Evening star., 1927-09-20
Brennan, Chief Lieutenant OF
New Yorker, Lost Own
Race by 10000 Votes.
RELIGIOUS ISSUE SEEN
AS WELDING INFLUENCE
Southern Part of State May Align
With Reed, While Drys May
Prefer Meredith.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
STAFF Correspondent of The star.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, September 20.-The
Al Smith banner is nailed to the mast
by the New York governors friends
in Chicago. They not only do not eN'
pect the governor to play follow the
leader to Mr.. McAdoo's gesture OF ao-
necation. but they also expect him TO
he nominated by the Democratic ma
tional convention for President.
Illinois is one Middle Western State
which is relied upon to give Gov
Smith the bulk of its delegates to the
national convention. George +. Bren-
nan. Democratic boss and national
committeeman, is saying nothing for
publication just at present regarolns
the proposal from McAdoo and the
anti-Smith camp that Smith declare
himself out of the race in order 10
promote harmony in the party. But
! IT is known that Brennan believes the
Nav York governor should do nothing
OF the sort.
Has No Favorite Son.
Illinois Democracy has to date no
fayorite son for the presidential nom
ination, no outstanding Democrat 10
whom the delegation might rally. In
this IT is unlike many of its neighbors,
among them Indiana with Woolieh'
Ohio with Donahey and Missouri with
Reed. Smith to the Democrats here Is
the big outstanding figure OF the party
today. ..
ANY man who can carry North
arm and Eastern State, like New York,
four times deserves the Democratic
nomination next year." said one of the
most prominent Democrats in Chicago
today. "It would be folly TO turn him
down. and, furthermore. 1t would
break the party's back for years TO
come, At bottom the real opposltion
to AL Smith is that he is Catholic.
.The Catholic voters in many OF the
States have been the backbone OF the
Democratic party. II Smith is turned
down now because he is a Catholic,
these voters will be through with the
party"
Gov. Smith makes a strong appeal
10 Illinois because he is wet. TINS
State has voted wet several times on
State referendums, though it must be
admitted that the drys have not put,
forward their full strength in the
elections, urged not to do so by the
Anti.Saloon League. The wet sentl.
ment is located largely in Chicago and
a few other cities. and Is offset by the
down-State vote.
Solid Delegation Impossible.
The New York governor cannot
count on a solid delegation to the
Democratic convention from this
State. Far from it. There Is lafge
group Of Democrats in the Southern
counties which is directly dry and
antfCatholic. The delegates repre-
senting those counties will be anti
smith. 1t has been suggested that
some of them will prefer Senator
"Jim' Reed OF Missouri, although he
In a wet, for they are apt to follow
the leadership of the Missouri Democ-
racy. They may turn to E. T. Mere
dith Of Iowa, Secretary OF Agriculture
IN the Wilson administration, who
looms as a possible rallying point for
the anti-Smith people since the an
nouncement of William Gibbs McAdoo
that he will not be candidate for
. the nomination Indeed, it is reported
that Meredith is ready and willing to
become a candidate of the dry and
progressive Democrats against GOV.
Smith. He is said to be urging
Nationwide conference within the
next month to select a candidate to
oppose Smith.
While Gov. Smith may rely upon
Illinois votes in the Democratic ma
tional convention next year 10 help
him to the presidential nomination,
he cannot rely upon electoral votes
from Illinois 10 help him into the
White House IL he be nominated. At
least that is the judgment of poll
ticians and observers here. Illinois
in recent wears has become as strong
lv Republican as Pennsylvania, and
that is saying a lot. President Cool
idge carried the State by some 500, 900
votes i'm 1924 over his Democratic Op-
ponent IT would take almost politi-
cal revolution to put Illinois in the
Democratic column next year, with
such a turnover to be made. Further
more even If the governor. as the
Democratic nominee, should receive
the votes of a large number Of Re-
publican vets here, he would lose a
large number of Democratic drys
downstate, and also the votes OF a
considerable number of Protestant
Democrats. The religious issue will
play it's part in Illinois, and while
there are many Catholics in the State,
large number of them are Demo
Gratis and might be expected to vote
for Smith anyway. On the other
hand, many Of the vets, some of
them of German extraction. are
Protestants and would oppose Smith.
The prominence which was given
> Gov. Smith when he attended the
great Eucharistic Conference here a
couple OF years ago made a deep i'm
preston and has not been forgotten.
Brennan Was Defeated.
A year ago Brennan, a wet and
"a oct