Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-29
SMITH MOVEMENT
AMONG DEMOCRATS
GAINS IN NEBRASKA
Hitchcock May Lead Fight
Against Organism in
States Politics.
REED is WELL LIKED
AND HAS ADVANTAGE
Move for Ritchie in 1882 Seen in
Cousins Plan to Get Com
mittee Post.
By G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
STAFF Corrnsnondent of The Star,

democracy VIII so into HdtloHd
campaign next year without the dom
mating personality Of William j
Byran. Three times the Democratic
standard bearer. Col. Bryan through
out all those years made himself fel
in the party's affairs in the State.
With Col. Bryan out of the picture
Democrats here are lining up for 6
free-for-all fight for the delegation t.
the national convention Of 1928. Bryar
the lesser, Brother Charley" is be
1ieved to be bent upon controlling thu
delegation and probably in the in
terest of his own candidacy for the
nomination. No one here really be
lieves that he can be nominated fol
President. But few people in 1922
suspected that he would be the nom
inee for Vice President. That, it Ii
true, was brought about largely
through the influence Of his brother
the colonel, for whose support the
leaders were playing after they pickee
John w. Davis as the forlorn hope Of
the party.
Hitchcock May Enter.
It Is believed to be on the cards that
former Senator Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock
of this State will enter the lists with
MIR. Bryan for the delegation to the
Democratic national convention. Sem
ator Hitchcock has just returned to
Omaha after q trip to Europe. He
has said nothing about his plans, po-
litically. For a number of years Sem
ator Hitchcock has been at odds with
the Bryan faction Of the party, al
though he gave Col. Bryan strong sup
port in his first campaign and for
some time thereafter.
Mr.. Hitchcock fought the Bryans
successfully later. when he himseir
was a candidate for the senatorial
nomination, and on other occasions.
With Col. Bryan no longer here, it IS
believed that he would have less DIM
Guilty than in the past.
Senator Hitchcock, however, II he
decides to permit his name to go be-
fore the voters in the presidential prl-
mary next year, will do so earnestly
and not as a stalking horse, to prevent
the delegation going to some otner
candidate.
Smith Movement Serious.
Here in Nebraska as in other States
of the West. the AL Smith movement
Is seriously under way. The New
York governors supporters are seek
ing already to line up delegates, For
mer Mayor Smith Of Omaha mas al
ready announced that he VIII De
candidate for delegate on a Smltf
ticket. Petitions for placing the name
of Gov, Smith on the presidential pri
mary ballot are being circulated. Anc
n IN well within the possibilities thai
smith will have several delegates IRON
Nebraska in the convention next year
AS a matter of fact, he had the sup
mort of several in the 1924 convention
in Madison Square Garden. He II
particularly strong in Omaha, Tor ex
ample, both because he is wet ano
because Of the large number OF voters
of Irish extraction.
Nebraska is rated as a dry state
hnd probably is. But there Is a large
,,,,ui,er of voters of German extrac
tion TO whom prohibition is anything
nut acceptable. Many Of the German
Americans were formerly Democrats
hut went over to the Republican
marty after this country went into the
world War under the leadership ol
president Wilson. Wet Democrats
are hopeful that a considerable mum
f,e,. of these voters will return to the
narty fold If AL Smith or some Other
wet is nominated for President.
senator James A. Reed OF Missouri
would be acceptable, too, to a large
number of Democrats in Nebraska
He has the advantage, it is said, over
Gov. Smith which comes from being
q Westerner and conversant with the
.,roblems Of the West. Furthermore.
he is a. Protestant and would not be
subject to the same religious preJu'
dice as Gov. Smith. Reed would make
a stronger race in Nebraska than
could Smith, 1t is said even by sup
norters of the New York governor
Nothing has been heard from the Reed
camp, however. regarding his entry
into the presidential primary here
Some Democrats are enthusiastic over
Reeds chances to carry the state II
he be nominated. Not even the most
enthusiastic really believes that Al
Smith could turn the trick.
Organism Is Opposed.
There is a large block of Democrats
In Nebraska intent upon getting away
from Bryanism, even Organism in the
second degree, as represented now by
FORMER Gov. Bryan. They will tak'
their coats off and go to work rt
prevent the delegation from being
named for Mr.. Bryan. On the Other
hand. IL is admitted that Mr.. Bryar
is shrewd politician, who still has
a considerable following. There has
been some doubt as 10 whether ht
would seek to have the delegation
named for him or would make another
frv for the Democratic nomination fol
governor. He mikht try for 1t. but hi
name would have to go on the pri
mary ballot twice, and that would no
be so good.
The impression prevails now tina
he will seek the delegation rathe
than the gubernatorial nomination
Particularly in view Of the fact tina
the Republicans are centering o
Arthur j. Weaver, president OF tn
Missouri River Development Associs
tion, for governor, rated very stron
candidate, and likely to win agains
Mr.. Bryan or any other Democrat VIII
might be put up. Indeed. one or IN
leading Democratic newspapers In tn
State has suggested editorially tina
the Democrats should give their II
dorsement also to Mr.. Weaver. MI
Weaver has never been a candidat
for public Office before. but he ha
been prominent in many civic move
ments, and is said to be strong wit
the farmers also.
Just to make the Democratic mi,
up more complex. there Is to be
row over the election of the nationa
Gontinued on Pege s, Column ~