Evening star., 1928-06-21
MACK'S WET STAND
CALLED DBODY BLOW
TO HOUSTON PEACE
Ardent Smith Man Believed to
Have Made Mild Dry
Plank improbable.
LATER SAYS HE SPEAKS
ON ISSUE ONLY FOR SELF
"Governor Is Opposed to Prohibi-
tion," New York Committeeman's
Statement Says.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,
S+.R rorras,orsert NJ .rh. Star


star Correspondent of The Star.
HOUSTON, Tex, June 2l-Norman
+. Mack. Democratic national commit
teeman from New York and an ardent
Smith man. arriving here, promptly
threw down the gage to the drys. In
formal statement, Mr.. Mack said:
Gov Smith has and always viii
stand for personal liberty and State
rights. He is opposed to prohibition.
He is for temperance. Gov. Smith be-
iieves that II any State desires certain
alcoholic content of beverages, that
State has the right to determine that
content. If the State desires 20 be dry,
then 1t is the right of the State TO be
dry"
This was regarded here as a solar
plexus blow to those who have been
counseling the soft-pedal method of
dealing with the wet and dry issue.
Other Smith supporters have declared
gl.blv that the only thing necessary was
the adoption of plank in the plat
form declaring for the enforcement OF
au laws. which would include the pro-
hibition laws.
Could Stand on Plank.
Upon such q plank, even II it de-
clared for the enforcement specifically
Of the prohibition Law, the New York
governor could properly take his stand.
He would have to take an oath TO sup
port the Constitution and laws OF the
United States If he were elected Prest-
dent anyway. they point out
But along comes the outSpoken Mr..
Mack, and the prohibition question be-
cDn1es burning issue In the Demo-
cratic camp immediately. With so
u1any ardent Democratic drys it was
q f0regone conclusion that the issue
would have to be fought out sooner or
later
But the picture which Smiths friends
have assiduOusly sought to paint In the
Eoaffh--tK1at the governor, wet in the
past. is 10 be regarded merely as an
instrument To enforce the laws-has
been rudely smashed Mr.. Mack prob
ably realizes that any weakening on the
issue would lose rim votes n New YORK
and other big states Of The East.
Houston Getting Lively.
Houston. with the Democratic ma
tional convention only i've days in the
future. Is beginning TO assume q realIy
uolttseaI atmosphere and the party
leaders are rolling In on every train.
Taney are slower arriving at the con-
Tentaon city than we're the Republic
cans, partly because there is only
handful of contested delegate cases
here and partly because of the intense
heat. The latter. If it does not rouse
The Democrats to Madison Square Gar
den frenzy, may be . determining
factor in making for early nominations
for President and Vice President and q
hurried exodus 70 cooler spots.
Representative Cordell Hull OF Ten
raessee is the first Of the presidential
eandidates 70 arrive. Senator jim
Reed Of Missouri Is due here tomorrow
or saturday, TO take personal charge Of
his campaign for the nomination
Jlt,iee Hull is stin prociaiming thai
4s.e csrnpaigu must be fought out or
4fne lines of Democratic principles and
that personalities must be avoided. he
discounts the talk heard frequently thai
he is TO be the running mate OF Gov
Al Smith on the national ticket.
Content With Present Status.
He SAYS that his presidential candi-
6arv fx enough for him and that he u
more than content, now and hereafter
with the gf1oIeh2arted support OF the
Democracy OF Tennessee for the presa.
Dental nomination. adding: And /!
shall act IN strict harmony tnerewtn.
Although Gov. Smith plans 70 remain
away from the national conVentlof
rsty. leaving 10 the lesser candidaiei
ffae advantage Of being on the ground
n there is any such advantage. his pre-
ronvention campaign manager, Geor2'
p van Nance Of New York. has CONS
r. Houston and taken charge OF tn
fynaftt Headquarters. He brings a mes
Saae Of Cancellation. There are TO b.
no steam roller tatcics, he says. on Ins
gsart OF the Smith3tes. Every iavoflb
son is 70 be given his day IN the con
Eentson.
There viii be no effort TO stamped
the convention 10 Smith on the mrs
fsaltot, The favorite sons are 10 bs
treated politely. but he adds, Of course
GOV. Smith viii be nominated not latei
Tran the third ballot. SO much foi
The fayorite sons. Mr.. Van Nance IN
gisss that Smith will have more thar
ESQ votes cast for him on the frs
ballot. This is considerably more thar
4 majority Of the convention vote. III
refuses 10 say just how large the yot
viii be on that first ballot, however.
Hold Back Their Views.
The Smith people are not tying al
"a sny vice presidential candidates a
4Iass stage Of the game, they say. The.
may have their preferences. but the!
arc keeping them 10 Themselves. Thi
Is much the same strategy as that o
tie Hoover managers At Kansas City
There is 10 be nothing doing unit
Smith has the presidential nomination
There is q huge crop Of vice preslden
flaI possibilities here, however.
Jesse Jones. the Texas treasurer o
the Democratic national committee
who Slsd more 10 DO with bringing Tia
convention 70 Houston than any on
else. except the Smith supporters,
sin the talk"
There are those who assert that MI
Jones has higher aspirations and
thinking Of the possibility Of the presi
Dental nomination Itself, II Smith hap
pens 70 be stopped" by the dry an
Protestant opposition 70 his can6idac.
Hull Og Tennessee, Evans WOollen g
indiana Gov vic DGnahey Of Onte
senator Robinson Of Arkansas, Demo
cratic leader OF the Senate. former Sen
sloF Pomerene Of Ohio, Government o
case prosecutor. Senator George G
Cfeeggia and even t1e fare-eatIng Sen
seoF REED Of Missouri are among taos
whose names are mentioned for IN
vice presidential nomination.
Alliance Not Yet Formed.
OF course, included la this group {
xiee presidential possibilities are me
who still hope for first place on Ia
tteket who believe there Is efanf
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