Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-10
Political Parties Not Harmonious

WINE most OF the journalistic authorities on po-
iitIcal subjects assert that Herbert Hoover and Alfred
Smith will be the contenders for presidential honors,
it is becoming daily more apparent that both the re-
publican and democratic conventions will not be
merely harmonious gatherings to ratify what the po-
itical prophets assert is the public demand" for the
nomination of the leading candidates. 1t is also very
apparent that the democratic convention may be a
replica Of that of 1924, with the probability that after
the dust Of the convention battle has settled the party
viii be found split three ways.
In the republican convention a determined fight
will be made to prevent the nomination of Hoover.
The principal opposition to the nomination Of the
commerce secretary emanates from the ultra conserva-
tive elements-the small remnant of "dyed-in-the-
wool" standpatters, who believe Hoover IS too pro-
gressive in his political ideals and who also asserts
that he Is not a good party man, in that he has often
differed with the party leaders and has frequently an
nounced views in direct opposition to those entertain
ed by the more conservative group. Opposition to
Hoover has also developed among the most radical
groups within the party, who contend he is too con-
servative, not sufficiently progressive. However, to
the rank and file Of the party Hoover apparently APP
pears as the man who can and will carry forward the
progressive policies of the party without embarking
upon dangerous experiments, and for this reason he
will probably receive the support Of that vast MAORI
ty Of the party which is neither ultra conservative nor
ultra-radical. There are no indications. at least not
at present, that the prohibition issue will be injected
into the republican pre-convention campaign. Appar-
N"NAs 20 ~ NSi ette among n republican leaders
that the party will demand proper enforcement Of the
prohibition law, and expects the candidates to OBJ
serve the party mandate.
That the candidacy of James Reed Of Missouri for
the democratic nomination is causing considerable
worry among the leaders of the Smith movement is
very obvious, but national political experts refuse to
concede that Reed will make more than a showing in
the convention. They predict that before the conyen-
ton convenes the dry" elements Of the party will
have a leader to present and that a coalition between
the Smith and Reed forces will Be necessary to pre-
vent the South and West from capturing the conven-
ton. That Smith will go into the convention with the
support Of all Eastern and Northern central states is
practically certain. However, the Southern and West
ern leaders are making frantic efforts to organize and
secure a leader who viii make a "dry" platform the
issue before the convention. The retirement Of William
McAdoo, who was expected to again assume the role
of leader of the Southern and Western delegations, has
left the opposition to Smith badly disorganized. a
condition which may not exist by the time the national
convention convenes.
The next six months will be busy ones for the
leaders of all factions in both parties. There is not
much danger of the ultra-conservatives and ultra-pro-
gressive elements of the republican party accomplish
ing more than to create a brief row in the national
convention, but the prospects for conflict within the
democratic party are increasing and have reached
proportions decidedly disqueting to party leaders.