The Washington times., 1928-06-26
CONTINUED rom First Page)


AS for the Robinson part Of
the ticket, the movement, IN
deniably, was growing by
leaps and bounds this morning
to name the Arkansas Senator
early in the proceedings.
The Tammany people were
for him, his senatorial col
leagues, scattered through a
dozen delegations, were boost
ing him, and, within the next
three days, there probably will
be enough votes lined up to
insure his nomination.
The cry was everywhere to make
this convention short and snappy
no Madison Square Garden. The
heat, OF which Houston has plenty
contributed to the desire to wind
things up as quickly as possible.
The principal barrier seemed to
be the prohibitioa plank in the
platform, but here again was the
impatient desire on the part Of
leaders to avoid any lengthy argu-
ment. a short and snappy fight and
strong law enforcement plank
that will be acceptable TO the vets
and still will molIify the drys was
the goal.
Some Whoopee" In Town
All Houston was en- fete and on
tip-toe for this show.
= Ia6 -
the music Of marching bands begin
ming as early as 8 o'clock. Most
of Texas came to Houston to sir in
on the first national convention that
this section of the country ever saw.
Cowboys, oil men. ranchers, cot.
ton men, fruit everybody
was here for what the Texans cal
some whoopee."
Sam Houston's Hall holds 5000
and covers seemingly mile of
space. Across the street was what
Houston calls its hospitality
house a covered city block OF
benches, ice water and electric
fans
This was for the thousands who
were unable to buy. beg or steal q
ticket into the main tent.
AmpIifiers carried the burning
words from the platform to those
outside. Not even the drab char,
acter of the opening session could
keep 'em from flocking out to see
the show.
Leaders Want Wet Plank
There wasn't much planned fo,
the initial session-not even the
usual keynote.
10
who might listen to this tonight
planners decided to postpone tha
until p. m.
The first session concerned itsel
only with perfecting the temporar.
organization and the usual routine
duties Of appointing committees
etc.
The Smith leaders from the wet
East would like to see a wet plank
in the platform. They make nc
bones about that. But faced here
with the united opinion of the Soutt
and West democracy against it
they are prepared to yield their
views. and to accept anything
reasonable along the prohibition
line that is offered. The phrase
was used by one Of the wettest Of
the Smith captains.
Similarly, the extreme drys woulC
like to hammer into the platform
plank endorsing the moral right
eousness' and the moral principle
of prohibition. They are not 1ikel!
to get that. The Smith people arr
rigidly opposed to that and majorit.
opinion here apparently. support
their position. s..t
Strong Enforcement Plank
In the end, after the inevitabl
skirnish which the real leaders Of
both sides are hoping to make shor
and snappy. a law enforcement
plank as strong or stronger tina
that which the Republicans adopte
at Kansas City. probably will b
agreed upon.
Governor Smiths views on pre-
lnibition are well known" said on
of his Eastern spokesman. Blu
Governor Smith stands for law Ell
forcement and so far as we~are cor
cerned. there is no objection to
platform declaration that will pledg
the party to enforce every law o
the statute books"
A strong law enforcement plan
then would be acceptable to til
Eastern vets and would placate til
Southern and Western drys.
course. the radical fringe on bot
sides will be dissatisfied and ma
set upset the s4splecart and pr