The Minnesota fiery cross. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1924-19??, 1924-05-09
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
AL Smith Jumps to Fore in
Race for Nomination by
the Democrats.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARp

BY EDWARD w. PicKARD
DRESIDENT COOLIDGE'S nomina-
L ton by the Republicans In the
Cleveland convention being conceded,
as it must be, the country is turning
its political attention mainly to the
race among the Democratic aspirants.
Who of that numerous company has
the best of 1t depends on where your
news comes from. In New York It Is
AL Smith, In Indiana 1t Is Senator
Ralston, in the southeast 1t may be
Senator Underwood. and so 1t goes.
The death Of Charles T. Murphy,
chief of Tammany, was thought at first
to be blow to Smiths chances for the
sachem was managing the governors
campaign. But last week the Smith
cohorts In New York went forward
with a rush and placed their candidate
in the strategic position. George
Brennan Of Chicago, leader Of the I'LL
nois Democracy, was there and was
hailed as the man to succeed Murphy
as the national boss Of the party. and
while he did not come out openly as
leader Of the Smith forces, 1t became
evident that he would be the director
Of their tactics. The governor an
nounced that Franklin ID. Roosevelt
had been selected as chairman Of his
campaign committee, which includes
representatives of all states. Mr..
Roosevelt was assistant secretary of
the navy In the Wilson administration
and candidate for the vice presidency
four years ago. He was always known
as an anti-Tammany man, so his selec-
ton may take from the Smith candi-
dacy what sections remote from New
York might regard as the curse OF
Tammany favor.
OF course the supporters Of all
other Democratic candidates continue
to assert that Smiths nomination, or
his election, Is impossible because he
Is q Roman Catholic and because he is
an open advocate Of the legalizing of
light wines and beer. His friends in
sist that the South will vote for him
as for any Democratic nominee, de-
spite the great strength Of the Ku
Klux Khan down there. Some other
politicians are not so sure Of this; and
they call attention to the apparent
growth Of the Khan elsewhere, too.
Only a few nights ago 1t held q meet
ing on Long Island which was attended
by many thousands and 900 new men,
bers were initiated.
Indiana Democrats are, perhaps pre-
maturely, pushing Senator Samuel
Ralston toward the front as the log
ical choice Of the New York conven-
ton. AS one correspondent puts 1t !:
"The home grown Democrats Of In
both vets and drys, by conservatives
and progressives, by Kluxers and anti
Kluxers, by capital and labor. No
hatreds are focalised on him. Besides,
Indiana and Ohio may be the key to
the strategy in the western campaign
this year, and Ralston Is the ono cen
tralixed candidate"
ChicagoaOns who went to New York
for the funeral of Murphy returned
with the impression that their favorite
son, Mayor Dever, really has a chance
to win the nomination for the presi-
dency. Stranger things have hap
pened in national conventions. New
Jerseyites believe Governor Silser Is
the man Of destiny, and It Is said Bren-
nan has him on his list Of possibilities.
quo, Massachusetts, and Missouri
" having added their delegates to
the Coolidge column, William N. But
Ter, the Presidents national campaign
manager. announced that Mr.. Cool
idge now has total Of S25 pledged
delegates. Only $50 are needed to in
sure nomination. Tie Republican ex.
ecutive committee, In session In Cleve-
land, selected Theodore Il. Burton OF
Ohio, representative and former sen
ator, AZ temporary chairman Of the
convention. he being Mr.. CoolidEes
choice. The temporary organization
for tho big meeting was completed by
the committee. There was q lot 81
talk among Republicans last weeh
about the possibility OF nominating
nj, nan 0,ha ylna n TswSS fer the