The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1928-03-29
lob HUNTERS
GETTING BUSY
Republicans Urge Harm
ony-Wet-Dry Issue
Bothers Demos
By Richard Hamilton

in WaSnlnS Loii, Wi1h iASiio AAoo'-
sr and Governor AL Smith contin-
ming to rule as the respective fav-
orites of the republicans and demo
crats. Both are threatened, how
aver and their managers are STEP
ming gingerly to keep from pro-
yoking open fights in the state con-
ventions. The democrats will meet
in Spokane, April ID; while the re-
publicans will hold their state
meeting in Yakima May 5.
Scrap on Unit Rule
Republican leaders, realizing
that their party is confronted by
the prospect of hard going in the
general election, are trying to get
together on "harmony program
and some of the largest counties
on the west side are already lined
ND to enforce peace in the county
and state conventions. Under the
harmony program, the Hoover
managers will not ask for an in
structed Hoover delegation to the
Kansas City convention; while the
factional row over Governor Hart
lev is not to be brought up, the
rival factions agreeing that there
shall be neither an Endorsement
nor a reputation of the Hartley
administration. This program, it
should be understood, does not
bury the republican troubles, it
merely shifts the battle-ground.
On presidential matters, the
fight is shifted from Yakima to
Kansas City. Notwithstanding
some strength shown by Frank
Lowden in eastern Washington
grain counties, as well as an un-
.dercurrent of Dawes sentiment in
King county, Mr.. Hoover is con-
ceded the leading republican pres
idential candidate and almost GER
tain to have first call on Washing
toms II delegates to the national
convention. But the Washington
delegates will be free to do bust
ness in Kansas City, and, if Mr..
Hoover should fall short, Wash
ington's delegates may develop a
fight among themselves as to whom
they should support.
Yet there is faint prospect of
fight at Yakima. What of the
unit rule? So far, nobody has said
thing about it. Perhaps, however
the Hoover managers, headed by
the alert Ed Sims, waived instruc-
slon as a bit of sop, intending all
the time to clamp on the unit rule ?
ana the unit rule, you know, is
Just another form of instruction,
tae more irksome because it uti-
nzes the votes of a helpless min
ority.
Demos Attack Hartley
:. On the democratic side, the drys,
al1ho deserted by Senator Dill, are
showing opposition to Mr.. Smith.
Local uprisings against the wet
seW Yorker are showing in Spo-
sase, King county, Yakima, Sno-
nOmlsh county and other districts,
some " supporting Senator Walsh of
~ %0nsana and others just opposing
MI Smith. But the lack of a lead
= and statewide program is max
ing the dry uprisings rather futile.
snd as things now stand. it looks
: 4 the Smith organization will
.0nsrol the Spokane convention.
~ anyway, the Smith people profess
- y oe undisturbed and are going
Tsd g with their program.
nc smith program is based on
~ w Strategic moves. On one hand.
Se plan is to divert attention from
,,;.., - Wet-dry issue by making a
spu,. prrsed and noisy attack on re-
-. saOncan control of Olympia, hit
s ~ both Governor Hartley and
rs - elective officers. The demo-
n... s plan to act on the theory that
si.S Sfe : rent the republican party
onsu a iaetlonalism to give them an
olympia. " 'oeioiu on
,si ine other bit of strategy plan
~ Oy the Smith leaders is to
N. Ave e.,l instruction, chiefly to keep
L ,. Dii from shouting, and then,
unit stfong s'1, enough, to invoke the
Bon,. rule for the delegation to
sosIs ,On. The unit rule, of course,
ana ~ mean a Smith delegation,
want. would ~ make Mr.. Dill, who
ips ss S 70 be delegate, an unwill-
u tSu tsn supporter. It is not like
hat the senator would relish
1921 ne was in the same fix in
"aen ne was opposed to will