Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-11
INITIATES
, HIS own BOOMLET
Ohioan's Eyes on Presidency.
But Democratic Help in
State Is Limited.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
2 COLUMBUS, Ohio. July 10.--Ohio,
modern mother Of Presidents. Is
nurturing several new presidential
boomlets. Some of them are no larger
than a mans hand, and may never
grow, but at least one boomlet being
Inflated is bys trained politician.
This politician knows that the boom
let is in safe and loyal hands. 1t is
his own child. Gov. VIE Donahey
is booming himself for the Democratic
nomination two years hence, and II ne
doesn't get the plum 1t will not be
for want of trying.
Gov. Donahey is going to run for a
third consecutive term as governor OF
Ohio this Fall, ands despite the fact
that he lacks the support of the most
monument Democrats of the Buckeye
State, there Is a good chance that
his sway with the common people
may still be potent enough to pun
him through. If "Vic" Donahey-
he prefers to be called "Vic" instead
of Victor-winsA the election in No
yember, he will have equalled the
three terms served by former Gov.
James M. Cox of Ohio and by Gov. Al
1 Smith of New York.
Gov. Donahey points out the fact
that his terms, If his dreams come
true, will be consecutive. whereas
both Cows. Cox and Smith sunefeu
a two-year hiatus in their records.
Z Gov. Donahey and his friends argue
that IL being governor three times In
b pivotal State meant presidential
nomination to Gov. Cox in 1920 and
almost meant the nomination. to Gov.
Smith in 1924 there is no reason why
he should not aspire to the Demo-
cratic leadership in 1928.
#N Lacks Solid State Support.
III Unlike Cows. Cox and Smith. how
aver. the newest Ohio aspirant hasn't
the solid support of the State organi.
cation. Men like Gov. Cox, Newton
Baker and Atlee Pomerene are de-
cidedly out of sympathy with the
Donahey aims and aspirations
1t is pretty well understood through.
out the State that former Senator
Pomerene was called upon to enter
ahe senatorial race again this year as
& means of checking the Donahey
supremacy in the State. There Is
hope that if he wins the nomination
Mr., Pomerene may defeat Senator
Frank b. Willis, the Republican in
eumbent, and take national leadership
again as Ohio's "favorite son. !.
The Pomerene pathway. however, is
not one of roses. 1t is virtually con-
ceded that he will defeat Miss Flor
ence Allen, judge of the Supreme
Court Of the State. for the nomina'
zion Int defeating Frank Willis, with
his great dry support in addition to
the strength of the G. o. p. machine,
IS something else again. Gov. Dona-
hey has won the governorship In two
atronr Republican years. He Is known
through the State as honest VIC. !
His opponents say he gave himself
that name. His friends say It came
. from the people. In any event, the
governor accepted the nomination as
hhonest gyic'' and proclaims his
honesty and integrity anew. Day py
day, in every way, ne sfo we
honester and honester. AS STATE
auditor he used TO cut boiled potatoes
on the expense accounts OF State
afficiaIs. He was a sort OF Contfoiler
General McCarl. except that he out
McCarIed McCarl. That's when they
flrst began to call him honest Vic.
Astounds AL Smith.
Although he glows ruddy red
from basking in the Ohio sun, GOV.
if1onahey is not so well known ma
tionaIly' When Coy. Al Smith was IN
Columbus recently he was astonnoeu
to learn that Gov. Donahey naa ne.er
been TO New York. That TO Al smith
was unbelievable. How any man Oh
the prominence of a governor. ana
only a nights ride away. should ever
have failed to visit the metropolis
was too much for the son OF the Ease
Side.
However, Gov. Donahey Is going 70
attend to all that. He is going East
later this month. first of all to aedi-
1ate the Ohio building at the Sesqui-
centennial Exposition, then 10 Dash
IN the sad sea waves at Atlantic CITY.
The governor hasn't committed MN,
eelf to any visit as yet, and II wouiG
"a entirely in accord with his pontlcai
philosophy If he should give Amer
ica's greatest city the "go.by Jus.
"a show that the sons of the Centfal
west are by no means beholden 10
the East or any of it's ways.
with such strong elements Oh the
ohio Democracy as former GOV. CoA,
Raker and Pomerene opposed TO nim
Il ls difficult to see just how GOV.
mona hey could win the Ohio delega.
tion to the next Democratic nationaI
convention. but he evidently beIeVes
ne can and is pointing himself TOT
the race.
IF Pomerene should win the senator
shin this Fall, the Cox. Pomerene
forces would be turned to the last
named. and with some one def1mteiy
4 ~ work for, they might defeal
ahonest Vic" II Donahey wins ana
MS opponents lose, look out Tor
trouble.
C. ? 4