Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-03
To Sneak or Not to Speak.

The silence of Al Smith is about To
be broken, The Governor Of New York
delivers TO the State Legislature tomor-
row his annual message. Press reports
are that he will discuss national issues
as we'll as State He has been invited
to address the assembled Democratic
hosts at the Jackson day dinner here in
Washington January u. and his &C
ceptance would call for an address on
national subjects.
For months Gov. Smith has MAIN
tanned a rigid silence regarding both
his candidacy for the Democratic NOM
ination for President and many ma
tional issues. When he has spoken in
formally as 10 his political aspirations
or lack of them, it has been TO declare
he was a candidate for no Office, and
that he would attend strictly to the
Job Of governing New York State. In
a measure this silence of Gov. Smith
has been to his advantage. Had he
come forward months ago as an avowed
candidate for the presidential nomina-
tion, ne would have opened himself
directly to the fire of his opponents.
Had he discussed immigration. the
tariff. and kindred subjects upon which
he may or may not differ with many
other Democrats. he might have fur
nished ammunition to the enemy.
His supporters for the presidential
nomination have gradually divided over
the advisabilrty of breaking his silence.
Some Of them have urged that the gov
ernor continue to say nothing. pointing
20 the rapid strides which his boom
for the presidential nomination has
made under such treatment. Others
have declared that he must take
stand on national issues. that he would
gain adherents throughout the country
es soon as he had announced himself.
When it was announced from Wash
.ngton headquarters Of the Democratic
national committee that invitations to
attend the Jackson day dinner had been
sent 10 Gov. Smith. along with all other
Democratic presidential possibilities, re-
ports from Albany Immediately asserted
the governor would not attend the din
ner; that it would be against his policy
OF avoiding political gatherings outside
of New York. But an invitation from
the Democratic national committee,
representing the party throughout the
country. to attend Jackson day dinner
could not be so lightly disposed Of. 1t
appears.
Whether Gov. Smith has accepted
or declined the invitation TO the din
ner, which carries with 1t an invita-
ton TO speak. or even whether he has
made answer. is still secret. 1t is
not difficult TO understand. however.
that the invitation may have been en-
barrassing. II Gov. Smith declines 70
attend the dinner, sponsored by the
national committee. and 10 address the
Democratic leaders from all parts o!
the country. will it not offend very
many members Of his party? What
other Democratic leader. aspiring 10
the presidential nomination. has de-
cIined such an invitation. and on what
grounds? In 1912 when the Demo-
cratic hosts assembled for a similar oc-
casion, did Woodrow Wilson. Champ
Clark. Oscar w. Underwood or william
J Bryan find some reason 10 be absent?
They did not. Every man who was
under consideration al that time for
the presidential nomination attended
thu Jackson Gay dinner. and was
heard, Indeed. Woodrow Wilson by
his address that night put himself IN
Tn forefront Of the presidential race.
A Jackson day dinner In 1928 with
out Gov Smith might be- considered
Hamlet without Hamlet" but Gov
Smiths absence might be as difficult
for the governor. II he is 10 be CON
tender for the Democratic nomination
as for The projectors Of the dinner, tht
national committee.