Evening star., 1928-03-21

For good many months Gov, Alfred
e Smith Of New York has been re-
ssr6ed as a candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for President this
year Organized efforts TO secure dele
safe pledges for him at the convention
have been conducted by his friends,
Speakers at Democratic gatherings have
extolleG his virtues and elaborated his
competence for the position OF Chief
Executive Of the United States. Smith
clubs have been formed in different
parts Of the country But throughout
all this preparatory period Gov. Smith
has maintained silence on the subject,
save to remark that he proposed to
confIne himself to the job OF governing
New York State. leaving the question
Of the presidency open for public dis
cussion. without any direct indication
of his desire for the nomination.
Ii has been thought that Gov. Smith
would select an opportune occasion TO
announce his candidacy. or at least his
.'receptivity." Some dramatic moment
II was expected. would be chosen. 1t
was hardly thought that the positive
word Of willingness would be uttered
under compulsion. But that is now the
fact The preconvention campaign has
reached the point at which it is neces-
sary for Gov. Smith TO make known
IN
the preferential primary Law OF the
State of Massachusetts, and IN letter
to the Democratic State chairman OF
New York the governor has given his
consent to the use Of his name in the
primary of the Bay State to comply
with the statutes in that Common
wealth. which require that any person,
to have his name entered in the pri-
maries. must definitely declare himself
a candidate. A few weeks ago the
governor certified to the correct spell
ing Of his name on the ofacial ballot
Of the Michigan primaries. which was
regarded as inferentially tantamount TO
acknowledgment of his willingness to
be voted for In that State. The Mas
Sachusetts announcement, however, is
the first explicit statement Of actual
candidacy.
So II |. that the Smith hat is in
the ring. The boom for his nomina-
ton viii now go forward with conf
dence The work OF organizing clubs
and groups In the States win doubtless
be given . decided impetus. for al
though the workers in the Smith cause
have been fairly well assured that the
governor would not decline the nomi-
nation II IL should be rendered him by
the Houston convention, they have been
somewhat in the position Of working
uncer the handicap OF his reticence on
the subject.
Recently there have been whispers
that Smith would not allow his name
TO 90 before the convention: that he
would yield 10 pressure from certain
quarters. inspired by q desire to avoid
precipitsting . conflict on the religious
issue II would seem from the an
nouncement regarding the Massachu-
setts primaries that there is nothing al
present in this report. OF course. the
governor can stilI withdraw his name
II ne 80 desires The granting Of con-
sent 10 be voted for in Massachusetts
does not obligate him 70 carry through
IN case conditions should 50 develop a.
70 render such course advisable But
from now on Gov Smith must be re-
gar6ed az fuil-fedged candidate, even
tl1ouzb he has made his announcement
In trS simplest possible terms. with the
least sNMsnStrstion. He will probably
follow UP his Massachusetts, primary
statement with some kind Of proclama-
tory declaration of faith Until then h.
n TO BE- regarded as one VINO is for.
n2aliy willing"