Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-03
DEMOCRAT REVOLT
LOOMS IN VIRGINIA
IF SMITH is CHOICE

IT Smith is CHUlCE
Continued from First Page.)
influencing many votes, it is said here
Inc religious issue may cut into the
Smith strength in the cities, which are
inclined to be wet. and the dry issue
Till harm him In the country districts
Delegates May Be FREE.
1t is on the cards now for Virginia
70 send an uninstructed delegation 10
the Democratic national convention in
Houston However. the State conven-
ton will not BE- held until June, and
By that time the situation may have
changed materially 50 as 10 bring the
leaders to favor the Endorsement of a
candidate Gov Harry Byrd. whose
administration Is acclaimed by both
Democrats and Republicans. does not
want the delegation instructed for him.
He could have it by raising his hand.
But the governor has two more years
to serve as chief executive Of the State
He Is q young man. He may go 70
the Senate and his admirers believe
that eventually he will become a presi-
Dental possibility. But they would
rather see him wait for a more au-
spicious time than the year 1928.
There are Democratic politicians in
Virginia who believe that. after ali
Gov. Smith Is the partys best be:
this year: that he has q greater chance
even II 1t is an outside chance. for
election than any other Democrat
Like Democratic polite leaders IN
other Southern States who have the
came feeling toward Smith they are
not anxious to broadcast their senu-
ments But they would like to see
the party in power once again. They
fear that II Smith Is turned down for
the nomination the party wiz stand in
danger Of disintegration, of becoming
merely a local PARTY. Rather than run
that chance they prefer. secretly q;
present. 10 see the nomination of the
New Yorker.
G. O. r. More at Sea.
None OF the Democrats here seem to
know just whom they viii support Tor
the nomination in the national conven-
ton against Smith. They viii send m
anti-Slnith delegation. though there
may be some members who would no'
b. averse TO his nomination and a few
" AAQ StVA S0kfV&k "a sAA~ $500
rule did not operate 20 prevent The
leaders know they are against Smith,
but they haven't made up their minds
whom they are for. They are practical
enough TO know that they cannot beat
Smith with nobody" and some Of them
may even feel that il would be better
nct to beat him
II the Democrats are somewhat az
sea over the question OF q Democratic
nominee for President their uncertainty
is only a patch 20 the cloud which
obScures today the political vision Of
the Republican leaders The RepQb-
licans viii admit. If pressed that they
have heard Of Secretary Hoover. Frank
O Lowden. Vice President Dawes ana
even of Speaker Nicholas LonSwoth
But when they are asked whom they
favor for the presidential nomination
they become tcngue-tied, The truth o.
the matter appears to be tha. trey want
the man who Is going to be nominated
whoever that may oe.
The present Republican plans ar
to send an uninstruc,ed delegation ana.
70 pray for light when the convent:os,
meets, Virginia comes far down on tn,
list OF states when the roll Is called
TAR enough down 10 know which way 10
vote II candidate is Soins over on the
nrst ballot In 1870 she Virginia dele
cation was instructed Cor Lowdea q.
Illinois, The delegates voted for Mr.
Lowocn for two days in the Chicago
convention and swung 10 Mr., HARDING
when the break came In 1924 The vlr-
ssnia delegation was instructed for
President Coolidge. and IL made M mis-
take.
Weaid support Coolidge.
II Virginia Republicans had thes:
choice, they would support e,vslaen:
Coolidge for denomination. They De-
hcve that he could be nominated eaSsSs
II he would and that he could b elected
President, That would suit them ex-
actly, Some Of the Republicans ere
stun hoping that something viii tar,
up TO bring about the nomination 81
the President, though they admit tha:
thew do not believe he really wuuld ae-
cept II, One thing appears certain at
this writing, and that Is c, hascsom
Slemn the Republican national commit
teeman and State leader. Is going IL
have 4 10, TO say about where tae dele
satinn lands o., the first ballot and oshss
ballots thereafter
The Republicans hook upon MI S,elap
~ ~ ~"tS &HA W&ANAt sN&NSAs &AfA
Mr.. Slemp tells them Ia which camp
they should 50, they are likely to follow
his advice, Until Mir S,emp makes his
ehoice clear. the atmosphere in Regsie~
l,eaa circles IN Virginia Is likely 10 ccn>
Iinue fogSy, This daeS not naeAn that
hcaver has not many admirers In the
State, lie has, Outside at Mr., CNelsStss
ne probably woala make a eetseE run
Than any other Republican
q, u. Y, Vote StseAAie>
The Republicans eAss q xiseAhls vote
In Virginia. take the state by and large
In 1880 Virginia went lG CAN by isl,~
$40 70 II, asa f>I Harding and In issA
the vote VAS Davis lSs,fsf, CSS>lsSaxe.
lS.Ssa, ana la tclletss, ie,sts When
lsov. Ayiu Was eleetsd IN lSsa, State
Treasurer Purcell CassN>lic Democrat.
IAN tar behind his tieSeC although ne
aaS elected There MAS an ezgaaisssa
asht made against Purcell aud II must
~ said that the Democratic eaganlsA.
hon did not Sc, oat and hustle ts9 the
~ asutee A. II might have ee,e had ii
believed there Mas any real danger al