Evening star., 1928-05-06
S the Nations political spot
licht turned IN a Democratic

S the Nations political spot
" light turned on a Democratic
n fight In California last week
4 a to witness Alfred f. smith
climbing out on top over the
shoulders Of his two opponents, SEN
ators Reed of Missouri and Walsh
of Montana. so it turns its rays this
week to Indiana, where on Tuesday
the voters of that State are to de-
eide the victor in a contest between
two publicans--Senator Jim Wat
son and Herbert Hoover. If the
California primaries were significant
from the Democratic point of view.
the Indiana balloting on Tuesday
will be none the less so from Re-
publican standpoint. In California
Smith, far from his home base, was
raised to the crest of a wave that
The Stars correspondents through
out the country believe is sweeping
onward with increasing force. But
what will happen in Indiana?
There the fight finds Hoover. as he
was in Ohio, without the backing Of
the regular Republican machine.
The odds against him. on the sur
face. appear even greater. But lots
Of things are going on under the
surface in Indiana. No one is will
ing 10 offer a definite forecast of
what is to be seen when the lid Is
lifted. A Hoover defeat could not
be considered irreparable, But If
Hoover triumphs in Indiana his
friends are asking: What is there
to stop him elsewhere?"
Smiths victory in California last
week was leading topic, covered
by The Stars correspondents in
their weekly dispatches. II had it's
effect in Texas, where the compli-
Gated business of choosing the 40
delegates to the Houston convention
began yesterday in 1000 precinct
conventions. which named delegates
to the 225 county conventions to be
held Tuesday. The efforts of the
anti-Smith managers to have a
Texas delegation instructed for Gov.
Moody seemed to The Stars CORE
spondent doomed by Gov. Smiths
showing in California. Remaining
doubts that Gov. Smith would be
nominated at Houston seemed 10
him also TO have been cast aside.
In Massachusetts the California
triumph OF the Smith forces was
accepted enthusiastically, leading to
predictions that Smiths nomination
at Houston would be by acclamation.
A movement Is also under way In
Massachusetts, to have JoSephus
Daniels put on the Smith ticket,
In North Carolina the outstanding
development of political interest
hinged. III way. on the California
primaries The refusal of Mr.. Dam
iels to consider lending his name to
a possible third party movement,
coupled with his declaration that
he would support the nominee at
Houston, was accepted by Smith
supporters as a tacit declaration by
Mr. Daniels that he would support
Smith, wet or dry. If nominated.
While Judge Cordell Hull of Ten
nessee has entered the North Caro-
lima race for delegates. his entry
has been rather tardy and the Smith
supporters are now talking boldly of
an instructed delegation for their
favorite at Houston.
Smith sentiment in Virginia. II is
reported. is surprising even the
Smith managers. Straw ballots con-
Quoted by Richmond and Norfolk
newspapers have resulted in an over
whelming preference for the New
York Governor. which is also mani
Testing itself In the ninth Virginia
district, comprising southwest Vlr-
ginia. which casts more votes than
several other districts combined.
Smiths gains in Virginia are lead
ing to predictions that dry move
ment. 10 take form in resolution at
the State convention In Roanoke to
instruct the delegates to vote against
Smith. Reed or Ritchie. will be de-
feated and the Virginia delegation
will 90 To Houston uninstructed
In Oregon, with the presidential
primaries two weeks away. The Star
correspondent reports that predic-
tons are being made freely of an
instructed Smith delegation and
notes as unique feature of the
campaign the exceptional interest
manifested by woman voters. More
of them are turning out under the
Smith banner, this correspondent
states. than IN any other campaign,
the nearest approach being IN 1916
when the Wilsonian slogan. He
kept us out of war" had its effect
South Dakota's delegations may now