Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-12
TENNESSEE IS SEEN
ON REPUBLICAN SIDE
IF SMITH IS CHOICE
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black and tan leaders are more inter-
esced In keeping control of the Republic
can party in the State. and the Federal
patronage which goes with it. than they
are interested in making the State
Republican State and carrying 1t for a
Republican President. electing Republic
can Senators and more Republican
Representatives. The patronage, under
these latter conditions. would be- con-
trolled in a vastly different manner,
they say.
The black and tan leaders, naturally,
deny these charges with vigor and cry
sour grapes" Another charge made
by lily whites Is that rather than have
the State go Republican and lose con-
troll Of the patronage, certain black
and tan leaders would play into th1-
hands of the Democratic machine In
Memphis. which is painted by Repub.i-
cans as more effective in handling elec-
ton returns than ever was Tammsny in
Kew York or the Ware machine In Phil
adelphia. This charge. too, the black
and tans say is mere piffie.
Seen Debatabie Ground.
Tennessee. sometimes referred to as
border State" rather than as part
of the solid South" because 1t has
gone Republican in gubernatorial elcc-
lions now and then. and once since
reconstruction days has gone RepuD-
| lican in a presidential election. should
certainly De debatab!e ground this year
If Gov Smith be the nominee. ana
Democrats here seem 10 feel that ne
re- %otm kt,nS
Democrats will remain away from the
polls and enough other Democrats viii
vote the Republican ticket to bring
! about the choice OF Republican presi-
Dental electors next November
A sample OF the bitter feeling in some
Tennessee quarters against smith Is
found in meeting here last week OF
The Methodist educational Association.
'lhe association adopted a resolution
attacking the proposed nomination OF
smith ana naming the New York
governor. II lcao
Resolved that 1t Is the sense of this
association that the nomination Of Al
oifl.th would De unfortunate, and in our
opinion would not enlist the support
OF the educational leaders vi the
.;outh."
Pretty strong stuff, and broadcast
all over the State Of tennessee and the
rest OF the South. The resolution was
approved With only one or two dissent
ing voices 1t was offered by DR. Charles
G. SeiecHan, president Of Southern
Methodist University. The AL Smith
issue was thrown into the meeting by
DIR. Stonewall Anderson, educational
leader Of the Method!sts. He praised
Smith as u man. but attacked him as a
wet. But Others insisted that the re-
ligious issue would be paramount in the
campaign II Smith were elected, though
this was deplored by Rev. G. A. Rush
, oi Andalusia. Ala.
Another Alabama minister. Rev. q.
M. Glenn Of Cherokee, raised the cid
cry OF Rum. RoManism and rebel
lion" against Al Smith. just as Burchard
raised II in New York years ago In The
Blaine Cleveland campaign and defeat
ed Blaine. In Tennessee 1t Is more
| likely to defeat the Democratic nominee
IL IL be Smith.
Religious Prejudice.
The effort is being made by many
churchmen and laymen in the South
opposed TO Smith 10 sound only the wet
and dry issue. but really 1t appears tina.
| underneath the feeling against Smith
Ia on religious grounds. II must not b.
forgotten that only n few miles frcin
Memphis the Scopes trial took place
couple Of years ago. with the anti-evo-
lutionists and fundamentalistS up III
arms. Whether this State will ever
vote for the election Of Roman Catho"
lie as President is exceedingly doubtful
The Democrats are expected 10 sepd
to the national convention In Houston
u delegation that will vote for Repre-
saNtuttya rnrraN 4ru fasstrtta
Where they will SO II MIR Hull cannot
make the grade remains 10 be seen. II
would seem suicidal for the Democrats
Of Tennessee 10 desire the nomination
Of Smith. knowing the feeling 1t would
stir I'D In the state, Yet there are ia
tluencrs here at work for Smith. There
II talk of coming newspaper support on
a large scale for the New York governor.
The Democrats however. have always
put forward dry candidates for office.
and how they, viii square support for
Smith with their dry professions re-
mains to be seen.
Some OF the Democrats here are
hopeful that cordeli Hull may be the
nominee for Vice President II Smith be
the party choice for President, They
feel that liuils name on the ticket
would help greatly,
Locks Like Hoover.
One Of the most important Demo-
cratic leaders here told me that HUI
could not be the nominee. he did not
know whom the Democrats Of Tennessee
would favor, that sentiment had not
crvstalised for any Of the other cands~
dates. though there Was plenty III sentt-
mrnt AGAINST Smith. In this the
Tennessee democracy ls like that III
other southern States. 1t looks more
and more ~ though the New York
governor would Win the nomination by
default, unless he should take himself
out uf the race
What tho Republican delegation to
the Kansas CITY national convention
will do Is stili u matter vi son,e speeu~
iation, though II looks now as though
its ultimate chu,ee VIII he Hoover, j
WI, Iaytor. the Republican national
committeeman, has said he tavors the
nomination al the Secretary o Cont
Merce Hut the state committee lie"
cllneu to adopt resolution undressing
the Hoover candidacy. amt Church. the
Republican, leader In Shelby County. Il
saying nothing iW publication ~ IL
whom he tavors fM the NOMINATION.
The shelby County convention. hsN
here a week aao, elected ch.s.sh \ dele
cate 10 the national convention, With
out Instructions And Church u cling"
lng tn that fact. In sone quarters this
Ia regarded ~ opposition ID Heaven
acme vi lluuses's supporters hAaase !
that the organization politicians Sta not /,
fee, they can do business" with MI, /
Hoover when Il easAes IT, handing aAt
the Federal patronage, that he Msaht !
insist unan plekins men taf osilee Who /
ave qualified. rather than apIalntins /
n,en Whp are recommended ht the ~ /
aantsatlan.
NAV line W.
Hut IL II appears that haaser u soins |
into the convention with n commanding /