Evening star., 1928-04-18
Politics at Large
BY G.. Could Lincoln.


seem to be fiattening out. The NOM
ination OF Gov. Alfred L. Smith of New
York for President by the Democratic
national convention in Houston seems
inevitable. There is even talk OF NOM
mating the New Yorker by acclama-
ton"
This does not mean that many Demo-
Gratis are any more Cnamored OF Gov.
Smith than they have been In the past.
II means that the fight against him
appears to be hopeless. The Demo-
Gratis have been unable to center upon
any one man who has chance to head
the New York Governor off. There
will be several favorite son candidates.,
and desperate efforts are being made
to advance the interests Of Senator
Thomas j Walsh of Montana in CAL
ifornia by William Gibbs McAdoo
Smiths old opponent. Smith is now in
North Carolina, where the opposition
to the governor has been strong, led by
Senator Simmons, who has been the
dominant force in Democratic politics.
II the reports from the Tar Heel State
are correct, the New Yorker Is making
many friends there.
IL X y
How long this move toward harmony
will prevail in the Democratic ranks
is still uncertain. Smith stands Tor
many things which many Democrats in
the South and the West have opposed.
He is a wet, he is TammaEy man,
and he Is a Catholic. How loyal dry,
anti-Tammany and Protestant Demo-
Gratis will be, IN the event OF the nomi-
nation OF the governor. only time and
the polls will tell. But the fact of the
matter remains that many party lead
ers are doing their utmost to bring
about harmonious gathering at Hous-
ton on June 26. This, few months
ago, did not appear possible, II may
fail. But the Smith surge is growing
more and more difficult TO head of.
There Is still resentment among some
of the Democrats because 1t appears
that Smiths nomination is to be forced
upon the party by large blocks Of dele
gates from States which rarely, If ever,
go Democratic in national elections,
among them New York, Pennsylvania,
New England and some of the Western
States. But the Democrats. IL they are
To win a national election. must have
the electoral votes of many Of those
States, and the argument is being ad-
vanccd successfully that Smith is the
only man who has possible chance OF
carrying any OF those States.
On the Republican side Frank o.
Lowden, former Governor of Illinois. is
looming more and more as a preslden-
tial possibility His victory in Illinois
has been a great boost 70 him. He
has gained delegates in many OF the
agricultural States of the Middle West
The last was expected. The supporters
of Secretary Herbert Hoover for the
Republican nomination say that it was
well understood Mr. Lowden would have
many of the delegates from States
where the Farm Bureau Federation is
active because OF his Endorsement Of
the McNary Haugen bill In spite OF
the Lowden claims. the Hoover people
say they do not see how the nominal
ton for President is 10 be dictated by
a group of States I'm the Middle West
and Northwest. MIR. Lowden's chief
strength. they say. apparently lies In
the fact that he Is dead against the
administration OF President Coolidge
on the farm question. Is the Republi-
can party TO throw overheard the Cool
idge administration in the coming cam
paign or Is it TO make that administra-
tion the backbone OF its demand for
return OF the party to power?
The Republican national convention
Is less than two months in the future.
Selection OF delegates is going forward
rapidly. On next Tuesday. Ohio, Penn
Sylvania and Massachusetts, are TO hold
their primaries and not little will de-
pend upon the outcome. MIR. Hoover
is fighting In Ohio against a memory
and the field which was back of Sena-
tor Willis. II there is a real sentiment
among the voters for Mr.. Hoover. as
there Is much reason 10 believe. he will
win the preference vote In Ohio and a
majority OF the delegates. In Massa-
chusetts 1t appears practically certain
that he viii have the preference vote
Of the Republicans In the presidential
primary. and that a majority of the
delegates selected win be for him. In
Pennsylvania. Secretary Mellon will
continue 10 dominate the situation. it
Is expected. But not little Hoover
sentiment is found in the State The
plan Is 10 send an uninstructed delega-
ton from Pennsylvania 10 the national
convention and then to determine what
shall be done.
The results In the recent primaries
in Illinois have raised q question as 10
whether the voters are willing to fol-
low their political leaders as meekly
this year rs they have In the past.
What happens In Indiana. for exam
pie, may cause some Of the politicians
10 sit mp and take notice. The primary
there does not come until May 8. Sec
refary Hoover Is entered against Sena-
tor Jim" Watson. Reports are 10 the
effect that Watson seems 10 have the
best end Of the stick But ii was not
long ago that predictions were made
Gov, Len Small. Mayor Big Bill
Thompson OF Chicago and Frank l.
Smith would clean up" in the Illinois
primary, The voters decided otherwise.
Indiana has had as many If not more
political scandals in the last year or
two than did Illinois. No one can saw
With certainty just how the rank and
file OF the people feel about the mat
ter They might take IL into their
heads to upset the Republican State
machine.
The McNary- -Haugenites are talking
lot about the need OF picking a Re-
publican candidate for President who
iavors the McNary~Haugen hill, with
the equalization fee" principle They
Insist that unless such a candidate Is
chosen. the farm States of the Middle
West may so against the Republicans.
II is clear that such was not the case
In 1924, when Mr., Coolidge carried all
those States, although IL was we'll un-
derstood he was against the McNary-
Haugen bill, Furthermore. II Is not az
all clear that the Democratic nominee
for President will support the MeNary-
Haugen bill Gov, Al Smith il already
flirting with the farmers Of the eoun~
try, according 10 reports But will he
come out for the McNary~ ~Haugen bin
"as ts"Y THAT is something else II
he does not go the whole way. where
is he any stronger with the farmers OF
the Middle West than Republican cam
didate who does NOT support the prln-
ciple Of the hlle And will the New
York Governor say 90 the people of the
East he docs favor the MeNary~ ~Haugen