Evening star., 1928-05-20


/ tering its final lap. with only
two States--West Virginia
and South Dakota--yet to speak
their preference for a candidate. In
South Dakota former Gov. Lowden
has already been Endorsed by the
State convention, which met last
December, so the field In reality Is
narrowed to West Virginia, where the
primaries will be held May 30. The
Democratic finish line is farther
along the track. The result Is in
doubt In seven States at least, with
the Virginia convention being held
June 81, only one week before the
convention in Houston. But as the
date for conventions nears The
stars correspondents in the States
are making their observations on
what has already happened, instead
of upon what is going to happen in
the choice of delegates, and are fix
ing their eyes on Kansas City and
Houston.
Because West Virginia is the last
of the States to hold its preferential
primary before the convention, and
because the outcome there remains a
subject of guesswork the managers
of rival candidates in that State are
making Il appear that the fortune
of the contestants is held in the
hands of the West Virginia voters.
But what this fortune is remains to
be revealed. While there are claims
and counter claims, the develop
ments of the last week seemed to
boost Mr.. Hoover's chances in West
Virginia. The Mellon statement at
ta Iaia
Gus last Saturday was interpreted in
West Virginia as distinct help for
Mr.. Hoover. while another break
for him came in the form of COM
munication from the railroad BROTH
erhoods to their branches in the
State, in which they urged support
for Hoover and gave Vice President
Dawes dig in the form of question
ing the sincerity of his support of
former Gov. Lowden--tactics. by the
way, which we're similarly used in
Indiana.
AS regards the Mellon statement.
The Stars correspondent in Penn
sylvania writes that If its meaning
seemed obscure elsewhere there was
no doubt about it in Pennsylvania.
The statement narrows down, 1t is
explained, to this: Unless President
Coolidge is voluntarily and deter
minedly out of the running, and un-
less some one like him, not in the
field at present. attains prominence
at Kansas City, the Pennsylvania
delegation will vote for Mr.. Hoover.
Mr.. Hoover is assured now of Penn
ssylvanias support on the face of 1t.
If there Is anything to change that
in the three weei:s remaining before
the convention. 1t is unknown now.
But Mr.. Melons statement was not
the only indication of Hoover lean
ings, according to the correspondent.
Col. James Elverson, jr. owner Of
the pro-Hooyer Philadelphia In
quirer, was made Pennsylvania rep
resentative on the committee on per-
manent organization at Kansas City,
while Senator-elect Ware. also
friendly to Hoover. was named TO the
platform committee.
%% * X
The hope that President Coolidge
will consent to answer his party's
call" II one is made at Kansas City,
persists strongly In Connecticut,
There the Republican leaders cling
to this hope, and the Connecticut
delegates expect that when the roll
of States is called at Kansas CITY
Connecticut, being high on the list,
can start the Coolidge ball rolling.
The rank and file of the Connecticut
voters are represented as believing
that Mr.. Coolidge is out OF the race
for good. and they favor Hoover as
the logical second choice that even
tually will be their first choice In
Ohio also the possibility that Presi-
dent Coolidge might somehow be
persuaded to run offers the one at
active prospect now for the 90
members of the Ohio delegation who
are anti-Hoovcr. Efforts To recon-
cile the differences between this
Willis faction and the victorious
Hoover group have been unavailing,
and the Willis delegates give no In
dication of the candidate whom they
expect TO support.
In the Democratic camp In Ohio
things are peaceful enough, and the
delegates to Houston have already
ordered their special train. upon
which they win ride South like
happy family. all to vote for Smith
after complimentary gesture on the
first ballot to Atlee Pomerene. An
interesting development of the last
week in Ohio politics was the an
nouncement of Judge Florence Allen
Of the State Supreme Court that she
was a candidate to succeed herself,
II had been expected that she would
run for the Senate against Senator
FesS, and because Of her vote-get-
ting proclivities her decision is said
TO have been most acceptable to
Senator Fess
VI
II the campaign fund investigat-
ing work OF the Senate has had any
political effect so far. II Is hard to
find In any reports OF The Stars
corresnnndenIS ONLY two of them