Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-08
of the Presidential Election Year Finds Interest e Pitch
THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary Of National Developments Based on Reports
From The Stars Special Correspondents
and Staff Writer'S

~ ISpATCHES to The Star
from Its special political
correspondents throughout
H. the country. inaugurating
its weekly survey for the
1929 presidential campaign. dis.
close an activity and interest In
politics which are unusual for the
first week In January. Only from
q few points do the correspondents
report that there is anything like
apathy. 1t is true that the cam
paign so far Is notable for the
scarcity Of organized effort In he.
half Of candidates. but the people
are thinking and talking politics.
The stars dispatches also dis.
close that Herbert Hoover. Re-
publican, and Alfred r.. Smith.
Democrat. are the two men about
whom the people are thinking and
talking most. They seem 10 he
favored by more enthusiastic sup
port and more earnest opposition
than any OF the others who are be.
ing urged as candidates. Both. ap.
parently. have long lead over
any possible rivals. hut It Is equally
apparent that both have long ways
to go before being In position TO
nail down a nomination.
X u u y
Two notable events of the week
gave MIR. Hoover a big push for.
ward. One was the action of the
New Jersey Republican State com.
mittee. which adopted resolution
pledging the delegation to the
Secretary Of Commerce. This is re.
garded as settling the matter. so
far as New Jersey Is concerned,
The other event was Endorsement
OF Hoover's candidacy by the Roose.
Welt Club Of. Massachusetts. The
regular party leaders In Massa.
chusetts are not supposed TO he
very friendly to Hoover's cause
and have been striving for an un.
instructed delegation to Kansas
City. a delegation which could be
swung to Coolidge In the event Of
a deadlock. But the Roosevelt
Club Is a powerful organization
with more than thousand In.
fiuential members, and 1t seems
likely now that Hoover will have
at least a share Of the Bay State
delegates.
Hoover nor any other Republican
aspirant seemed to make any spe-
cial progress. In Maryland, in
fact. Hoover's chances do not an
pear as bright as they did several
weeks ago. There In a bitter fac.
tional fight for party control and
one faction Is putting forward for.
mer Gov. I.owden az an offset
ut AA'
Hope OF Hoover's friends that he
would have a solid Maryland dele
CATION now seems less likely to he
reailzed. IL IL reported that some
work in behalf OF Hoover In being
done In Pennsylvania. but no far
Withont any very striking results.
me prospects seem To he that the
Pennsylvania delegation will he
instructed Tor Secretary Mellon: or.
TX not. that II will he uninstructed
ana at Mr.. Melons disposal. Elk.
cept Tor his early and mild indorsc.
ment OF Charles T.. Hughes, the
secretary OF the Treasury has kept
closed mouth politically. and
white Hoover's friends hope that
eventually he will he with them.
they are without any very strong
"t nNS'H"h. Iney 40 claim
mat Hoover will have friends In
the Pennsylvania deleya tion.
whether IL In instructed for Mellon
or goes unInstructed.
Switching 10 the Middle West
Illinois presents n situation that
is fun OF interest, The Legislature
convenes next Tuesday and an ef.
Tort VIII be made To pass a primary
Law In place of the one which vas
declared unconstitutional. II the
eHort succeeds the prediction In
made that Lowden will get a ma.
iority OF the States 81 delegates
To Kansas City. IL IL falls. the
field will he wide open and a pretty
row In prospect Mayor Thomp-
son OF Chicago viii not support
Iowden. but is reported 10 be very
friendly tn Vice President Dawes.
so II may fall out that I'm spite of
Dawes ayowed support of Iowden
the Illinois delegation may be-
divided In the main between those
TWO political friends and bedfelinws.
with chance for Hoover and other
candidates to pick up a delegate
here and there.
The f.owden boom continues 10
make progress In the territory
where II originated and has had
III