Evening star., 1928-02-26
D. c. DELEGATION
SEEN FOR SMITH
Democratic Leaders Do Not
Expect Many Aspirants for
Convention Posts.
By WILL r. KENNEDY.

AL Smith probably will have the sup
port OF the National Capital delegation
10 the Democratic national convention,
The District OF Columbia sends six
delegates and six alternates to the con-
vention. No attempt. however. Is now
anticipated to have the delegation go
pledged"
The delegates are not going to be
elected In primaries for couple of
months. and party leaders say that no
one has yet indicated that he desires 10
stand for election as delegate. They
feel that there will not be many aspir-
ants to 60 as delegates because OF the
expense incidental to the trip.
John r. Costello Is the Democratic
national committeeman. and he finds
very strong sentiment here for Smith.
and little II any for other Democratic
candidates. Mr.. Costello has not yet
decided whether he will attend the
convention as his health has been poor
II he goes 1t will be probably as yot-
ing delegate.
Mrs. Hartman TO Go.
Mrs. j. Borden Hartman Is the DEM
ocratic national committeewoman and
she intends to be at the convention.
She Is willing TO go as delegate II the
Democrats OF the District want her In
that capacity. II Is most likely that Mrs
Hartman will be an ardent worker for
Smith. as she Is warm personal friend
OF the governor and campaigned for
him four times In New York State
trha rnrnF,ffp aroantyA2 oAt Gs,a{f IA
Club" Of which Charles w. Darr is
president and Robert N. Harper treas
urer. was organized with the avowed
purpose OF sending to the convention a
District delegation pledged TO Smith
The club has strong labor support. and
Is understood also to have the backing
OF some Of the best known Democratic
leaders In the Capital This club ex-
poets to back ticket for delegates
pledged To Smith IN each Of the -
Washington precincts.
The quota of six delegates and six
aiternatcs for the District was fixed by
the national convention. The selection
OF the delegates by rule Of the con-
veniion and rules adopted by the Demo-
cratic national committee Is left with
the State central committee to make
arrangements for the primaries at
which such delegates are elected.
Mr.. Costello said yesterday that the
primaries probably will be held early
In May. He expects that the State
central committee, OF which he Is not
a member, will meet during the coming
week. Mr.. Costello said that Washing
ton Democrats will have a fair oppor-
tunlty to pick their delegates. While
nj the convention, these delegates VIII
elect the national committeeman and
committeewoman 10 serve for the sub
sequent four years.
New boundaries Asked.
The state central committee Is made
up OF one representative from each OF
the - precincts In the District. The
boundaries of these precincts were nxed
many years ago. long before the city
spread out, Some of the most active
men In the party here are In favor nt
defining new precinct founds so rs 10
give more equal representation,
There are now several vacancies on
the committee, which must be flled
The preliminary meeting this week VIII
canvass that situation, The chairman
shin IN vacant, as william +, Wheian
who was chairman four years ago, Is
dead. James Boyer. veteran local DEM
ocrat, who was vice chairman, will
probably serve M chairman, but he has
been H. The clerk of the committee,
Harry Wells. has been out of town. That
Is what has delayed thus far confer
ences OF the committee,
While there are no AvnWed candt-
dates. II iS known that some of the most
noted Democrats In the vicinity OF the
Capital would like To attend the con-
vention again as delegates.