Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-31

Democrats Back smith.
At the same election Senator Walsh
defeated Senator William M. Butler
for the Senate by a vote of 525, 1903 to
400 ,989.
There seems to be no question but
what the Democrats of Massachusetts,
will send a solid Smith delegation to
the Democratic national convention
next year. AS a neighbor, q wet and
a Catholic, the New York Governor Is
very popular here. Smith, IL nominal.
ed. would be a strong candidate IN
this State. His nomination would
make of Massachusetts, a doubtful
State. This is admitted even by Re-
publicans. That he would carry the
State Is the claim of many Demo
Gratis. But the more conservative
Democrats content themselves with
saying that Smiths nomination
would put Massa chusetts in the doubt
full column.
The withdrawal of President Cool
idge from the presidential race next
year has heartened the Democrats
here greatly. No other nominee whom
the Republicans may select could
make the same run as President Cool
idge in Massachusetts. Mr.. Coolidge
had the prestige which any native son
seeking the highest office in the land
would have. The Democrats say that
their Republican opponents next year
without Coolidge will have to stand
on their own bottom
On the other hand, the Democrats
will have to overcome the strength of
the Republican party in a presidential
election. This is not inconsiderable.
The people of Massachusetts, have
come to believe in Republican con.
troll of the national Government and
to fear the effects upon business of
a Democratic administration Of Fed
eral affairs. The State went for Cool
idge in 1924 by a vote of 703, 489 to
2SO,SS4 for John w. Davis, Democrat,
and 141,225 for the late Senator La
Toilette, running as an independent
Progressive. Doubtless the native-son
strength was responsible in part for
this great majority rolled UP by Mr..
Coolidge, but the desire for a national
Republican administration played its
part.
Sees Racial Differences.
One we'll posted Republican takes
the view that Gov. Smith would not
be as serious as a contender for the
electoral vote Of Massachusetts, as
others credit him with being. He
bases his opinion on the Republican
swing in a presidential year and
also on the racial differences existing
among the Catholic voters of the State,
French, Irish and Italian. These
racial groups, he says. do not hang
well together. It is generally esti-
mated that the Catholic voters of
Massachusetts are nearly one-half of
the total number of voters. Many of
the French and italian have been Re.
publicans.
Former Senator William M. Butler,
chairman Of the Republican national
committee, Is regarded here as the
probable candidate for the Senate next
year against Senator Walsh, who beat
him in 1926 for the unexpired term
or the late Senator Lodge. Mr.. But.
Ter Is the last of a group Of strong
Republican figures in the State who
maintained close connection with ma.
tional politics, including the late SEN
ators Lodge and Crane and the late
Secretary of War John w. Weeks.
Butler carries the burden for the Re-
publicans in the national field of poll
tics, except, Of course, 50 far as that
burden is carried by President Coolidge
But the President proposes now to
take himself out of the political arena,
at least for the time being, II Mr..
Butler becomes a candidate for the
Senate, and he has not yet made
any announcement of his plans, he
will yield his place as chairman of
the Republican national committee
and attend strictly to his own knit.
ting.
Campaign to Be Long.
lasting probably a year. He is ex-
pected to make his announcement
some time this Fall, and IL he enters
the race, as he probably will, an in.
tensive campaign will begin with
out delay. In some quarters 1t is sug.
gested that Butler. independent of the
administration fight. will do better
next year than he did a year ago, that
he will not be bound in his own cam.
paign to consider constantly what ef-
feet his own attitude on public cues.
lions and issues in Massachusetts,
might have on the chances of Mr..
Coolidge. On the other hand, it may
properly be supposed that Mr.. Cool.
ldge at the head of a ticket in this
State would greatly strengthen the
senatorial candidate. One thing ap
pears certain, however. he or any 9th.
er Republican will have a real task to
defeat Senator Walsh. Gov. Fuller
might turn the trick If he would per-
NIT himself to be nominated for the |
Senate, but he has said publicly that
ne would not run against Senator |
Walsh for that or any other office.
1t has been the custom i'm Massa- |
chusetts to send uninstructed delega.
tons to Republican national con-
ventions, although the delegates have |
been carefully chosen with regard to |
their friendship for this or that can |
didate for the presidential nominal |
ton. The delegation next year is
likely to be uninstructed, too Because !
of President Coolidge's definite deci- |
sion not to run for President 1t Is |
scarcely probable that his own State |
would so disregard his wishes as to |
send a delegation pledged to vote for |
him. On the other hand, the delega-
ton will not wish to be pledged to |
another candidate, since 1t will wish
to be free at all times to cast Massa-
chusetts' votes for Coolidge If the
time comes for such action. Four
delegates at large in the Massa-
chusetts delegation are usual doni-
nant Republican figures. II Gov.
Fuller permits himself to be put up
for delegate at large, he will be
chosen by a huge vote, although he
has never before been a delegate to
a national convention. Senator But
Ter Is expected to be chosen as dele
gate at large, too, and probably Sen
ator Gillett.