Evening star., 1927-05-11
MEREDITH BOOMS
I NEWTON D. BAKER
Iowan Does Not Think Wet
t Can Win Democratic
Nomination.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Ed Meredith OF Iowa now trOts out
n candidate for the Democratic presi.
dental nomination, namely, Newton
course. that he does not think the
administration of Woodrow Wilson.
Nr Meredith does not think a wet
can he nominated, which means, of
course. that he noes not think the
Democrats finally will choose Al
Smith. He thinks instead that Mr..
Baker is the logical candidate" which
is only another way of saying that
the drys in the Democratic party are
bestirring themselves TO get some one
who can be nominated as a compro-
mise if a deadlock ensues. On that
theory, Tom Taggart of Indiana has
brought out Evans Woollen.
Sees Ohio Delegation Assured.
Newton Baker can have the Ohio
delegatOn if he wants it. The Demo
Gratis of his home State think a great
deal Of him. After his return from
WASHINGTON. he developed even great
er p.estige than when he was away.
Newton Baker is not q radical,
though he has many friends in that
wing Of the Democratic party. He is
known as a liberal conservative or
progressive, and, so far as the Wilson
men i'm the Democratic party are con-
cerned would be eminently SatiSfac-
tory.
Mr.. Baker, however, was not a Nc
Adoo man in 1924; in fact. the Ohio
delegation, after many ballots for it's
favorite son, James NJ. Cox. was held
strongly in line against McAdoo by
The late Judge Moore and several boil
lots were cast for Newton Baker.
The last Democratic convention was
L.. i
speech in favor of a League of Ma
issue, but he lost out. wisconsin at
that time had not regained the
strength it once had in the party.
While the League is no longer a
controlling issue inside the party, the
identification of Newton Baker with
the Wilson regime now may be an
asset instead of a liability.
Smith CuItivating Wilson Men.
The friends of AL Smith have left
no stone unturned to cultivate the
Wilson men; in fact, publicity was
given recently to a letter. in which
Mr.. Wilson at one time commented
on AL Smiths record as Governor of
New York. A few days ago Gov.
Smith called on Mrs. Woodrow Wilson
at the home of Bernard NJ. Baruch.
The basic reason for the announce
ment about Newton Baker is not
necessarily to present Wilson man
of the old days as a candidate, but
to bring out q dry. 1t is apparent that
Mr.. McAdoo has no desire to get into
the presidential race or else such
stanch supporters of Mr.. McAdoo as
Ed Meredith would not be discussing
other dry candidates. The number of
dry candidates is not large, for the
prohibition issue in the Wilson days
had hardly developed the factionalism
it has today.
The search is not so much for an
outstanding dry as for n man who
has not been conspicuously wet. The
drys in the Democratic party, like
Ed Meredith, unquestionably recog-
nize that for the time being the tide
is running strongly in favor of Gov.
Smith, but this makes them all the
more eager to get favorite sons
started in several States in the hope
of encouraging them to form a bloc
which can ultimately name COM
promise candidate. 1t is recalled that
the favorite son groups really pre-
vented McAdoo's getting a majority
at Madison Square Garden and at the
same time caused the elimination Of
Smith.
The 1928 campaign shows every
sign of being under way in the Demo-
cratic camp with evidence that many
Of the leaders see the necessity Of
getting an agreement If possible in
advance of the convention to avoid
prolonged balloting.
tCopyrght 1927