Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-22
Politics at Large

friends. Gov. A. Vic Donahey, the
pride of Ohio democracy and a presi
Dental possibility in 1928. has recently
experienced the truth of this asser
ton. Although the governor, accord
ing to reports, was opposed ana Is
opposed to any effort on the part OF
his friends to make him an open can
didate for the Democratic nomination
Democratic State Chairman Dye and
Representative Martin Davey of Ohio
sponsored a gathering here last week
which was heralded far and near as
a boom" for Donahey. Although
Gov. Donahey's name was not put
forward formally In connection with
the nomination. Chairman Dye, in d
statement issued after the Davey din
ner. admitted that his visit to Wash
ingtOn would be interpreted as having
a bearing on the Donahey candidacy
He then proceeded to say that both
Gov. AL Smith and William Gibbs Nc
Adoo were impossible as candidates
for the Democratic nomination in
1923. Mr.. Dye may be right. but
there was little wisdom in stirring
up the enmity Of the friends of Al
Smith and Of McAdoo by making this
statement. 1t Is no secret that Gov
Smith will control vast number OF
delegates in the convention, and that
in the end he probably will have a
veto power strong enough to halt
the nomination OF any candidate OF
whom he does not approve.
+ X X X
Mr.. Dyes statement, in which the
availability of Gov. Donahey as the
Democratic nominee for President
was mentioned If not fully discussed
has been sent, it appears, to some, II
not all, Of the Democratic members of
Congress, by Representative Davey
1t drew a response from at least one
member, Representative Cochran OF
Missouri, elected to fill the vacancy
In the House caused by the retire
ment Of Senator Harry Halves. who
himself was elected to the Senate
Mr.. Cochran suggests in his reply
to Mr.. Davey that the Ohio man Is
overlooking the fact that Missouri
has a favorite son-Senator James A
Reed--and that II the Democrats
really are looking for a candidate to
carry them to victory. Senator Reed
Is the man.
So the Davey dinner apparently has
stirred the political caldron more
than was anticipated. Senator Reed
before he came back to Washington
declared that he was not seeking the
nomination for President. He made II
clear that in his opinion the office oil
President should seek the man rather
than be sought by any candidate.
Il y X +
A year or two ago suggestions tha'
Senator Reed be the nominee OF the
Democratic party for President wouio
have been hailed with derision III
some Democratic circles--those which
had been particularly close to the late
President Wilson. But Senator Reed
TODAY occupies q commanding posi-
ton in the Democratic party. he IL
an outstanding figure in the Senate
He heads the slush fund committee
Of the Senate. He played prom
nent mart in the wet-and-dry lnVestl
cations by the Senate judiciary com
1nittae last session of Congress. Anc
finally he took a prominent part II
the campaign In Missouri which re
suited in the election or Senator
Hawes, The drys will oppose tnt
nomination of Senator Reed and tne
Anti.Saloon League would In al
probability do it's best to deIeat mn
in convention and in the general eiec
ton should he be nominated.
But senator Reed. like Gov: Dona
hey. is not putting himseiI 1or"aLt
for the nomination. Pernaps t .n'
nonination will in the end go 20 In'
man who declares most vSnei T.o
that he does not want 1t. me Den a.
crats NAV take it into their heaa'
r., min the nomination on such a man
Cartainly the candidate who makes
an Aggressive fight early in the gam
will make enemies as well as rr1enos
and what the Democrats need aooV'
ALI things. Is a candidate with as rev
enemies in the party as possible.
y X + +
The acceptance by Col. Frank l.
Smith of the appointment TO the sen
ate to fill the vacancy caused Dy III
death of Senator Mckinley OF Iiil
nois. reported from chicago nd
given the Republican leaders OF tn'
Senate something to think aoou.
some Of them are anxious to dlspoS'
~ the case of Col. Smith as speed1l!
"a POSSIBLE In order to make sure TN
anal passage of all appropriation biiis
and adjournment March 4 until mex
December. But there are some sen
ators who insist that there shan pe
fill Investigation of Col. Smiths case
with full opportunity for him TO pe
heard. before the Senate acts ON nls
case. Senator wadsworth or New
york Is one of those who are demand
ing a day in court for Col. Smith
Two courses, at least, are open t.
the Senate IN this case. one Is &c
seat him when Col. Smith presents
bis credentials after Christmas anc
then take I'D his case on it's merits
and unseat him If he is found to pe
unfit for office. The other course
is to deny him the right to take the
oath Of office and after further exami
nation decline to let him QUARRY anc
send him back to Illinois without MS
ever having been seated.
The first course might expedite the
disposition of the Smith case. There
is considerable difference of opinion
among those who have studied the
presidents over the right Of Col. Smith
TO be sworn in Immediately upon
presentation Of his credentials, anc
difference Of opinion, particularly or
constitutional rights, leads to long de
bate in the Senate. If he were seatec
In the regular routine way anu tiicl
a, committee should report to unsea'
him because Of the contributions &c
his primary campaign fund by Samue
insult and other utility magnates-
Col. Smith was chairman of the
public Utilities Commission of the
state at the time-the debate might
be more limited.
" X X X
Col. Smiths friends out in Illinois
take q. very different view of the case
than does a majority of the Senate
apparently. They see the will of the
people of Illinois, as expressed at the
polls in November, about to be over
ridden by the Senate. They point out
that Col. Smith was elected to the
Senate for the term beginning March
4 next long after the disclosure OF his
campaign expenditures and contribu
~ L. fRhN h