Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-21
Politics at Large
BY C. Could Lincoln.

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Friends of Senator James A. Reed
have resented strongly the effort in
some quarters to make 1t appear that
the fighting Missourian would aban-
don the race for the Democratic NOM
nation for President. A statement
by one of Reeds supporters made
here recently that he would file for
the Senate to succeed himself was i'm
mediately seized upon by adherents
of Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York
as an indication that Senator Reed
was leaving the field to Smith. In
order to spike this report, Samuel
w. Fordyce, chairman of the Demo
cratic State committee of Missouri,
has issued statement declaring that
under no circumstances would Senas
tor Reed file for the Senate and that
his friends would make real fight
In the Democratic national conven-
ton for his nomination for President.
The Reed hat is therefore more def
initely In the ring than ever before,
although the Senator himself has not
formally announced as candidate.
Mr.. Fordyce asserted that an active
campaign in Senator Reeds interest
is now well under way.
There have been hints in the past
that the opponents of Smith for the
Democratic nomination might yet
swing to Reed as the man to stop"
the New York governor. This would
scarcely please the drys among the
Democrats nor those who resented
Senator Reeds break with the late
President Wilson over the League of
Nations. But some of the politicians
hold that unless the elements opposed
to Smith put forward a man upon
whom they can unite, the field may be
left largely to the two most outstand-
ing men in the Democratic party to-
day, Smith and Reed, and that the
opponents of Smith may have to make
up their minds between them. Under
such circumstances, Reed would. in
deed. become a formidable candidate.
The Smith candidacy has to date
been a runaway affair so far as the
Democrats are concerned. While
there has been strong opposition to
the Governor of New York on the re-
ligious and prohibition issues, no one
has come out against him. 1t will be
Reed boom, which is the most active
now running against the New Yorker
4 X y
The Republicans of New York have
done as much to boost the candidacy of
Gov. Smith for the Democratic nomi-
nation as have his Democratic sup
porters. These Republicans have de-
clared it was necessary to obtain a
Republican candidate for the presi-
dency who can beat Smith in the
Empire State. They have emphasized
the governors strength in New York
over and over again by such demands.
They have demanded the renomina-
ton of President Coolidge or the nomi-
nation of former Secretary of State
Charles Evans Hughes on the ground
that either of them could carry New
York against the governor. Some of
them have opposed the nomination of
Secretary Hoover of the Department
of Commerce on the ground that he
could not swing New York against
Smith. But 1t has yet to be developed
that Mr.. Hoover could not run as well
in the Empire State as any other Re-
publican. If Mr.. Hoover is nominated,
his friends insist, he will make
strong appeal to the voters OF New
York, as he will throughout the coun.
try.
The Whispering" campaign which
has been inaugurated against Mr..
Hoover by his political opponents is
likely to prove a boomerang. Charges
that he is pro.British and sought
British citizenship, that he is ineligi'
BILE under the 14.year residence clause
of the Constitution, are falling nat as
publicity is given to them more and
more and it is shown that there Is no
basis for them.
If Senator Reed of Missouri should
be the nominee of the Democrats and
Mr.. Hoover the choice of the Repub-
licans for President, 1t would bring
into conflict two enemies of years
standing. Senator Reed has attacked
Mr.. Hoover many times in the Sen
ate and his own State of missouri.
They came into open conflict first
soon after Mr.. Hoover returned to
this country and became food ad-
ministrator during the war. Senator
Reed resented bitterly some OF the
steps taken by the food administrator,
and before a Senate committee at the
time put him through severe cross
examination. which Mr.. Hoover bore
with no little equanimity. Senator
Reed has been among those critics
of Mr.. Hoover who charge him with
being pro.British and an interna-
tionalist.
Senator George III. Moses of New
Hampshire wants Mr.. Hoover elected
President, and in an article appearing
in the North American Review, Just
published, points to the widespread
support of the Coolidge poilcles or
administration and declares That Wno-
ever carries the Republican banner
must march under the Coolidge col
ors, which seems remarkably sensible.
There is no doubt that the Repub-
licans must go to the country on the
record of the Coolidge administration
next year. and if they cannot put
the President in the field they must
put up a man who stands solidly be-
hind the Coolidge administration.
Senator Moses insists that Hoover is
the man. Is he a candidate? Sen
ator Moses asks. and continues:
HE has not said so; but we are MAX
ing a candidate of him. He is attend
ing to his job as Secretary OF Com
merce; but we are carrying him TO
the people. 1t is surprisingly easy to
secure Hoover reaction almost every
where. Among business men, among
laborers, among farmers who farm
the land instead of the farmers. among
woman voters, even among the politi-
clans. Hoover sentiment has long ex-
listed and is growing. The business
men have long recognized Hoover as
one who comprehends their problems
and who wants to help in solving them
properly. The laboring men have found
him sympathetic and helpful in all his
efforts to adjust and ameliorate their
conditions. The real farmers have seen
him as an intelligent student OF their
affairs and seeking for a real remedy
for such genuine ills as they have. The
women of the country have always
been with Hoover"
And, more than all else. he cannot