Evening star., 1927-03-23
Politics at Large
By G.. Gould Lincoln.

South. But now come reports that
many prominent Democrats in Dixie
land are softening in their opposition
to New York's popular governor.
Some of them are speaking hopefully
of Democratic victory If Smith be
nominated. Two former members of
the late President Wilson's cabinet
are said to favor his nomination--Al-
bert Sidney Burleson. former Post
master General. and Thomas w.
Gregory, former Attorney General
both of Texas In 1924 Texas was for
William Gibbs McAdoo which makes
the reported positions of Messrs. Bur-
Lesson and Gregory the more signifi-
cant. Neither Mr.. Burleson nor Mr..
Gregory has been active in politics
in recent years. Their views on the
subject of Gov. Smith, however, are
not without significance.
X X X X
Smith people are out to break down
prejudice against the governor in the
South and the West. They are work
ing actively. They dangle before the
Democrats of the South the sugges-
ton that Smith can win if nominated.
What the Democratic party needs
they say, Is a winner. They insist
he will carry New York, Connecticut
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, Delaware
and Maryland and other States, in
addition to the South.
In the South, Smith has against him
his Wetness and the fact he is q Cath
olic. In the West he has against him
his wetness, but more particularly the
fact that he is a New Yorker, an East
erner of Fasteners. The voters of
ora en- thew
say, over what his church may be.
John w. Davis, the last Democratic
candidate for President, was New
Yorker, too, and before him was Judge
Alton b. Parker, and neither one of
them got very far. Former Gov. Jim
my" Cox of Ohio, William Jennings
Bryan of Nebraska and the late Pres
1dent Wilson were the Democratic
nominees between Parker and Davis.
The West would like to see a man
more familiar with the prairies than
the sidewalks of New York at the
head of the party ticket. But the
West has not a great number of votes
in the national convention, and it
votes for the Democratic nominee
whoever he may be.
X X X
Take the situation in Montana for
example. There Gov. Smiths church
affiliations will scarcely be an obstacle
of great moment. Montana has a dis
tinguished son in the Senate who is
a Catholic. Senator Thomas J. Walsh.
But the people of Montana are not
anxious for a New Yorker for Presi-
dent, and many of them have been
dry. However last Fall a wet refer.
endum won out in the State, to the
surprise of lot of the drys, and the
liberality of Gov. Smith may be no
drawback after all in Montana.
A poll recently taken by promi.
nent newspaper in Florida on the
choice for Democratic nominee for
President in 1923, and also on what
ever voters of Florida would support
Smith if nominated, gave McAdoo as
first choice, and three to one against
support of Smith. But once let Smith
be nominated and the leaders are con-
vinced he will carry the Southern
States.
The selection of presidential candf-
dates by both the major parties is
likely to have no little bearing on
the fate of candidates for the United
State Senate next year, in the opinion
NJ
Democrat, who comes up for re-elec-
ton. The New York Senator, who is
boosting the candidacy of Gov. Smith
for the Democratic nomination, in
Sists that if Gov. Smith is not nomi-
mated number of sitting Democratic
Senators will fall by the wayside.
He sees his own troubles for re-elec-
ton if Smith is not the party nomi-
nee. He sees, too, the possible defeat
of Walsh of Massachusetts, Gerry of
Rhode Island, Edwards of New Jer-
sey, Bayard of Delaware and Bruce
of Maryland, if Gov. Al fails of nomi
nation. On the other hand, there
is at least one Democratic Senator
whose chances may not be so bright
if Smith is the nominee-Senator
Dill of Washington. The head of a
party ticket has considerable in
fluence in a presidential year on the
rest of the ticket. all down the line,
including senatorial candidates. So
many voters vote the ticket
straight"
The chances of the Republicans for
increasing their strength in the Sem
ate in the election of 1928 are bright.
Indeed, the situation SO far as the
senatorial campaign is concerned is
Just about the reverse of what it was
in the campaign last Fall, when a
great number of Republicans were up
for re- ELECTION and only handful of
Democrats. Next year 21 sitting Dem
ocratic Senators are to face the
voters again, while only 10 Repub-
licans and / Farmer Labor Senator is
to seek re e-election. Practically all of
the Republicans who come up for re-
election are in States which are pretty
sure to go Republican.
The 81 Democratic Senators who
must stand for reelection are Ashurst
of Arizona, Bayard of Delaware, Bruce
of Maryland, CopelanP of New York,
Dill of Washington, Edwards of New
Jersey, Ferris of Michigan, Gerry of
Rhode Island, Jones of New Mexico,
Kendrick of Wyoming, King of Utah.
McKellar of Tennessee, Mayfield of
Texas, Neely of West Virginia, Pitt
man of Nevada, Reed of Missouri,
Stephens of Mississippi. Swanson of
Virginia, Trammell of Florida, Walsh
of Massachusetts and Wheeler of
Montana. Republicans have chances
to elect their successors in Delaware,
Maryland, New York, Washington,
New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Mex
leo, wyoming, Utah, West Virginia,
Massachusetts, Montana, and in Mis-
souri, if Senator Jim" Reed persists
in his determination not to be candi-
date again for the Senate. The Re-
publicans will not win all those sena-
torial elections-unless there should be
a tremendous Republican landslide,
and even some of the Democrats prob
ably would squeeze through. But the
chances in many of those States are
good, from a Republican point of view,
and especially in presidential year,
x,yitI, national ticket that ia apranto.
BILE to the country.
X X X
Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Mon
tana, the youthful Democrat who
leaped into notoriety when he con-
Quoted an investigation Of the Depart
ment of Justice under former Attorney