Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-12
VETS HIT SMITH
IN PENNSYLVANIA
Opposition Comes as Sur
prise-Drys Launch Drive
for Delegates.

HARRISBURG. Pa. February Ii
While the Republican organization is
marking time on the presidential situa-
ton in Pennsylvania. the beginning OF
opposition TO Gov. Smith of New York
Is slowly taking form among the Demo-
Gratis.
Thus far virtually the only organized
activity among the Democrats has been
in behalf of Smith. and his spokesman.
including National Committeeman Jo-
seph F. Guffey. have predicted that so
of the 76 convention votes from Penn
sylvania will be for the New York Gov
ernor
This week, however. in the Berks-
Lehigh congressional district. the four
tcenth, probably the wettest in the
State, opposition TO Smith has cropped
out. Delegates. 1t Is announced there.
will be in the field TO oppose the Smith
campaign. headed By Judge John B.
Stevens of the Berks courts. a person.
ally popular political figure.
While such action had been expected
In some of the dry districts. the action
i'm a distinctly vet district Is a surprise.
Plans are being laid 10y the dry Demo-
Gratis. under leadership Of Vance c. NC
Cormick. former Democratic national
chairman. TO capture delegates In the
dry districts OF the central portion of
the State 49,.
These dry delegates. II elected. will
probably be unp!edged. as the anti
Smith delegates in the BerEs-Lehigh
district also are expected TO be. In the
convention they would gladly turn 10
Newton D. Baker of Ohio. II he Is
candidate: or 10 any dry progressive
Democrat. AS last resort, 1t IS con-
Oh .
A Reed OF Missouri Reeds opposition
TO Woodrow Wilson, whose second cam
paien Mccormick conducted. however.
would prevent him from being nrSt
choice OF this group. ANY pre-conven-
ton support for Reed from the wilson
element here would be passive only,
Republican leaders are more inter-
rstrd now in periecting matters Tor tne
state ticket than they are In dcciosng
whom PENNSYLVANIA delegates shail
s,inport at Kansas CITY, This Mellon
leadership still plans To elect an un-
instructed delegation and decide iater
which presidential candidate the oeic-
gates shall vote for
The MELONS. however. are taxing
cognizance Of the Hoover sentiment
Republican State Chairman ". l. Mel
Ion nephew of the Secretary OF the
ton admitted he has tound cohsio-
cradle sentiment for the commerce
Secretary
There Is Hoover sentiment In Penn
s,.lyania and ye,v considerably among
the woman voters" he said, But
actually there is not much new from
the viewpoint Of national politics Ill
the state We simply stand strongly
inclined toward an unrestricted de!ega-
ton. That is not that We are I'M
friendly To Mr. Hoover or anv other
candidate. I, is thought bcs, that the
delegation be an ulinStructed one. !
rarsonally have made no decision at all
and I am looking NJ the situation en-
t.rely from party standpoint NJ tnc
nrcseo. time There isn't much tax
about Vice President Dawes or any one
else II is simply that III the state
at the present time all they know about
Is Hoover
The policy Of the rcnnSylsania dele
CATION. he said will be determined AT
caucus OF the DELEGATES, probably al the
same time the State committee re-
organizes In May He said there has
been no thought given rs Vet Ia se!cc-
ton of a national committeeman, also
To be named by the State committee.
Former Senator George wharton srp-
per Is committeeman now,
Presence vi three PennSvlvania Con-
srcs>men~ barrow. McFadden and kisSS
at the Hoover campaign dinner III
Washington TUESDAY. however, Is re-
gardcd rs significant.
WALTER y, RoOS,