Evening star., 1926-11-14
Continued from First Page.)


putting forward a candidate for Presi-
cent who stood for modification of the
dry laws. No dry Democrat, in his
opinion, would have a chance to win
the presidency if he should be nomi-
mated. His belief is predicated on the
suppos1tion that the Southern States
wlll vote Democratic in any event,
and that the wet cause will he of
great assistance in New York. p IN
sylvania. Illinois, Ma ssa chusetts. Wis
consin, Missouri, Maryland. Delaware.
Connecticut. Rhode Island and pos
sfbly some of the States Of the West.
There seems little doubt now that
the wet and dry issue is to play
major part in the 1928 National cam
paign. There seems little doubt also
that the Democratic party will even
tually champion the modification of
the liquor laws. leaving. to the Re
publican party the dry cause. Except
in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, the
Republicans who espoused the wet
cause were not particularly success
1ul in the recent elections. Senator
WadsWorth of New York, for esam-
pie, fell by the wayside because of his
stand on the wet and dry issue. Wet
Democrats. on the other hand. were
signally successful. like Walsh in
Massachusetts,, Halves in Missouri,
Smith and Wagner in New York,
Richie and Tydings in Maryland.
Brennan in Illinois and Pomerene in
ohio, vets, were defeated, but in
States which have always been
strongly Republican.
Who are the outstanding posi-
hilities for the Democratic nomination
FOR President today? Three vets,
however they may designate them
selves. Liberals may be the more
correct term. First is Gov. AL Smith.
second is Gov. Albert c. Ritchie Of
Maryland, and the third is Senator
Jim" Reed of Missouri All three Of
them gained in strength and prestige
hy the recent elections. The first two
were reelected to office by over
whelming majorities. The third sue
cessfuly elected Representative
Harry IIawes to the United States
Senate in place If a Republican.
The list of Democratic possibilities
for the presidential nomination is not
exhausted when these three have been
named. There Is William Gibbs Nc
AdOo. who will champion the dry
cause in his party convention But
Mr.. McAdoo has Slipped badly since
he 1924 preconvention campaign. His
candidate in California for the Senate,
John B. Elliott, a strong Wilson
Democrat, was defeated, which did
not help Mr. McAdoo in his own State
There are Senators Robinson Of Ar
kansas, Democratic leader Of the
Senate: Harrison of Mississippi and
tilass of Virginia. Last but not least,
here is Governor Donahey Nonest
Vic) of Ohio, who for the third time
was chosen Governor of the Buckeye
State two weeks ago.
Gov. Donahey. before the election,
denied that he was candidate for
the presidential nomination in 1928.
But whatever Gov. Donahey may say,
his friends have their eyes turned to
the next Democratic national cOnven-
ton, and If they can bring it about.
he will be the party choice. Donahey
is of ScotchIrsh descent, a Prot
astant. He is reckoned dry and will
have the support of the dry forces in
he convention, unless some other
outstanding dry should present him
self for consideration. His victory in
Ohio in 1924 when the State was going
overwhelmingly for Coolidge, and
chen again this year when Senator
Willis, Republican, was taking the
measure Of former Senator Atlee
Pomerene. have given him a right to
serious consideration when the time
comes to pick q candidate for Presi-
dent. 1t may be that he should be
considered along with Smith, Ritchie
and Reed as leading aspirant for this
honor. He Is not nationally known
10 the extent Of his three wet Demo
cratic colleagues. But a man who
can be elected three times Governor
Of Ohio. 1.-The mother of Presidents"
seems to be entitled to consideration.
had Senator Pomerene been elected
to the Senate over Willis this year, he
would have been in a strategic posi-
ton for the Democratic nomination
in 1928. He is wet enough to satisfy
the Democratic vets. He halls from
Il State considered pivotal" He is a
Protestant. He has not been en-
hroiled in the factional differences
which arose in 1924. But he did not
make the grade. His chances now
appear to be small indeed, unless the
convention should get into a jam
and he be selected as a compromise
candidate.
Comparing Smith, Ritchie and Reed.
the Governor OF New York today has
The greatest strength the country
over He is progressive enough to suit
he West. whereas Ritchie Is regard
ed conservative and there is grave
doubt that he would draw many votes
west Of the Mississippi River or from
The great States of the Middle West
* 10 dlllN ull W SSlllIldle the SLTGnSl
of Senator Reed at this time His
presidential boom is in its infancy
iie has come TO the fore very rapidly
n the last few months because of
his conduct of the Slush fund investi
Eations and Of the wet and dry hear.
ingS last Winter. He is an outstand-
ing figure in the Senate, and he will
have an opportunity during the com
ing session and in the first session
of the next Congress to keep himself
IN the public eye. If Senator Reed
has weaknesses, they are to be found
in the hatred which the Woodrow
Wilson worshipers bear him and in
he opposition which may come to him
from Gov. Smith because it has been
alleged that Senator Reed has been
very friendly with William Randolph
Hearst. Smiths pet aversion.
Marylanders are hoping that the
Smith support Will go to Eitchie if it
becomes evident that Smith cannot be
nominated in the next convention.
They believe that he ia satisfactory
70 the South and to the North and
~ N s cA 81