Evening star., 1927-04-24
Curb on Presidential AspTa-
tions Might Ruin Party,
Edwards Declares.
GLASS DENIES REQUEST
FOR WITHDRAWAL MOVE
Leaders in Washington Would Be
Glad to See Old Opponents
Out of Race.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

Of meeting strong resistance. II per-
sisted in at this stage they may re-
suit in a bitter row which will ruin
the Democratic party long before the
national convention next year.
This was indicated last night by
Senator Edwards of New Jersey, a
militant wet. In a statement brist-
ling with resentment because of re-
ports from New York that a group
Of Democratic leaders from the South
and the West We're considering a
round robin requesting both Smith
and McAdoo to withdraw from the
race for the Democratic nomination,
the New Jersey Senator predicted
that dire results would follow any
such move.
For our Southern Democracy to
attempt to round robin Gov. Alfred
E. Smith out of the 1928 presidential
race is a species of political fratricide
for which, If successful, the party of
Jefferson will pay the death penalty
said Senator Edwards.
Glass FlatIy Denies.
At the same time, Senator Carter
Glass of Virginia, who was mentioned
in the reports from New York as one
of those who would undertake to re-
quest Smith and McAdoo to retire
from the race, fatty denied the truth
of the report.
Senator Glass insisted he had never
suggested such movement to retire
Smith and McAdoo, that such sug-
gestion had never been made to him,
and that he had no intention of asking
any one to withdraw.
other Democratic leaders in Wash.
ington, while declining to be quoted,
said that although 1t was true that
many Democrats would be glad to
see both old opponents at Madison
Square Garden in 1924 out of the 1923
race, such a movement as now sug.
gested was premature to say the least.
One of these Democrats. who has
been prominent in party councils for
years, said:
only il sentiment for the with
drawal of Gov. Smith and Mr.. Nc
Adoo should become pronounced
among the rank and file of the party
would a request to them to withdraw
be justifiable or wise. If sentiment
for their withdrawal became so gen.
eral, then both Gov. Smith and Mr..
McAdoo would be well aware Of it,
out being requested to do So"
Seen as Leader.
At present, this Democratic leader
said, no such sentiment had developed
strongly, and Gov. Smith must be
considered one of the leading candi-
dates, if not the leading candidate, for
the nomination. In the past this
Democrat opposed the nomination of
Smith and doubtless would do so
again.
Senator Edwards in his statement
pictured Gov. Smith as the savior
of the Democratic party" and said
that If the Republicans nominate
President Coolidge next year only
Smith could hope to defeat him.
There is no other star above the
political horizon which shines more
brightly than that of the New York
governor" said Senator Edwards, yet
there are Democrats who would serve
and pander to intolerance and bigotry
in order that a loud-mouthed but inn
pertinent minority might be assauged.
"Who is there in the Democratic
party today who even approXimates
Smiths strength as an administrator
and vote-getter?
mot a remote prospect can be men,
toned, and yet our so-called political
mentors and monitors-self- appointed
spokesmen of Jacksonian democracy
cry out for the crucifixion of its
only savior.
Servant of People.
"Gov. Smiths answer to Marshall
in which he made a whole-hearted
confession of faith, and forever stilled
intelligent prejudice against this faith.
brands him as an unmistakable
servant of the people. This faith in
God conceived in the religion in which
he was born and reared, marks him
as an exponent of democracy unex-
celled since Jefferson and Jackson.
II am not a Catholic. My life Of
64 years has been directed through
channels utterly divorced from
Catholic beliefs and dogmas. Yet /
can see no hindrance between worship
of God according to Papal En-
cyclicals and worship of God through
the teachings of Luther or Calvin, as
far as ones patriotism is concerned.
cit is reported that leaders of the
Democratic party are demanding the
withdrawal of both Smith and Nc.
Adoo from the convention OF 1873.
McAdoo has been non est these many
months anu every OhS 4A %NAASAA~A
knows it except himself.
Gov. Smith has taken the oath OF
public Office 10 times and for an equal
number of times he has sworn under
oath to uphold the Constitution OF the
United States and to administer the
civic affairs of the United States, ac-
cording to the fathers and not accord
ing to any religion or creed. His rec
ord speaks for itself. Out of State
cabinet of some 16 members, 13 are
Protestants, one is a Jew and 10
other processes no religious creed Ii
subservience to Rome or the Pope
can be interpreted from Smiths Off
cia1 family. then the governor is
partisan Catholic.
Patronage for South.
Under the late Woodrow Wilson
the South was surfeited with Federal
patronage and practically controlled
the Congress. Under AL Smith the
South would undoubtedly fare with
equal prominence.
"The Democratic party cannot de-
feat somebody with nobody. There is
a determined effort now on foot to
force the denomination of Calvin Ccnl-
idge In spite of the fact that the third
term bogie is starting the G. O. r. in
the face. President Coolidge can be
beaten before the convention OF 1928.
but not in convention. He is a pow
fTnr44Y.4nd ~. Asa 49, lv.1tsssx.4 q