Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-02
Joined for the Great Battle.

Joined for the Great Battle.
The pre-convention campaigns and
the conventions themselves are At an
end. The Republicans and the Demo-
Gratis have nominated their candidates
for President and Vice President and
adopted their party platforms. The sit
nation changes Immediately from intra-
marty struggles to an interparty con-
test which is a very different thing.
The nominations OF both Hoover and
Smith were opposed by certain factions
within their respective parties, but
those opposing factions have been
bcwled over. Both candidates were
nominated on the first ballots taken
in the national conventions. 1t re-
mains now to be seen in which party the
sears of the pre-convention campaigns
are deeper, to see which party can get
together" more completely and more
quickly. Both parties, in nominating
their vice presidential candidates, have
sought to appease the factions which
opposed their presidential nominees
incidentally. both selected their party
leaders In the Senate Of the United
states-Curtis of Kansas and Robinson
of Arkansas-to complete their national
tickets.
A review Of the Republican and
Democratic national conventions shows
that the nomination Of Mr.. Hoover was
more strongly contested up to the final
"break" ut Kansas City than was the
nomination OF Gov. Smith at Houston.
As q matter of fact, Gov. Smiths well
orranized national machine had COM
paratively little dificulty rolling up q
large delegate list favorable to Its
candidate. In the West he won contest
after contest, largely because the DEM
ocratic party In those States has been
Eat on its back for number OF years.
In the South the effort Of the Smith
campaign was 10 soften the opposition
rather than to win delegates. It was
remarkably successful among the South
ern Democratic leaders. Whether Gov.
Smith purposely acquiesced in the views
expressed by his Western or Southern
friends or not, IL Is fact that they
impressed upon the Democrats in those
sections that prohibition was not 10 be
made party issue. Had it been other
wise, there might have been stronger
resistance 10 the Governor OF New
York. But with his telegram to the
Democratic national convention on
Friday. Gov. Smith changed In the
twinkling Of an eye the situation which
promised a straddling campaign on the
prohibition issue. He has made nodi-
Acation or repeal of the prohibition
amendment TO the Constitution and the
rrohibitson laws the chief Issue Of the
coming national campaign. 1t was
bold strnke, which has made him
friends as wei A. enemies. He has uri-
dertsken the first national test Of pro-
hIbitson sentiment since the adoption
Of the eighteenth amendment. In pre-
vions years the vets have merely been
ssniping" ct the drys in congressional.
senatorial and State elections. But the
nght now Joined Is to be major con-
test
There are several important factors
10 be considered in the new situation.
where, for example, win business be
found In relation to the wet and dry
nekt7 How win the church people line
up a. between Hoover and Smith?
which candidate viii attract the
woman voter The women are reported
30 be aroused over the wet and dry
and the Tammany issues.
Already some Of the Southern DEM
ocratic dry leaders are calling for a
conference TO determine what must be
done to prevent the election Of Gov.
Smith. So far. although there has
been much talk Of opposition TO Hoover
In the Middle West and the Northwest,
no responsible leader there has sought
70 organize against Hoover. Such an
attempt may come. But IT Is clear that
such an anti Hoover movement will have
cifdculty lining up Republicans in favor
Of the wet. Tammsny Al Smith. II the
Republicans definitely espouse the dry
cause, this coming campaign promises
10 be one Of the most intensely and
bitterly fought political struggles Of sew
erai generations.