Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-04
Smiths Silence Unbroken.

Gov. Alfred E. Smith Of New York
has used $4,000 words to tell the
Legislature his position on State
issues as he sees them. Confident pre-
diction that the governor. today the
most prominently mentioned Democrat
for the presidential nomination. would
declare himself on important national
issues, is not borne out by the text of
his message His silence is still COM
plete on such subjects as the tariff, i'm
m, ration, the McNary-H augen farm
aid plan. the foreign relations Of the
United States.
The governor does speak Of prohibi-
ton and law enforcement, but what
he says has added nothing new to his
own expressed views on that subject.
He declares for law enforcement while
the eighteenth amendment and the
Volstead act remain unchanged, but Is
clearly antagonistic to the prohibitory
law. He makes a proposal that the
State constitution be so changed that
to the Constitution of the United States
be submitted to a referendum Of the
people Of New York before the State
Legislature votes to ratify them.
The governors message to the Leg
islature had been widely heralded as
q coming campaign document, to be
used In connection with his candidacy
for the presidential nomination. Those
who hoped for such announcements
will be disappointed. The silence Of
Gov. Smith on national issues is still
unbroken. There is nothing in the
message to indicate that the governor
is candidate. It leaves him in the
same position as hitherto. He has de-
T., ID that he Is a candidate for any Of
flee. Indeed, he describes his message
10 the Legislature as his eighth and
"last" annual message as governor. in
cicating that he will not be again a
candidate for governor. This might be
interpreted as meaning that he is
bent on entering the national field of
politics, but this would be merely an
Interpretation Of those who desire him
70 become presidential candidate.
To date Gov. Smith has maintained
an attitude Of non-candidacy for the
presidential nomination. He has done
nothing to give impetus to the drive to
name him as the Democratic standard
bearer for 1928. The widespread cam
paign for Smith delegates to the DEM
ocratic national committee has received
no personal sanction from the gov
ernor. His friends and admirers have
acted upon their own initiative.
How long such a situation can con-
tinue remains TO be seen. It appears
that within short time the governor
must either become q candidate or de-
clare himself out Of the race. He may
not make any public declaration On the
matter, however. and If he does not
his name win surely be brought before
the national convention. 1t win be re-
called that In 1920 the Republican
party nominated Charles Evans Hughes.
then a member of the Supreme Court
OF the United States. Mr.. Hughes had
taken no part In the preconvention
campaign. The nomination came to
him without any declaration from him
even that he would accept 1t. Perhaps
Gov. Smith may be able TO maintain
silence 10 the end. AZ did Mr.. Hughes.
On the other hand, II his name ts
entered In one or more VI the presi-
Dental preferential primaries In the
States which hold such primaries and
he takes no steps TO prevent the sub
mission Of his name 70 the voters. 1t
win be regarded as tacit agreement he
will be a candidate.