Evening star., 1926-05-17
The AL Smith Chorus.

The demand that Gov. AL Smith be
| a candidate to succeed himself is be
coming a grand chorus, sung by all
the leaders and the rank and file OF
the Democratic party in New York
Franklin d. Roosevelt, Assistant Sec
retarv of the Navy in the Wilson ad
ministration, Democratic nominee for
Vice President in 1920, and manager
of the AL Smith campaign for the
presidential nomination in 1924, is
the latest to come forward with a
plea that the governor enter the race
next Fall.
Gov. Smith honestly has sought to
remove himself from the guberna'
torial contest this year. His personal
desire is to retreat least for the next
two years-from public life and to
give his attention to his own private
affairs. 1t has been his thought per-
haps that a man is entitled, a1ter
years of public service, to seize an
onportunity to increase his own share
Of worldly goods, both for his family
and his old age. He is serving his
third term as governor of the En-
pjre State. He has dragged into OF
fee on his coat-tails hundreds OF
Democratic Office holders. They are
anxious to be dragged in again. NO
one seems to doubt for a moment
that AL Smith can be reelected gov
ernor if he so desires.
The fact of the matter is that Gov
Smith has made an able governor.
Nor is the recognition of his ablllty
confined to his own political party In
Now York. While New York was
casting a vast vote for Calvin COOL
idce for President two years ago, II
was at the same time rolling up
ma iority for AL Smith against the son
of the late President Roosevelt in the
election for governor. Besides doing
much for his State, he has done
great deal for the Democratic party
in New York.
To the plea that he is entitled to a
rest in view of what he has done Tor
the party, Democrats in New York
retaliate, "See what the party has
done for AL Smith There is a debt
of gratitude on both sides. Once the
hand has been set to the political
nlow the furrow must be followed to
the end.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who has
Travelled far and near and talked with
leading Democrats throughout the
country, sees the party drawing
toward a period of greater harmony
than has existed since the debacle in
Madison Square Garden two years
ago. He urges that all talk Of candi
dates for President in 1928 be avoided
and that the party leaders concen
trate on issues and policies. This is
good advice for the sake of harmony
But sooner or later must arise the
discussion of presidential possibili
ties. Does any one believe that Mr.
Roosevelt has given over the hope
that Gov. Smith will be chosen as the
standard bearer? Does any one be-
lieve that the governor himself has
relinouished that ambition? And be
lieving that Smith is to be candi
date, does any one believe that the
party dissensions of 1924 can be
avoided in 1928?
The Democratic party, Mr.. Roose
Welt says, must be one of liberalism
it cannot be conservative. What he
| means is that it cannot be conserva
tive and win. The Republican party
at present has acquired all the con
| servatism the country can stand. Mr.
Roosevelt's advice doubtless is good
There should be a liberal party. But
the country today is weltering in con
servatism, due to good times. Unit
the economic pendulum swings in the
other direction, the chances of &
change in the political complexion Of
the country seem small.