Evening star., 1928-05-13
- ECRETARY OF COMMERCE

the INDIANA dclegallOH lIpih
~ the hands of Senator James
E. Watson last week had little
effect on the political race elsewhere,
II the weekly reports or political
correspondents may be taken as a
criterion. For these reports still
showed that the chief discussion Is
built around Hoover at Kansas Guy
and Smith at Houston with no wen
defined movements which might be
interpreted as seriously disputlng
their generally accepted leadership
thus far in the Republican ana
Democratic races for the nominal
tions. This is not to be taken as
meaning that opposition to these
candidates is showing any pro-
nounced willing away. But there Is
little growth, apparently. In pro
movements" for other candidates.
The candidacy Of Mr.. Hoover Tor
the Republican presidential nomina-
ton received a great boost from the
hands of Secretary Mellon at the
caucus of Pennsylvania delegates
to the Republican national conven-
tion In Philadelphia. Mr.. Melons
declaration that Mr.. Hoover seems
to come closest to the standards
which I'VE set" for the high office
of President seems TO lift the fog
which has obscurcd the probable
attitude OF the keystone States big
delegation 1t is widely interpreted
as meaning that Mr. Mellon will
support Hoover and carry with. him
practically all of the Pennsylvania
delegation.
X X n II
In no State yet to vote its presi-
Dental preference was there more
interest In the outcome of the
Indiana fight than in West Virginia,
where on the Goth of this month
the voters are to choose between n
favorite son. in the person of
Senator Guy D. Goff, and Secretary
Hoover as the Republican nominee.
For there. as in Indiana and Ohio,
the Secretary of Commerce has had
the temerity to bid for delegates
against a favorite son who main
tains that he is real candidate and
no stalking horse. But whether the
result OF the Indiana primary
meant anything in West Virginia
there, If they we're downcast, failed
they issued a statement forecasting
West Virginia. and based their FORE
showed in Indiana. His opponents
over the Hoover defeat in Indiana,
however, and were not slow TO ad-
vertise their qualification. In addi-
Nn fall futV hn
Mr.. Hoover Is coming into West
Virginia against the States own
Senator, they are concentrating now
on the uncertain political status Of
Mr.. Hoover In i920-mentioning
the use of his name by Michigan
Democrats as an example--and
upon his connection with the jack
sonville wage scale agreement, a
connection which is intended TO
show that he will not have the
support OF the coal operators. Both
these arguments are combatted by
Hoover proponents, who fail TO at
tach importance TO them.
The selection OF delegates in two
Southern States. Alabama and
Texas during the past week was
interesting from the Democratic
angle In Alabama. home State Of SEN
ator Hefiin, "a delegates have been
selected to go to Houston and the ma
jority of them, IL not all of them.
are pledged to vote against Al
Smith. The Ku Klux Klan and the
Anti-Saloon League were both active
In the anti-Smith fight, and the
word went down the line" IN al
most every county TO vote against
any candidate for delegate who re-
fused to pledge himself against
Smith.
In Texas movement similar to
the Alabama effort TO instruct
There the harmony" ticket OF Gov.
Dan Moody was triumphant, with
the result that among Texas 40
delegates at Houston there will
probably be some Smith proponents.
DESPITE efforts of the radical dryS
TO have them thrown into outer
darkness. The Texas delegation VIII
be instructed to vote for dry plank
and q candidate who supports that
plank. 1t is believed All OF the
Texas Republican county conven-
tions instructed for Hoover with
one exception, where the delegate
was uninstructed. This means q
solid vote for Hoover from Texas
at Kansas City. Mississippls
county conventions were held last
week. most of the delegates being
un!nstructed, with one here and
there instructed tn vote against q
wet. There's a fight In Mississippi
between the Republican delegates.
one faction being instructed for
Hoover and the uninstructed faction
being composed mostly OF white Re-
publican leaders. The contest over
seating these delegates will come at
Kansas City.
Those who believe that there Is
nothing 10 stop Gov. Smith al
Houston will read with interest the