Evening star., 1927-04-19

Whether there is a turning of the
Democratic tide toward Gov. Smith of
New York. especially in the South,
continues to be a major subject of
comment in the press. Repudiations
from several prominent Southern lead
ers who had been claimed by optimis-
tic Smith supporters add zest to the
argument, in which the prohibition is
sue looms large, while nearly every
where there is tendency to depre-
cate injection of religious prejudices.
On the question of Mr.. Smiths af-
filiation with the Catholic Church, the
Birmingham News Independent DEM
ocratic) prints in bold type that pro-
vision OF the Constitution which de.
clares that mo religious test shall
ever be required as a qualification to
any Office or public trust under the
United States" and that paper as.
serts, .In view of this clear and spe-
cific provision in this country's funda'
mental lava provision that has been
immemorially respected and obeyed
since the Constitution was adopted
Gov. Smith would be perfectly justi.
| fed In plumbing the depths OF his
scorn and pointing to this constitu-
tional provision as his sole ana sur
| fcient answer to the un-Americau in
auiry that has been addressed to him
| In the columns of the Atlantic Month
ly and the New Republic"
Viewing the situation under date OF
| April ID, the New York World Qnde.
pendent Democratic). one of the chief
supporters of the governor, empha'
sizes his strong support, but depre-
Gates attempts to exaggerate ms
strength. Those friends OF Gov.
Smith who in many States are urging
| his nomination for the Presidency In
| 1923 have suffered some recent set
backs for which they have only their
own haste and overconf1dence TO
biame.' says the World. senator
Carter Glass, former Attorney Cen
eral Gregory and Gov. Byrd OF Vir.
ginia have had to deny unfoundea
statements that they were committed
to the Smith candidacy. Senator Ed,
wards of New Jersey has been quoted
as assigning to the Smith column the
States of California, Texas, Wiscon-
sin and North Carolina. These are
large States, not easily polled. In one
of them, North Carolina, ex-Secretary
Daniels, who had been mistakenly
listed for Smith. finds himself in
hearty accord with sentiment, certain
" in North Carolina, that the Demo
cratic party would make a serious
mistake If we should nominate a wet
man for the Presidency.
II 4 y
'It is incontestab1e that Gov. Smith
is the most popular figure in the Dem
ocratic party, the only one for whom
there is any great volume of enthu
siasm, the only one who could put life
into the next Democratic campaign,
declares the Brooklyn Daily Eagle lin
dependent Democratic), while the Flint
Daily Journal independently, suggest
ing that Smith can please the drys
if he keeps his wet views to himself,
observes that "the first strategic move
of the Democrats has all the earmarks
of good craftsmanship and consider
able political cunning" The Man
chester Union independent Republi
cam views him as probably the rooa'
interesting Democratic possibility to-
day"
The Baltimore Evening Sun dnde
pendent Democratic), quoting Senator
Borah's predictions that 'Smith viii
run on a dry platform" admits that
"this is conceivable, for prodigious eff
forts will be made to bring it about,
but suggests that 1T will take mort
than the cynical prediction of a Re
publican to convince Gov. Smiths
friends that he can be tempted, ever
by the Presidency, to reverse his owr
record
or the suggestion that the election
of President after all has nothing tC
do with prohibition, the Savannah
Morning News Democratic) remarks
1.-THE overwhelming election of 3
strong wet candidate would be re
fected very quickly in the attitude
&c members Of Congress, even though