The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-03-09
DRYs DEVELOP STRATEGY.

Tn the announcement of the candidacy oi Senator Walsh of Montana for the Democratic nomination for President can be traced the most marked development of the Dry strategy yet uh- folded for preventing the nomination Of Gov Al Smith For weeks this step has been discussed by the Dry leaders and received the approval of former Secretary w. q. McAdoo, who has also been asked to reconsider his own decision not to be a candidate for the nomination. In back ing the Montanan the Drys avoid the charge of religious intolerance reason for their op- position to Gov Smith, because Senator Walsh is also a Catholic.
 The necessity for concentrating upon some candidate was apparent sometime ago. It was early recognized that the "favorite son. candi- date had failed to check the progress of the Smith sforces towards the nomination. Nor were his opponents successful in blocking his ac- qusition of new strength by criticism of his stand of Prohibition his utilization with Tam many or by none too well concealed attempts to make use of religious intolerance. All of these were negative tactics and did little if anything to weaken the Smith campaign. Thus the de- eision was inevitable that strategy demanded positive tactics If the New York champion was to be headed off from the prize.
 In Senator Walsh they have found admir- able candidata No question be made of his ability his party regularity, his sincere adherence
 
 life have achieved greater prominence on na- tional scale than has been his lot since he first began to fight for investigation of the oil leasing scandals Politically, however, he may not measure up to the requirements of the Smith opposition. There is some question as to whether he will go to the Houston convention with the delegation from his home State National Com mitteeman Bruce Kremer of Montana has already committed himself for Gov. Smith. The latter's fria in fha Cfafo will bova eixo its eight delegates and intimate in case of fight it would not be impossible to capture the entire delegation. Should this prove true, ant Senator Walsh be defeated and lose the delega tion, or majority of it, his position as a con tender for the nomination would not be strong enough to seriously threaten Gov. Smith, chances
 As to California, former Senator Phelan il heading the Smith forces in that State and vii undoubtedly control portion of the Houston delegation. How much of it be lined u] for Senator Walsh by Mir McAdoo is problem atical. If it should be minority, then the Dry must face the necessity of bringing out anothe candidate. Observers believe in the end Mi McAdoo will get back into the fight as an actiy candidate for the nomination. It would look lik hopeless venture so far as he is concerned pel sonally but it might be possible through it beat Gov. smith That fl would result in anothe
 
 cratic chances for success is a foregone con ciusion But party success to como set ond in the minds of the fanatcal Drys whs apparently would not stop at party destructio II that were the only way to the attainment C their ends
 Senator Walsh, of course, would not subscrb 10 any such program. His candidacy can be rt sarded as bona nde He is not lending his nam for the purpose of blocking Gov Smith or an canHiUafa Tlot
 Of MT McAdoo and the Dry faction can I understood since it increases his chances to wi delegates But he will not follow that factio into convention fight that might entail part disaster not only in the forthcoming campaie but to its entity as political organization