Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-17
HOUSTON GETS
ATTENTION AS
DEMS GATHER
Smiths Friends Claim
684 Votes For Begin
ming; Foes Admit He
Has Majority


Kansas City and the republicans dur
ing the past week, is now turned on
Houston. There the democrats, hop
ing TO avert a repetition Of the strife
that split their ranks four years ago
at Madison Square Garden, are begin
ming to assemble to select presiden-
tial and vice presidential nominees
and draft a party platform.
The republican lineup for the
campaign has been determined.
Hoover and Curtis are the party
standard bearers. The platform on
which they stand calls, among other
things, for vigorous enforcement OF
the prohibition amendment. and goes
along with the administration on
farm relief.
At Houston. the big question TO
be settled is whether Governor Smith
of New York is to be the presidential
nominee. That issue overshadows
all others, including the prohibition
question. which is i~ntertwincd with
his candidacy, and farm relief.
Smith Claims 6S4
In 1924 Smith and McAdoo fought
each other 20 a ~standstill in the New
York convention, both losing out in
the end. This year McAdoo IS nN
a candidate. Smith, however, is, and
he has gathered up such an impress
sive total of delegates that he stands
out, far ahead, but nevertheless the
target Of a determined. though some
what scattered opposition, which in
tends 10 fight him TO the end.
Only the delegates from one state
- -. Whit. ~IAaa a aAn-
vention will be held next week-re-
main TO be chosen, with ~. IL OF
the 100 convention votes needed &
nominate. the Smith men claim that
their candidate is within an ace of
that total, and may have it before
balloting begins.
OF the 6s4 delegates placed in the
Smith column by his supporters. SIG
are classified by them as definitely
instructed or pledged for him. The
remainder. as they see il, are unin-
structed delegates who are certain to
support the New York governor az
the outset. In addition they have
their eyes on SO additional delegate
votes which they predict will swins
TO Smith quickly. This would give
him within a dozen votes of the num-
Der he would need TO 20 over.
Determined Foes
The computations of the Smith fol-
lowers are challenged, however, by
his political foes. who concede that
he probably has more than a MAORI
~ in the bag. but who contend with
vigor that he is far from the neces-
sary two-thirds.
One Of the detectives or the Smith
opposition has been 10 build up a
block of votes that not only would
comprise more than one-third O
those in the convention, thus giving
il a veto power so far as the nomina-
tion is concerned. but also would
hold together in the fact of raids by
the Smith forces.
They insist they have the strength
and determination to hold out. The
friends Of the New York governor
predict that the opposition lines will
be shattered almost before the con
vention settles down to %balloting.
Opposition Eyes South
For the most part the opponents Of
Smith are looking to the South and
TO states having "favorite son" can
didates for their hold-out strength,
and are hoping to make a showing
that will convince the New York eX.
ecutive 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 quick
~ and without fractional strife. To
win in November, they contend. the
nominee must be named without an
outbreak Of bitterness.
They are counting strongly on sec
ond choice support from such favor
Nebraska. and predict that before the
wlnd-up many of IRdiana's delegates
will he on their side.
Smith Wins and Loses
During the past week, Smith pick
ed up K~entucky's "a votes at T
stormy state convention. His friends
were jubilant, pointing out that the
coalition had been counting on the
delegates from the Blue Grass state
in their stop Smith" campaign, anC
declaring that the action of a border
state would have a tremendous psy-
Geological effect on delegates to the
Houston convention.
Inc Smitn people, however, did
not fare so we'll in North Carolina
An uninstructcd delegation was
named in that state. with indications
that most Of the delegation would
support Cordell Hull, Tennessee.
'favorite SON." From the Smith
camp. however. came claims that n
part OF the delegation was friendly
TO the governor and would line IN
for him, and expressions OF salts
faction that the delegates were not
tied down BY definite instructions
for Hull or some other opposition
candidate.
While the Virginia delegates are
being named next week. party lead
ers and delegates viii be moving On
Houston where the national con
vention will get under way a week
from Tuesday. Smith will not be
there, but Reed of Missouri and 9th
er presidential aspirants in the field
against him will be on hand to d.
rect their forces.