Evening star., 1925-11-04
Politics at Large
BY G.. Could Lincoln

great State of New York, Is admittedly
the big outstanding figure in Demo.
cratic circles today. Unless some other
stalwart Democrat springs forth COM
pletely armored prior to 1928, AL
Smith is going into the Democratic
national convention with a huge batch
of votes for the presidential nomina-
ton. The feeling that the Democratic
party must recognize the New York
Governor: that as a vote getter he
would be more potent than any other
man they might put forward Is grow
ing stronger as the months pass by.
This Notwithstanding the terrible and
devastating row that occurred in the
last Democratic national convention,
in which the candidacy of Gov. Smith
was used to ''stop" William Gibbs Nc
Adoo. This feeling Is permeating the
arid West and even the South. Demo
Gratis who even few months ago were
demanding that Smith and McAdoo
both fade from the picture and permit
some other Democrat to be the stand
ard bearer. are today discussing seri-
ously the advisability Of giving the
governor a try-out.
Without a marked change in the stu
alton, or unless the popularity of Gov.
Smith should Wane in New YORK, the
positions of Gov. Smith and Mr.. Nc
Adoo will be reversed in the 1928 con-
vention, provided, of course, Mr.. Nc
Adoo is a factor at all. In 1924 Smith
and his votes were used as a kind or
dam to stop the onward rush OF Nc
Adoo. In 1928 Smith will be the man
who has to be halted, provided there
Is a group which desires to halt him.
And he is going to be a hard man to
halt The old two-thirds rule govern
ing Democratic national conventions Is
still in effect, and, although proposals
have been put forward that it be abro-
gated, it is doubtful that such a course
will be adopted. This rule initiated
against the chances of Mr.. McAdoo in
New York, and it will make 1t difficult
for Gov. Smith in 1928.
The Smith followers say that the
governor would carry New York and
New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware,
Maryland and perhaps Connecticut In
the East; that the solid South would
still vote the Democratic ticket and
that he would get many votes in the
Middle West and West, particularly in
hISsOuIl, tIllo, lLliIlOlS anu w isStoiAoAii'
Gov. Smith would not run on a wet
ticket. He wouldn't have TO. The 80
called liberals would be there with
bells on IL he Were nominated on any
kind of a platform. Furthermore, It
is the thought in some quarters that
the Democratic war chest would be
more plentifully supplisd with money
if the Governor OF New York were
the nominee than has been the case
in recent years.
There is the reverse side Of the
shield, too, on which is written that
because Of religious prejudice Gov.
Smith could never be nominated and,
If nominated, could never be elected.
But many Democrats are coming
round to the opinion that he could get
more electoral votes than any other
man whom they might put up.
q X x
The tariff. according TO Democratic
leaders now in Washington. is to be
made the outstanding issue in the next
campaign. The Democrats have about
decided that there is little to be gained
in the tay-reduction problem, and that
they will go along with the Republic
ans. generally speaking. on the tax
reduction bill, which will be put
through Congress as rapidly as pos
sible after that body meets. There will,
of course, be differences in detail. some
of them important, between the Demo
Gratis and the Republicans. But tax
reduction as a campaign Issue is not
likely to figure largely. it is said, un-
less some unexpected development oc-
ours.
But the tariff, over which the Re
publican and Democratic spellbinders
have so often torn their shirts in
a.,
the Democrats of the ways and
means committee of the House are
already planning for the introduction
during the coming session of a series
of bills proposing to amend vitality
some of the existing Republican tariff
schedules, lowering the present rates
materially. Separate bills will be in
troduced dealing with the sugar
schedule, the textile schedule, the
aluminium and the steel schedules
and perhaps others. These bills, of
course, will not be put through. They
will not be reported out Of the ways
and means committee. The new
House is overwhelmingly Republican.
But the Democrats will discuss them
and seek to focus public attention on
what they term the iniquities of the
Republican Fordney-McCumber tariff
i
will be presented to the committee by
the Democrats favoring the overhaul
ing Of the entire tariff. This. too,
will be only a gesture, since the Re
publican administration apparently Is
bent on leaving the tariff alone in
the coming session of Congress.
President Coolidge carried Maryland
a year ago handily, but the Republic
ans of that State are on the verge
of a split that may make the election
of a Democratic Senator next year
about as sure as can be. Open war
fare on the candidacy of Senator
Weller, who must stand for re-elec-
ton, has been declared by the anti
Weller faction. Representative John
Philip Hill is brewing most of the
trouble for Senator Weller. Mr.. Hill
last week filed a certificate Of candi.
dacy for the Republican senatorial
nomination, to be held in Maryland
September, 1926. Mr.. Hill spent a
good part Of the congressional recess
canvassing sentiment in the state
and his certificate was filed lmmedl'
ately following conference OF anti
Weller leaders in Baltimore, including
the Republican national committee
man, William P. Jackson, and former
Senator Joseph I. France.
The Democrats have still to select
a candidate for the senatorial nonf-
nation. Gov. Ritchie, who is very
popular throughout the State, could
have the nomination for the asking
| There Is still doubt as to whether he
will prefer to succeed himself as gov
ernor. He can have either nomlna'
| ton he desires. Incidentally, Gov
Ritchie is Maryland's favorite son for
the presidential nomination in 1928
and the decision between the COVER
norship and the senatorship may be
| influenced by this ambition.
| X X X X
ID