Evening star., 1928-05-30
Politics at Large
BY C.. Gould Lincoln.

The bitter-enders among the Demo-
Gratis against the nomination OF AL
Smith for President have taken a new
lease on life. The defeat Of the effort
to hand over the North Carolina dele
CATION to the New York governor Is The
cause The precinct conventions In
North Carolina picked majority OF
Hull delegates to the county conyen-
tions which In turn are expected to
pick Hull delegates TO the State con-
vention. The last elects the delegates
to the national convention at Houston.
Senator Simmons. veteran leader Of the
Democracy OF the Tar Heel State, has
won the victory, and he insists that the
North Carolina delegation will never
vote for the New Yorker. no matter how
long the convention may be In session.
II Representative Cordell Hull of Ten
nessee. who apparently will have the
preference of the North Carolina dele
CATION, cannot be nominated, then the
delegation will swing to compromise
candidate. but never to Smith, accord
ing to Senator Simmons.
#
The Smith managers staged a long
and clever campaign in North Carolina
But Senator Simmons and the anti
Smith sentiment which really exists in
the State were too strong for them ap-
parently, In the final drive. Smith has
supporters in North Carolina--many Of
them. But to say that North Caro-
lima would prefer Smith to another
Democratic presidential nominee, al
most any other Democratic candidate.
is erroneous to say the least. The South
may take Smith, but 1t viii not take
him with any enthusiasm. He repre-
sents too many things to which the
Democrats OF the South have been op-
posed. North Carolina probably will
cast Its electoral vote for the New
Yorker IN November If he IS the party
nominee, though some Of the Demo-
cratic leaders shake their heads and
predict a Republican victory in the
State II Smith Is put up.
Despite much that has been said about
the way in which the Smith boom has
caught on" the sentiment in the
southern states Is against him. Many
OF the Southern leaders, however. have
reached the conclusion that the New
Yorker Is going TO win the nomination.
and that in the end they will have to
go along with him In order to keep the
party In line in the South. They have
been unable to center upon any other can
didate to stop the governor at Houston.
The North Carolina precinct elections
are the first real check which the Smith
adherents have met. Whether the
Southern delegates can rally about Hull
OF Tennessee, or George of Georgia. i'm
opposition to Smith and stick" long
enough to prevent the nomination Of
Smith remains TO be seen. Senator
Simmons continues to insist that many
OF the claims Of Smith strength have
been grossly exaggerated" and that
Smith at no time will have more than
500 votes In the national convention.
Senator Simmons and some OF the
other opponents OF Smith say that they
have virtually decided upon a COM
promise candidate. after Smith has been
checked. But they are making no an
nouncement just now OF their plans OF
their candidate. 1t is little short OF
astonishing. however. 10 see the manner
III which their confidence OF stopping
Smith has come back. They are relying
upon Senator Reed Of Missouri TO hold
the block OF Midwest delegates which
he viii have In the convention against
Smith. and upon WoOllen Of Indiana 10
keep the Hoosier States 80 votes IN
line. All they have TO do Is TO prevent
Smith from ever getting two-thirds Of
the convention vote But with the New
Yorker going strong and the band
wagon movement in fuIl swing. this Is
going to be terrible job for his oppo-
nents.
No formal announcement has been
made Of the selection OF the permanent
chairman Of the Democratic and Re-
publican national conventions. II Is
predicted, however that these honors
will fall TO two United States Senator'S,
Senator Robinson OF Arkansas, leader
OF his party in the Senate, to preside
over the Houston convention, anu Sena-
tor Moses Of New Hampshire 10 preside
over the Republicans at Kansas City.
Senator Moses Is the President Pro
Tempore OF the Senate. The Arkansas
delegation Is suspected OF having strong
AL Smith leanings. In fact, reports have
been published from the State that 30
or 90 per cent of the delegates chosen
are for Smith. The New Hampshire
delegation Is solid for Hoover, and Sena-
tor Moses has been one OF the most per-
sistent boosters OF the candidacy OF the
Secretary Of Commerce. The perma-
nent chairmen OF the national conven-
tions are chosen by the conventions
themselves.
Congress has adjourned without put
ting through any major agricultural re-
lief legislation. 1t is true that Con-
Qress did increase the annual agrlcal-
tural appropriation bill by more than
$40 900 900 over the bill of last year;
that it put through special $70O0.O
TO combat the spread OF
the European corn borer. and $5OOo.UU
to eradicate the pink boil worm In the
cotton fields OF Texas. Increased appfo-
priations were made for agricultural eX-
tension work and several other meas
ures intended to help the farmers were
nut through 1t was foregone CEN
rlusicn that no farm relief bill was 60
ing 10 get past the Democrats ana the
foes of President Coolidge and Secre-
tarv Herbert Hoover, candidate LOT
the presidential nomination, on the eve
OF the national conventions and the
general election In November. Ihe
veto of the McNary- -Haugen
farm bill has been followed by an up
roar from the leaders OF some OF the
farm organizations. Several OF these
leaders. however. are prominent Demo-
Gratis The hope OF the Democrats mas
been to arouse the farmers OF the MIG
die West and the Northwest against the
party. Efforts are on 1907
nov to bring about crusade OF the
farmers to Kansas City to protest
against the nomination OF any Repuo-
iican for President who has been OPP
posed to the McNary- -Haugen bill
y
A crusade OF farmers, marching nun
dreds OF miles on foot To Kansas CITY
20 enter their protest. might have
real effect upon public opinion ana
upon tile convention. But II the farm
ers arrive at Kansas CITY, as now con-
taunIatad travelling In automobiles |