Evening star., 1928-05-13
HOOVER IS DOOMED
|NPENNSYLVAN|A
Campaign Is Given impetus.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Backs Secretary.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
HARRISBURG. Pa, May IA
Hoover forces in Pennsylvania became
more active this week than at any
time since his campaign began to
gather momentum in Midwinter. The
initial effort was directed toward keep
Ing the Pennsylvania Republican dele
cation from committing itself in its
caucus.
The impetus to the Hoover activity
came when the Philadelphia Inquirer
Tuesday editorially came out for Hoover,
with the assertion that he Is "the
American citizen best fitted 10 succeed
Calvin Coolidge as President of the
United States" The Inquirer is re-
garded as the leading Republican news
paper OF the State from political
standpoint. and usually has had con-
siderable influence because II has been
regarded as representing views OF the
leaders at present controlling the State
organization.
Col. James Elverson. owner Of the
Inquirer, will be delegate from one OF
the Philadelphia districts. Senator
earded as more friendly to Hoover than
any other leading presidential aspirant,
and the Ware organization controls IA
Philadelphia delegate votes.
Raps Fayorite Son.
Immediately following the indorse-
ment OF Hoover. the Inquirer began
campaign against pledging support Of
any Pennsylvania "favorite son" In the
delegations caucus. A plan OF some
months ago to indorsc Secretary Of the
Treasury Mellon has been revived re-
Gently, and the Inquirer takes the po-
sition that TO indorse Mellon after his
declartion that he is not a candidate
for President would merely assist stop
Hoover" maneuVer from other States.
deadlock the convention and enable
handful OF leaders TO name the nom
inee in the manner In which Harding
was nominated u 1920.
Hoover followers. since the Inquirers
announcement. have claimed Hoover is
certain of 20 Of Pennsylvania 70 con-
vention votes under any conditions.
and that II the delegation should be left
TO its own resources. at least two-thirds
OF the delegates will vote for Hoover
on the first ballot. One delegate In
each OF three districts won on a pledge
70 support Hoover over uninstructed
candidates backed by the Mellon or
ganization.
Although many delegates. II deciding
for themselves. would follow the prefer
ence Of their districts for Hoover. as
expressed by the written In" preferen-
tial vote at the primary. the bulk OF
the delegation will act In accord with
advice OF Secretary Mellon when bal
loting starts.
The preferential vote has given
Hoover a lead OF almost three to one
over the combined vote written on bal
lots for Coolidge, Lowden and Dawes.
Hoover has also polled a number OF
votes on the Democratic ballots In al
most every county Of the State,
Smith Given Lead.
The preferential vote on Democratic
ballots has given Smith a lead OF more
than l3 To over the combined vote of
McAdoo and Reed Smith has polled
many Republican votes in the state
In Philadelphia and Luzerne. an
anthracite county which Is one Of the
ffve largest In the State, the combined
Republican and Democrats vote given
Smith was larger than the vote OF the
two parties for Hoover. Smith leaders
point to those illustrations to sub
stantiate claims that II Smith Ia the
nominee. Pennsylvania may become q
doubtful State this year.
The preferential vote. however was
cast by comparatively small fraction
Of the total number OF voters In the
primary.
Joseph r. Guffey. Democratic ma
tinnai committeeman who has been
leading the Smith campaign here. has
announced he will not be candidate
for recollection TO the national commit
tee He win throw his support, he said.
10 sedgwick Kistler, wealthy banker
and manufactures OF Lock Haven. To
succeed him In the committee. Kistler
Is a former treasurer OF the Democratic
State committee.
The new members Of the national
committee will be elected ~ the reor-
ganizati0n session Of the State commit
tee, which probably will be held Satur~
day of next week There Is rumor
that dutfey at that time may he
candidate for chairman Of the State
committee. The Guffcy and BonniWell
factions OF The party viii have plenty
~ votes 10 organize the committee IN
tn interests Of Smith, II they combine
BOnniwelI some weeks ago declared he
would not Join with unffey and al
though both are supporting Smith for
President there IL a possibility each may
have his own candidate for chairman,
with third candidate backed by the
dry Democrats who are opposed To
DHiLn,
An interesting contrast with the 1929
primary campaign occurred this week
when Senator David A, Reed tlled his
eApense account Of his campaign for
Republican denomination Reed nc~
counted for personal expenditures OF
as. .D34,B4. The total expenditures by
the three Republican candidates were
s6,b75 In 1925 although the cam
paian was much more tightly drawn
between three candidates the sena~
torial -glibernatofiai primary cost RE.
snbltGsns sa 900 900. and The personal
aeeoilnt NJ William Is Ware, The victor
was 97I 900 While " had been exs
neeted the 1923 primary would be-
cheap a determined effort WAS made
to knep expenditures down ~~the loH
figures IN Reeds personal account, II Is
believed here, will make II more dim
cult for ware to convince the Senate
Il al the expenditures In his campaign
were the minimum which political
prudence would allow
WALTER II HG0@