Evening star., 1927-09-20
Democratic Drys Called to Confer.

Edwin 7. Meredith of Iowa, former
Secretary of Agriculture, and re-
garded by some as William G. Nc
Adoo's political heir. sounds the tocsln
to summon the Democratic drys to
pick leader to succeed the declining
Californian as candidate for the
presidential nomination. Noting that
the supporters of Gov. Smith have
been active throughout the country,
while those opposed to his nomna-
tien have been inactive, he urges that
conference be held within thirty
days to select some man upon whom
the progressive dry forces OF the
party can concentrate to head the op
position. If this is not done, he in
dicates, the vets will carry the 1928
convention by default. and while he
does not admit it he allows it to be
assumed that this means Smith vic
tory for the nomination.
No practical steps have thus far
been taken to the end Of calling this
conference, though it is to be assumed
that summons will be sent out short
ly. Otherwise, Mr.. Meredith's state
ment will be a mere gesture, which
may be interpreted in some unfriend-
ly quarters as designed to call atten-
tion to himself. Indeed, in coming for.
ward as the proponent of search for
man to represent the dry progress
sivism of the Democracy Mr.. Mere
dith is taking some chances on being
rated as starting his own boom. But
those who know him will not hold
this view. He couples his suggestion
of a conference with the mention of
several names, including Newton D.
Baker, former Secretary of War;
Thomas J. Walsh of Montana, Sena-
tor Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas,
Representative Cordell Hull of Ten.
nessee, and Daniel c. Roper Of Texas.
The Smith forces will doubtless be
greatly heartened by the suggestion
that 1.-The field" .must be beaten in
search for a man to head off the Gov.
ernor of New York. unquestionably
the Smith organization has been active
and Industrious. There are evidences
of delegate hunting in practically all
of the States. Smith squads have been
formed in every section. An active
correspondence is in progress between
New York and all the political Gen.
ters.
The situation is very much like that
of 1928, when McAdoo was apparently
running away with the nomination
more than six months in advance OF
the convention. A little less than four
years ago conference was held
at French Lick Springs. Ind, be-
tween Thomas Taggart of that place,
George Brennan of Chicago. and the
late Charles Murphy of New York,
whose purpose was to find somebody
to "head off McAdoo" 1t was then
that the name of Gov. Smith OF New
York was first definitely mentioned.
1t was said that he did not take the
proposal of his name as contender
for the nomination seriously. But in
the two months following the French
Lick Springs conference certain things
developed which made the Democratic
nomination of 1924 appear to possess
more value than it had before. The
oil scandals broke in Congress, and
for a time it looked as though the
Democratic nominee would have an
easy campaign for election, whoever
he might be. Gov. Smith began to
take more interest in his boom and by
the time the convention assembled ne
was an out-and-o candidate for the
nomination, maintaining that role so
vigorously that the deadlock at Madi-
son Square Garden ensued.
The question now of interest ls
whether a conference Of the Demo-
cratic progressive drys will parallel
in it's results that which was held In
November. 1928. at French Lick
Springs. II so. unless the twothirds
rule can he abrogated by the Smith
faction of the Democracy, another
Madison Square Garden tea party may
develop, wherever it may be held.