidge hope
neither the religious nor the prohibit
| ton issue will be raised. Both are
hard to meet. For example, in fight
ing candidate like Governor Smith.
his opponents would have to lean
backward in proclaiming their lack
| OF religious prejudice. Even inside
the Democratic party that phase of
the contest is causing embarrassment
| today.
Democrats who favor All Smith are
saying they think the only real Oh.
! position is coming from those who
object to the fact that AL Smith is
Catholic They do not regard the
argument that he is a wet" as be.
ing the sole reason for oppositionj
Influenced Il they are by an adj
miration for the New York COVER.
. nor and his vote getting strength in
the east they win not accept argu.
ments about religion or prohibition
with much grace. Whatever the
outcome, there is bound TO be a GER
tain amount Of disaffection, all of
which is not displeasing to the Re
pubhcans
Until recently the possibility of
nominating AL Smith was dismissed
as absurd. In the last few DAYS the
readiness of prominent Professionals
and anti-Tammany men like Frank
lin d. Roosevelt to take up the
| cudgels for the New York governor
has made politicians realize they will
have on their hands at the Demo
cratic convention two big issues-re-
llSion and prohibition.
ku kIuX Khan Issue
In any other year, a fight on re.
uSious prejudices would be frankly
regarded by men of all faith as I'M
fortunate. But the persons who have
been the subject of criticism by
such organizations as the ku Klux
klan are aching for an opportunity
to strike back at their opponents
and they would like nothing better
than an open fight.
Some of the anti-Smith men who
are sympathetic with the effort of
Democrats to put through a platform
| plank denouncing the ku klux Khan
! think the most effective way to fight
that organization is not with a
| Catholic, but with Protestant The
| fight that Senator Underwood. Of
/ Alabama, is making against the khan
! is pointed to much more convinc-
! ing and effective strategy and one
! more likely to win wide support than
straight fight between men of the
| particular creeds denounced by the
/ KIN klux Khan.
| The nomination of All Smith NAV