Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-15

strong fight. but the opposition Is
| playing for an uninstructed delegation
| and the outcome IL in doubt. Like sit
uations are reported In Montana. West
| Virginia and a number of other states
with offsets in Pennsylvania. Wiscon
sin and elsewhere. where increasing
Smith sentiment Is reported. As a
! whole. the second week In January
finds the opposition to Smith CON
fronted by the ancient political ma kim
that 1t Is hard to whip somebody with
nobody. or course. political situations
| have a way of changing with amazing
rapidity, hut ii undoubtedly is true to.
day that the weakness ~ tho opposi-
ton to Smith lies in the fact that ii
has no rallying point.
While IT Is true that the Republicans
were crowded somewhat out OF the
spotlight last week by the meeting
OF the Democratic national committee,
it does not follow that there has been
any abatement OF Republican presiden.
tial activity. Had there been no other
developments. announcement by the
LoWdcn campaign managers that the
former Illinois governor would be en-
tered as candidate in all the II presi-
dental preference primary States
would be political news OF the first
magnitude. The question politicians
everywhere now are asking is: Can
Hoover keep out?
II has been the policy Of the Hoover
managers, so far rs the Hoover can
didacy can he said Ia have mana gers.
not to enter the Secretary of Com
ms in he a1-ia Got xarbic II
have favorite sons. But the Lowden
decision may cause them to change
their minds. For instance. there is
Ohio. The feeling there between the
friends Of Senator Willis and Score
tary Hoover has grown very bitter he
cause Senator Willis has been unwill-
ing that Hoover should he made sec
ond choice of the Ohio delegates. The
Ohio HoOverites believe they could
capture a considerable number OF dele
gates for first choice, but have been
reluctant to enter against n favorite
son. But 1t seems unlikely they will
he willing to let Lowdcn walk off with
the delegates from the Cincinnati. Co
iumbus. Cleveland and other districts
where il Is believed Willis could he
defeated for first choice.
Hoover continues 10 nc the most dis
cussed of the Republican candidates.
, but all the discussion is not favorable.
Arizona reports that Lowden Is likely
To get the delegation from that State
because OF antagonism TO Hoover's
Colorado River program. and a Salt
Lake City dispatch says that. for the
same reason. Utah is likely TO go Dem
ocratic il Hoover is the Republican
nominee.
In other States reporting Hoover
seems TO be making progress. or at
least holding his ground. while the
news from Illinois is somewhat dis
couraging to friends Of former
Gov. Lowden. Prospects there hinge
upon the chance that the Legislature
will enact primary law to take the
place OF the one declared unConstitu.
tional. and at the present time pros
poets that such law will be enacted
do not appear bright. 1t is conceded
that in Statewide primary Lowden
would get a majority Of the Illinois
delegation. but under the old caucus
and convention system the opposition
Of Mayor Thompson OF Chicago would
be effective.
From now on. developments in the
several States will have more mean.
ing than they have had in the past.
tCopyr,sht ia"s. by The Washington STAR