Evening star., 1928-06-17
DEMOCRATS FOCUS
ON HOUSTON WHERE
SMITH FACES TEST
Battle Will Center on SeIec-
ton of New Yorker
as Nominee.
FOES HURL CHALLENGE
OF FIGHT TO FINISH
Sponsors Claim 516 Instructed
Delegates, With Enough in
Reserve to Win.
By the Associated Press.

lIlE GtlE past WSth, IL ilUW tulueu OIl
Houston. There the Democrats, hoping
to avert repetition of the strife that
split their ranks four years ago at
Madison Square Garden, are beginning
to assemble to select presidential and
vice presidential nominees and draft
party platform.
The Republican lineup for the cam
paign has been determined, Hoover and
Curtis are the party standard bearers.
The platform on which they stand calls,
among other things, for vigorous IN
forcement of the prohibition amend
ment and goes along with the admin
istration on farm relief.
At Houston, the big question to be
settled is whether Gov. Smith of New
York is to be the presidential nominee.
That issue overshadows all others, in
cluding the prohibition question. which
Is intertwined with his candidacy, and
farm relief.
McAd0o Out This Year.
In 1924 Smith and McAdoo fought
each other to standstill in the New
YORK convention, both losing out in the
end. This year McAdoo Is not can
didate. Smith, however. is, and he has
gathered up such an impressive total
of delegates that he stands out far
ahead, but nevertheless the target Of
determined, though somewhat scat
tered opposition, which intends TO fight
him TO the end.
Only the delegates from one State
the "a from Virginia where conven-
ton will be held next week--Eemain to
be chosen. With 733 l-3 of the l,l00
convention votes needed TO nominate,
the Smith men claim that their candi-
date is within an ace of that total and
may have 1t before balloting begins
OF the 684 delegates placed In the
Smith column by his supporters. SIG
are classified b. them as definitely in
structed or pledged for him. The re-
maindef. as they see 1t, are uninstruct-
ed delegates who are certain to sup
port the New York governor at the
outset In addition, they have their
eyes OF SO delegate votes which they
predict viii swing 70 Smith quickly.
This would give him within a dozen
votes Of the number he would need to
60 over.
Computations Challenged.
The computations of the Smith fol-
lowers are challenged however, by his
political foes, who concede that he
probably has more than a majority in
the bag, but who contend with vigor
that he is far from the necessary two
thirds.
One OF the detectives Of the Smith
opposition has been TO build up block
Of votes that not only would comprise
more than one-third Of those in the
convention, thus giving 1t a veto power
so far as the nomination is concerned.
but also would hold together In the face
OF raids by the Smith forces.
They Insist they have the strength
and determination TO hold out. The
dict that the opposition lines will be
shattered almost before the convention
settles down 10 bailoting.
For the most part the opponents OF
Smith are looking 10 the South and TO
states having "favorite son" candidates
for the hold-out strength, and are hop
ing TO make showing that will con-
vince the New York executive that he
cannot win and lead TO his withdrawal
His boosters, on the other hand, are
doing their utmost to bring about a
situation where he will win quickly and
without factionai strife. To win In Mo-
vember. they contend, the nominee must
be named without an outbreak Of BIT
terness.
Have Eyes on Indiana.
They are countint strongly on second
choice support from such 'favoritc SON.
States as Ohio, Kansas and Nebraska,
and predict that before the wind-up,
many OF Indianas delegates will be on
their side
During the past week, Smith picked
up Kentucky's "a votes at stormy
State convention. His friends were
lubilant. pointing out that the coalition
had been counting on the delegates
from the Blue Grass State In their
stop Smith" campaign. and declaring
that the action of border State would
have tremendous psychological effect
on delegates TO the Houston convention
The Smith people, however. did moi
fare so well In North Carolina An
uninstructed delegation was named In
that State. with indications that most
OF the delegation would support Cordeil
Hull. Tennessee's "favortte SON" From
the Smith camp, however, came claims
that part OF the delegation was
friendly TO the governor and would
line up for him, and expressions of
satisfaction that the delegates were
not tied down by definite instructions
for Hull or some other opposition
candidate
Moving on Houston.
While The Virginia delegates are
being named next week, party leaders
and delegates will be moving on Holis~
ton, where the national convention will
get under way week from Tuesday.
Smith will not be there. but Reed Of
Missouri and other presidential aspir-
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