The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-05-09
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
AL Smith Jumps to Fore in
Race for Nomination by
the Democrats.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD


DRESIDENT CoOLIDGES nominal
4 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 it depends on where your
news comes from. In New York 1t Is
AL Smith, in Indiana it Is Senator
Ralston, in the southeast 1t may be
Senator Underwood, and SO 1t goes.
The death Of Charles F. 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 rush and placed their candidate
In the strategic position. George
Brennan Of Chicago, leader Of the Illi-t
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 d. 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 g
OF course the supporters Of all
other Democratic candidates continue
to assert that Smiths nomination, or
his election, is impossible because he
is 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 4Ku
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 it held meet
ing on Long Island which was attended
by many thousands and 300 new mem
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 it:
"The homegrown Democrats of In
diana say Ralston is well liked by
both vets and drys, by conservatives
and progressives, by Kluxers and anti
Kluxers, by capital and labor. No
hatreds are localized on him. Besides,
Indiana and Ohio may be the key to
the strategy in the western campaign
this year, and Ralston is the one CEN
tralized candidate"
Chicagoaons who went to New York
for the funeral of Murphy returned
with the impression that their fayorite
son, Mayor Dover, really has chance
to win the nomination for the presi-
dency. d Stranger things have hap
pened In national conventions. New
Jerseyites believe Governor Silzer Is
the man of destiny, and tbs said Bren-
nan has him on his list Of possibilities.
~ HIO, Massachusetts, and Missouri
" having added their delegates to
the Coolidge column, William M. But
Ter, the Presidents national campaign
manager, announced that Mr.. Cool
idge now has total of 825 pledged
delegates. Only $50 are needed to In
sure nomination. The Republican ex-
ecutive committee, in session in Cleve-
land, selected Theodore e, Burton Of
Ohio, representative and former SEN
ator, as temporary chairman of the
convention he being Mr.. Coolidge's
choice. The temporary organization
for the big meeting was completed by
the committee. There was lot OF
talk among. Republicans last week
about the possibility of nominating
Brig. Gen. Charles G. Dawes for the