The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-05-26
The Democratic Candidate
BY n. ID. Cochran

The Antsaloon League, whose activities di-
rected by the group of Ohio Republicans and have
been from the time Of its organization has declared
war Governor Smith, Governor Richie and Senator
Jim Reed possible Democratic candidates for the
presidential nomination next year
The leaders of this organization the
shrewdest politicians in the country. They have out
played the politicians in both old parties for years
have actually dominated Republican and Democratic
national conventions in the year.
In 1924 Wayne B. Wheeler the job both at
Cleveland and at New York, and so manipulated the
Madison Square Garden convention, with McAdoo
leading the combined dry and khan forces, that the
election of Coolidge cinch from the day Davis
became the Democratic nominee
Wheelers influence in Democratic conventions is
due to the strength of prohibition the khan in
the Southern States. Unless that strength broken
he will be able to prevent the nomination. of either
Smith, Reed Richie.
There may be flirting with Senator Tom
Walsh of Montana, but not with any expectation of
nominating him for President. He will be used rather
to break down Smiths strength that is DONE
if it is done Walsh will be dropped and some dark
horse trotted out.
You can't always tell what is going on in the
back of the heads of political planners and potters
by what they say in the open, Their real purpose
is generally concealed.
Just now Al Smith is the leading Democratic can.
didate There is much talk of growing Smith
strength in the South, where McAdoo was SO strong
in 1924. We cold that the Democrats want to win
next year. and that Northern and Southern leaders
are getting their heads together
One of the arguments is that if Smith ill only
pussyfoot on prohibition, objection o. religious
grounds won't count Pussyfooting means singing
low prohibition and coming stron- for law en-.
forcement.
Now let's turn to the other side. On the face
of things, Wheeler and his crowd are satisfied with
Coolidge. In the back of their heads they probably
are bit dubious. He has been obedient than his
predecessor was and the failure of Wheeler to have
his own way about the prohibition department will
be resented
If Coolidge wants the Republican nomination the
AntiSaloon League can't stop it, He will get it. If
he decides not to take it, he will come mighty near
picking the nominee
In the meantime, Nicholas Murray Butler in
the East and Big Bill Thompson the West may dis
turb the serenity of the drys in the Republican
national convention. Anyhow the AntiSaloon League
won't have things all it's way.
Now let's turn back to the Democrats \
If Smith is defeated for the nomination after a
hard fight the chances that neither Reed Richie
nor Walsh will be nominated. In the meantime a
splendid fight will have been put up for Smith under
the capable leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt of
New York. who will probably make a wonderfully elo-
quent Smith speech in the convention.
In the final struggle for harmony shrewd politics
would suggest that dark horse be trotted out who
will not be Objectionable to the antSmith element in
the solid South and who get the Eastern and
Northern Smith support at the election.
In that event Franklin Roosevelt will be the logi-
cal harmony nominee strict lawenforcernent plat.
form.