Evening star., 1926-10-13
OHIO DEMOCRACY
HAS TWO CHOICES
FOR PRESIDENCY
Odds Favor Donahey as De-
feat Looms in Senate Race
for Pomerene.
GOVERNOR DENIES DESIRE
{ FOR PARTY'S NOMINATION
Victory for Honest Vic" Next No
vember May Cause Followers to
Draft Him for 1928.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, October l3.-
Ohio democracy has two barrels to
it's presidential gun this year. If it
misses with one, it hopes to make
killing with the other. Should both
barrels prove effective against the
Republicans In the coming election
Democratic fur may fly in this State.
One barrel is loaded with A. Vic
Donahey, twice governor of the State
and a candidate for q third term. The
other is loaded with Atlee POmerene
buckshot. The first is the Democratic
leader particularly dear to the people
THE folks''-as the governor calls
them. The second, Ohio's Democratic
Senator for two terms from 1911 to
: 1923. is more nationally known, and
should he win this year against Sen
ator Frank B. Willis, he would make
q strong bid for ehe Democratic presi-
dental nomination in 1928. Indeed,
as between the two men, Pomerene
would have the inside track for the
nomination, if he beats Willis, which
is a very big "if," indeed.
Pomerene Getting Aid.
Judging from the array of Demo
cratic talent which is to be sent into
the State to help his election, the
leaders of the party are particularly
keen to have Pomerene as candl-
date who might obtain the support
of both the Smith and McAdoo fac
tions at the next Democratic national
convention. Both leaders of the party
in Congress, Senator Joe" Robinson,
and Representative Finis j. Garrett,
are scheduled to come here. not to
mention former Secretary of the Navy
Josephus Daniels and other lesser
lights.
Gov. Donahey, who has an Irish
sounding name but who is Prot
estant, sprang into the limelght as a
presidential possibility when he won
election as Democratic governor two
years ago while President Coolidge
was rolling up an avalanche OF votes
to smother John w. Davis and the
late Robert NJ. La Toilette. The talk
of Donahey has been more or less
widespread in this state. @Seme of
his friends look askance now at the
suggestion that Pomerene should gain
the priced nomination.
DOnahey Eenters Denial.
Gov. Donahey himself denies fatty
that he is a candidate for any office
except that of governor of Ohio.
~ am not a candidate for the presi-
dental nomination" he said today in
conversation. Il wouldn't accept the
nomination if it was offered me-" He
said it with evident determination.
But 1t is doubtful that any Amer
lean in public office could decline, In
the end, the nomination for Presi-
. dent if it were rendered him by one
of the great political parties.
Donahey, who is opposed by Myers
Y. Cooper, Republican, for governor,
stands today a better chance of win
ming this year than does Senator
Pomerene. In fact, the odds are in
Donahey's favor. He has a great grip
on the rural voters. many of the same
voters who will support Senator Will
lis. he is big man physically, in the
early tifties, with a fighting face. His
opponents say that he murders the
queens English. But that is a matter
that has not interfered with his DO
littcal success in the past. He has
been in public life for a score of years.
AS county auditor and then as State
auditor he won his way. He is poor
man and insists that no man in pub
lie office, If he has given his whole
time to the service of the people, can
home, modest placed, valued at $12..
500, but outside of that he does not
lay claim to much property The gov
ernor S salary, which he has been
drawing for four years, is $4,000 a
year IN TINS State, not enough for any
man TO save a great deal especially if.
as in the case of the governor, he has
10 children. The governor had II, but
two have died.
Known as Honest Vic"
The governor is known as Honest
VIC The people believe he is hon
est His republican opponents have
put up as their candidate a millionaire
business man and home builder of
Cincinnati. Mr.. Cooper did not in
herit his millions. but started life
as a poor boy. He, however, is run
ming as business man and his
slogan is a business government for
the State. He charges extravaganza
against Gov. Donahey's adminiStra-
ton and points to the fact that there
was a $24 900. 600 balance in the State
treasury when Donahey came into
office nearly four years ago and that
now the State is borrowing money to
pay it's bills in part.
One item of alleged extravaganza to
which Cooper has referred is the large
number of automobiles purchased and
operated by the State. He says that
the number of State-owned cars to-
day is 1864, as compared to 1854 for
New York State and 1.155 for Cali
fornia. The number of State-owned
cars when Donahey came into office
was 1,091. Cooper charges, too, that
the number of State employees is ex-
cessive. He insists that by giving the
State strictly business-like govern
ment 1t will he possible so to cut eX-
penditures that increases in taxation
will be unnecessary. These are the
main issues of the Republicans in
their fight against Donahey.
Like New York Situation.
There is a strange analogy between
the situation here in Ohio and that in
New York. In both States there are
Democratic governors, though both
went strongly for Coolidge in 1924.
In both States the Democratic gov
ernors put on no frills. but make a
strong appeal to the average voters.
In both States the Republicans have
nominated wealthy men for governor
who are promising business govern
ment" and charging extravaganza un-
der their Democratic opponents. In
both States the Legislatures are Re-
publican controlled and the Republican
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