The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1928-04-20
IS SEN. SIMMONS
READY TOTRADE
WITH SMITH?
Looks to Our Washington On
locker AS If Senior Senator
Sees The Writing on
The Wall
Independent Bureau,
HCtei Commodore
By r. +. POWELL

TO North Carolina. 1OllOWlllr tne
Battle speech in Raleigh last Thurs
day night. has precipitated certain
important political moves here this
week.
Chief of these. of course. Is all I'M
ct nfirmed but very well authenticut-
ed report that Senator Simmons. or
those speaking for the Senator. are
in trading mood. One report Is
that the Senator Is willing to take
an AL Smith delegation provided 1t
consists of his friends, who are in
clined to Smith. and who will not
vote to displace him as National
committeeman.
The Senator, Governor Mclean
and Attorney General Dennis G.
Brummitt. who Is also the party
chairman at this time, have talked
the whole situation over this week
The Governor and the Attorney
General were here in connection
with the bond suit brought by the
State of Connecticut but they found
time to talk National politics.
As reported. more or less eXclu-
Sively. in this correspondence last
week. the fight appears to be TO save
Simmons. He is not threatened
with opposition in 1890. as no Demo-
crat in North Carolina wants TO
make u race for his succession until
natural causes make his seat vacant.
1t is timely enough to say that ii
resignation may do this but the
more popular feeling Is that he VIII
not he in such physical condition
two years from now as to justify
his running again.
1t is generally recc gnized here
even among those North Carolinians
who answered the queStionnaire
sent out by the Republican Winston
Salem Journal. that Smith Is certain
of the nomination. The reports that
have been coming here Of his recep'
tion at Asheville Indicate. to many
observers. that he stands falr
chance TO yet the entire North Caro-
lima delegation regardless of the at
titudp of Senator Simmons.
Much stress has been placed by
fine New York newspapers on the
statement iSsl,ed recently by josiah
William Bailey. of Raleigh. 1t Is
we'll known here to Smith support
crs that the fecillcitrant BaptiSts
had counted heavily on Bailey's op'
poSition TO the New York governors 5
nomination. Instead, he has de-
clarpd for him in the finest piece
of political writing done i'll the
State i'm Il long time.
An echo of will Meals recent
visit here came to-day with the an
nor,ucement that he is going to run
: for Congress against Hebulon Weav'
or, If the 10th district. where the
Governor of New York is now oil
yucatiou. Weaver'S picturesque
fnthpr and his more Influential
/ brother in law. Jim Stikeleather
bove declared for Smith. But these
two announcements haven't caused
Weaver to change front. He still
! "fearS' the nomination OF Smith
would reduce his Democratic majtr'
ity in his district.
: In spite of the efforts # SomP "'
the Leading Smith supporters to
keep the Smith campaign out or the
State wide primaries. Neal& en-
trance. following that of o. j. Peter
son. of Chatham, seems destined tt
make the ambition of the New l0r6
governor Il very potent issue IL
| North Carolina.
Not 50 long ago when Neal was
thinking of running against Corpora
tion Commissioner W. r. Lee he SAID
he WAS following "the Senator and
of course. WAS against Smith. Hui
thp enthusiastic reception which hl'
country gave to Smith last weeE
mt Biltmore seems to have perSuad
cd him he can he nominated against
tbp veteran Weaver and all because
the latter is opposed to Smith''
nomination.
Peterson is for Smith while FRANK
Grist. incumbent and NJ. L. Ship
man, formerly Commissioner OF Labor
and Printing. are against the Ne"
York man. Shipman now says tha'
he is not interested in the Smitl
fight. GriSt Is one of the bittel
euders and he has invited the Smitf
folks to do their damndest They
seem TO be determined to nominate
Peterson. inasmuch as they feel tina
Shipman. althO neutral. is at hear
against Smith and, also, could never
come back. .'.
| Much prominence is being Sivel
in Washington to Smiths reception
in North Carolina. Veteran news
papermen who have been to Ashe
vile say that if Smith doesn't ge
the North Carolina delegation the!
don't understand politics.