Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-11
DEMS RULE IN
TEXAS Held
IN DALLASCO
Opposition to Smith
Almost Certain; No
Need For Slap In
Face, Wade Says
BY c. D. Wade

BY c. ID. Wade
AUSTIN, Tex March 1O.-It Is
entirely conceivable that a purely
local situatjon in a Texas county in
1926 sealed and determined the fate
q q entire democratic party for
In the general election in Novera-
Der, 1926, there were 25,e5e votes
cast fer the democratic nominee for
governor in Dallas county. The
large vote was due 70 a local con-
pclls.
When the state convention meets
at Beaumont on May p. Dallas
county will be there with SIS ac-
credited delegates. due 20 that heavy
vote in the preceding general cleo
Ion. Harris county, which paid con-
slderably more pcll taxes this year
than did Dallas, will be there with
one-fourth the Dallas strength.
Exactly 100 counties will have one
delegate each nc the convention.
Thus Dallas county can offset the
votes Of IS counties.
Bexay Second
Bexar county Is second in strength,
and IL has only "a votes IN the
<8AF%AkA%A H. A1AA0Ak NQAAty MAA A@F~
II votes. FL Paso will have Is, Hi
daigo will have Il, Travis IS, McLen-
nan s and Galveston only 6.
Now for the national aspects OF
the situation. The same element
which the khan put in the saddle IN
Dallas six years & Is still riding
high. The element is openly and bit
terly opposed to Smith. There can be
almost no question but that the So
votes from Dallas county will he
solidly against the New York govern
or. Tarrant county's II votes prob
ably will join Dallas, and these two
counties could kill the votes Of the
100 cne-vote counties n have three
votes 70 spare.
IN the light Of this situation il
would seem almost certain that the
90 votes from Texas will be in
structed to vote At Houston against
Smith These 30 votes might prove
the neuclus around which the oppo-
sition could solidify ard held fast
In a deadlock, thus defeating Smiths
nomination and possibly preventing
b election Of q democratic presi-
dent.
A new lire Of thought Is going
the rounds Of the strong anti-Smith
HGOplG IN the EL1IE-A AUc OF Itl@Oll~
ing that seems TO contain q lot Of
logic. Here il is, as submitted to the
writer by a man high in party coun-
ellis and firmly opposed to the New
York governor:
Should Avoid Smith Slap
"If Smith cannot be nominated. he
will at least have enough votes to
block the nomination Of any ether
man. Therefore, any candidate who
has become Objectionable TO the
Smith element has nc chance for the
nomination.
There is at present no outstanding
dry on whom the drys can center,
but one is likely to develop during
the convention. He must be put fer
ward by q delegation e whom the
Smith interests are friendly.
y IF the Texas state convention
adopts a resolution that is . direct
slap and insult TO Smith. then the
followers Of the New York governor
would not be likely 70 follow the lead
Of the Texas delegation in supporting
o candidate which ID might propose.
Therefore. the state convention
should not instruct against Smith by
nane II should adopt q resolution
pledging the party To the support of
UTlAlDAtADu - clDAAQ AuctL4tL tAr
delegation TO fight and vote for he
nomination of a man in sympathy
with its prohibition attitude. Then,
IL should see 10 il that the 40 men
and wcmen delegates are the kind
who will carry out the will of the con-
vention. Thus Texas would be in the
position Of having exercised its SOW
ereign right OF expressing its opinion
without having affronted anyone.
Leaders Seek Peace
@Then IL the deadlock occurs-if
II is shown that there are enough
dry delegates in the national con-
vention &C. force the nomination Of q
dry, Texas will be in . position 20
propose scme good man, probably not q
Texas. and will be able TO call on
New York and other Smith states 70
upport him-a thing they could not
do with good grace after having reso-
luted against Smith by name"
Sounds pretty reasonable, doesn't
TT Even the prc-Smith element in
the state would rather see this ac-
ton than q direct instruction against
Saith by name, as proposed by Tom
Love and others.
And IL will particularly appeal 20
that element Of the states citizen
ship, especially these VINO 1--we IN
Houston, who feel that IL would be .
breach Of hospitality for the state.
hott 20 the democrats, &c affront any
\ OF their visitors. That feeling Is
firmly held by q very large element
Who are more or less indifferent az to
the fate Of Smith or any other in
Sividual. but want harmony and hope
for the nomination Of a man who can
win.
The source from which the fcre-
~o;rr quotation ccme leads this writer
- Believe that between now and
Wnv ) an extensive campaign will be
~srr;ed on in the anti-Srith ranks
J. hrinr about the selection Of q de-
rsrSsbie delegation, all true and
f - hrk nnt hostile nv in