Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-02-25

Dawes may De lluuCeu W eSeiA az
cept second place on the ticket, which
will be Herbert Hoover, of California,
and Charles G. Dawes, of Illinois.
But what about the Democratic
side? The indications are that Gov.
Alfred E. Smith will have the flight
of his life" in the Convention at
Houston, Texas, and one of the most
scenic campaigns ever known IN this
country should he become the stand
ard-bearer of that Party after the
political fight is under way. He will
have as spectre in the background,
the danger of assassination. His
enemies will not hesitate in this fight
which has been and is now being re-
garded as an attempt by the Roman
Catholic hiergarchy to capture,
through him the presidency.
AS untrue as this statement may
be, it will be devoutly believed by
hundreds of thousands fanatics, while
as many more on the Roman Catholic
side of the contention will have made
up their minds that religious intOler,
ance shall not exist under the Ameri-
can flag and that the test as to mixing
politics with religion might as well be
made this year as at any other time
Then will come the "army" Of fana-
teal "drys", who see in Gov. Smith
the symbol of Demon Rum and who
openly charge that he will be guilty
of perjury and violate his oath to sup
port the Eighteenth Amendment as
soon as the opportunity presents it.
self for him so to do.
Then you have in Gov. Smith, Cp-
position on account Of his relig. is
beliefs, which should not be as he can
point to thousands Of Protestants that
are in office in New York State by
virtue of his exercise of pol t al pat
ronage. Last but not least comes the
influence of Tammany Hall in New
York, which it is alleged, through its
leaders will dictate Federal appoint
ments at Washington. This opposi-
ton is inside of the Democratic Party
and is based upon these grounds. 1t
is further alleged that Gov. Smiths
nomination will cause split in the
Southern States.
This, however, will be largely de-
pendent upon the candidate of the
Republican Party. Most Southern
Democrats remain away from the
polls instead of supporting the can
didate of the other side. The machine
then proceeds to deliver the electoral
vote to the Democratic nominee as
usual. This is why Herbert Hoover
is looming up in the offing on the Re-
publican side. He had charge of the
great southern relief in the Missis-
sippi flood. But the question that will
interest most people will relate to the
chance of Gov. Alfred E. Smith being
the next President Of the United
States and the outlook of Secretary
Herbert Hoover to succeed Hon. Cal
vim Coolidge in the White House Of
the Nation. go
1t seems that the disruption in the
Republican Party if Secretary Hoover
is named, will be of the most positive
kind, but it will not equal the up
heaval that must necessarily follow
in the Democratic ranks, if Gov. Al
fred E. Smith succeeds in being nam
ed as the standard-bearer of the DEM
ocratic Convention at Houston, Texas.
Gov. Smiths religious beliefs should
not be considered any more than the
religious beliefs of Secretary Hoover.
Still prejudice is unreasoning and I'M
convincible.
The fact is it is believed that Gov.
Smith will carry New York, some OF
the New England States and New
Jersey with a heavy inroad upon
Pennsylvania and other "rock-ribbed"
Republican States. The Middle and
the Far West will be the battle ground
and the deciding factor and it is hoped
that the local pride of the West will
hold those States in line for Herbert
Hoover. Gov. Smith is pledged to
carry out the liquor laws as they are
upon the statute books. The Repub-
ican nominee is pledged to do the
same thing. AS to the citizens of
color, we are of the opinion that as
between the candidates, they will be
greatly divided.
1t is an unfortunate situation that
presents itself and the indications are
that serious trouble will follow before
the Inauguration of the next Presi-
dent of the United States at Wash
ington.
cD>rAnOn nErn,S