Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-06
Accepting the Nominations.

accepting the NoAnIhatiohs'
Acceptance speeches by presidential
candidates sometimes mark the opening
Of the actual campaign. This year,
both the Republican and the Democratic
national organizations are of to a NY
ing start. Already the groundwork has
been done for a campaign which
promises much In intensity and perhaps
In bitterness before it Is over. Never
thelass, the general public is awaiting
fae formal statements of both eandi-
dates, accepting their nominations, with
keen interest. True, Gov. Smith has
discounted to q considerable extent
what he may say on two important
questions, prohibition and farm relief.
His telegram to the Houston convention,
declaring for modification of the dry
laws, and his fat statement that he would
not accept the equalization fee OF the
McNary-Haugen bill as an aid to the
farmer, have announced his position
definitely on those matters. 1t Is not
likely that he viii change his position
In either case.
Since his nomination at Kansas City,
Mr.. Hoover, the Republican nominee,
has maintained silence that might
awaken the admiration of the Sphinx
and of President Coolidge himself. What
he will say regarding the wet and dry
issue and what he win promise regard
ing the farm problem are stu clothed
In mystery. It is safe bet that he
win follow the national platform, gen.
orally speaking. on both those matters.
His Interpretation of the platform, how
ever, is matter of no small interest
to the voters. And so they wait ms
speech next Saturday night.
Gov. Smiths address of acceptance
b to be delivered August p, eleven days
later than that Of Mr.. Hoover. Not
wsthstanding the fact that Smith has
taken a definite stand for modification
Of the dry laws and has turned his
back on the equalization fee. there is
great interest In his coming speech. It
VIII be his FIRST address to the Nation
on national issues The public has come
% expect something, II not sensational
at least out of the ordinary, from the
New York governor. He win have an
opportunity TO hear and read Hoover's
acceptance speech and to make any
reply to the Republican doctrine
enunciated by his opponent that he
may see 1T.
Both acceptance speeches are TO be
broadcast TO every section Of the
country by means Of the radio. Mil
lions Of voters are expected to listen
In" II the assertion made in Houston
ut the time of the Democratic national
convention by George e. Brennan,
veteran Chicago boss, that the candi-
dates the platform" is in fact the
truth, the speeches delivered by Mr.
Hoover and Gov. Smith must be con-
sidered as the party platforms, rather
than the documents on which the COM
naittees on resolutions labored day and
night at both national conventions and
which later were adopted by the con-
yentions themselves.
There seems 70 be little doubt that
Smith Is the platform so far as his
earnest adherents IN the North and East
are concerned. There are Democrats In
the South and West, however. who
look beyond the election this Fall and
take the view that the Democratic party
viii live much longer than the political
leadership of Smith. They are intent
upon keeping the party record straight
on issues In which they are interested.
no matter what Coy Smith may have
TO say On those issues. including prohi-
bition. The governors telegram to the
national convention was a sad blow to
many OF them. for they regarded it
as "bolting" the platform which had
been the result Of compromise between
the vets and the drys in the party.
Some OF them are wondering II the
governor is going beyond the platform
In still other directions when he de-
Hyers his acceptance address
Many subjects Of great Importance.
having little TO do with liquor. viii ne
discussed by the candidates. The
tariff. immigration. labor, the farm
issue are among them. The West has
ats ear cooked particularly 10 hear what
the Republican nominee has 70 propose
with regard TO the farmers, Some Of
them have been taught TO believe him
an enemy TO agriculture. Here, is his
opportunity 10 dispei this charge
against him. If he puts forth definite
plan Of farm relief, something that the
farmers can tie To If they approve, ne
viii have gene far along that path. The
farmers have been FED up On general
atses. both Republican and Democratic,
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