New Britain herald., 1927-02-15
".AI' SMITHS CHANGES TO BE CANDIDATE


 pledges of 4$G delegates he has more than a far chance of bccom- ing the ultimate candidate. The man who can enter a Democratic convention with this number ot pledged delegates is entitled to the bacon.
 If the venerable two-thirds rule &nd the unit rule were abolished the New York governor would most cer- tainly obtain the nomination with comparative case. There will be 109S delegates in attendance; whcr the doors open Smith in all prob, ability will have nearly half of them pledged. If under such circum- stances he cannot finally win the nomination it will mean that the choice Of the strongest and most popular candidate in the Democratic party is not desired as the candi- date; that some middlc-of-the-r road CT, unable 10 impress the big eastern states that Governor Smith. if a candidate, is sure to carry, will daw- dle along as q foil to the G. o. P.
 Governor Smith is setting better with the farmers than he did four years ago, when they knew little if anything of his efforts on behalf of the rural population of his state. They regarded him as from the city," a product of the East Side His opposition to the attempted electric power grab along the St. Lawrence has shown him to be a valiant fighter for the interests of the common people; his sympathy for the ordinary man, the fellow in Cyeralls as well as the men of the middle. class. is now recognized throughout the nation.
 Prohibition opposition to the Smith candidacy in the south is not as strong as it once was, largely be- cause It is realized that the only difference between Smith and the average statesman m Washington is that Smith is honest about his stand on the prohibition question while most of the others are hypocrites. One need only 10 refer to the recent congressional speech in which it was said that most congressman drink liquor-and only four arose to deny it. In addition, it is also being real ized that a President who dislikes prohibition personally, while obeying the law while it k on the books, cannot of himself ,hanGe the law; that Congress, with smith in the White House, would still be the law making body. If smith were Prcsi- dent and went so far as to include a suggestion in one of his messages that Congress begin to modify the Nolstead law or erase the 18th amendment from the Constitution which many think he would never do--that does not mean Congress would immediately follow the sug- reston. Many a President. including Nr. Coolidge, have made suggestions in their messages which have never been acted upon; have never even been seriously considered.
 Governor Smiths religion also cannot have the slightest effect upon Congress or the policies of the government. In considering this matter broadmindedncss is ncces- sary. Ii is said that the fact Smith is a Catholic will weigh with the southern Democratic delegates more heavily than the fact he personally believes in modifying prohibition. But the fact it is now becoming gen orally realized there is no man in the Democratic party possessing his potential strength at the polls; that if nominated and elected there would be just as much religious freedom in the southern states as there now is; tEat Congress woula continue to run the country and not the Prosidcnt-as is the case today-thcso facts arc slowly domol- ishins some Of the earlier criticism against his candidacy.
 Thun there is the final analysis. If nominated, tho south will remain soudiy Democratic, while the states of New York, New Jersey, Massa- ehusetis, and possibly some other states which have been helping the C. 0. r. landslidcs, will be added to the fold. IL is a bait tho sorthcrncrs cannot overlook. Either they must he willing to say. "Ir smith must b" the Democratic nominee then We will he satisfied with a Republican president" or they must admit If smith is the only Democrat who can win, then lets get behind him."
 The leaven is working. Tho word from Washington is that mon high in Republican circles believe smith will overcome the opposition that has E"pt him from the presidential raoo heretofore; thot he will be- nominated,
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