Evening star., 1927-09-24
St. Louis Backers Say Sena-
tor Would Have Better
Chance Than Gov. Smith.
SPECTACULAR ATTACKS
OF PAST REMEMBERED
Opposed League, Wilson, Hoover,
Dawes, Heflin and Farm
Relief Bill.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN,
Staff Cnrreennndenf of Tha Star

ST. LOUIS, Mo, September 24--Sen-
ator James A. Reed of Missouri, anti.
Wilson and anti.League of Nations
Democrat. and as such a few years
ago anathema to the democracy of
this State, is confidently expected to
have the support of the Missouri
delegation for the presidential noni
nation at the Democratic national con-
vention next year.
Reed, who was thrown out Of the
Democratic national convention in
1920, although he had been elected a
district delegate to that body, is now
the apple of the eye of Missouri
democracy. 1t is true he has old
enemies in the State. But an anti
Reed fight at this juncture would
cause a terrible uproar and weaken
the party in it's effort to elect a gov
ernor and the rest of the State ticket
next year.
Is Regarded as Probable.
The fighting Missouri Senator is
regarded in some quarters as not only
a possible but probable nominee
of the Democrats for President. He
may be the nominee, because as Il
wet he becomes the residuary legatee
of the AL Smith strength after the
New York Governor shall have been
put through his PAGES at the national
convention and failed to make the
grade. He may be the nominee be-
nation rally to Reed as the man to
head off the New York Governor.
There are two schools of thought in
Missouri today as to the course which
the Senator and his friends should
pursue in order to bring him the
nomination next year. The first holds
that Senator Reed should-figurativel
speaking-go to the convention with
the Missouri delegation tucked away
In his pocket and such other delegates
from various parts of the country as
may go to him, and play a waiting
game. He should wait until AL Smith
has had his day, perhaps even turning
over some delegates to Smith to help
the latter when he most needs help.
Having pursued such course accord
ing to those who support it, if the
New York governor is not nominated,
then 1t is reasonable to expect that
when the break comes from Smith.
scores of Smith delegates from the
East-and the West-will turn as
naturally to Reed as the sunflower
turns to the sun. Why not, they say?
For Reed is a wet as we'll as Smith.
and Reed Is a picturesque, forceful
figure in the party. perhaps its most
outstanding figure today next to
Smith, the four-time governor of New
York.
Aggressiveness Is Urged.
The second school of thought on the
Reed candidacy holds to the opinion
that Senator. Reed should enter the
convention not merely as favorite
son candidate, waiting for Smith and
others to get out of the way and per-
nit a compromise on Reed. but as a
real contender for the nomination
from the first sound of the gong. Ben
nett c. Clark, son of the late Speaker
Clark, who, in 1912, received the vote
for the presidential nomination of a
majority of the votes of the Baltimore
convention, but failed to get the neces
sary two-thirds, is one of those who
would have Senator Reed make a Wig
orous fight from the outset of the
convention. Missouri, Mr.. Clark holds,
should have no second choice, but be
for Reed, first, last and all the time.
The wet sentiment, particularly in
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