Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-11-05
Calm Settles Over
Texas Before Storm
OF Ballots Breaks

there are some VINO, with an air Of
confidence, predict he will fail to
receive a majority at all. Many OBJ
servers believe it will fall consider
ably short of "the usual democratic
majority" so n~onchalantly reported
in former years. First nomination
for president by a major political
party Of a Catholic. who is also a
wet. injected new elements IN Texas
presidential politics and observers
nave been perplexcd in attempting
10 assay the imbroglio. That there Is
a revolt against the standard bearer
is rot denied, but it's extent will not
be revealed until the ballots are
counted.
Notable events Of the unusual pn-
Iitical year nave included departure
from leadership in the regular state
democratic organization Of Thomas
b. Love and Marshall Hicks, long
powerful in national affairs of the
party. the holding of a national con-
vention for the first time within the
borders Of the state, split in the
party after the nomination Of Gov
ernor Smith. and defeat for renom-
ination Of the last office holders
elected in the hey day Of the ku klux
Khan, United States Senator Earle h.
Mayfield.
Love. Moody Split
For the frs thine in a quarter cen
fury. Hicks this year was not includ-
cd In Texas delegation 70 the ma
tioral convention.
Selection OF Texas forty delegates
to the national convention was the
first dish served up for the delecta-
ton of those enjoying their politics.
An interesting angle for this phase
Of the campaign was the break be-
tween Governor Oar Moody and Tora
Love. destining to have an important
bearing on future events. IL occur
red after Moody's address AZ a meet
ing in Dallas, where were present a
number of irreconcilable opponents
of the New York governor who made
addresses bitterly assailaing Smith,
in contrast 20 the more moderate at
titude OF the governor. On Moody's
return TO Austin, he issued a state
ment ~denouncing Love and character
izing the latter's efforts as "base and
insincere." This led 60 an open break
between them and eventually the two
led opposing factions at the state
convention at Beaumont. Friends Of
the governor charged the Dallas
meeting had been arranged 20 I'm
barrass him. Today, Love IN sup
porting the republican nominee while
Moody has announced his loyalty 10
the democratic ticket.
The Love and Moody factions were
expected to fight il out for Texas
30 delegates when the state conven-
tion assembled at Beaumont. but
when the county delegates assembled
IL became evident hat the New York
governor had considerable support.
The struggle thus became q three
cornered fray, with no one side hold
ING a majority. This situation gave
rise 10 one of the most dramatic in
cidents Of the year. when Governor
Moody interrupted n roll call to
nlcad for the defeat If "A resolution
he feared might ~jeopardiZe fulfill
ment OF the mandate imposed at
county conventions and possibly lead
to Texas votes going to Smith. The
plea had its effect. and the resolu-
tion was defeated.
Love Quits Race
Assisted BY the Smith forces,
Moody and his adhcrents gained con
troll. and to the young GOVERNOR fell
the honor Of heading Texas delcga-
ton 70 the national convention.
Love. one of the Immortal forty"
who held out for Woodrow Wilson
at Baltimore in 1912 until success
crowned their efforts was swept
aside for another leader.
Then came the democratic national
convention at Houston where Moody
made his memorable fight for inclu-
sion OF a strong prohibition plank in
the national platform. His efforts
failed when other dry leaders ac-
ccpted a plank calling for strict en-
f0rccmcnt. with neither praise nor
ccnsure for the eighteenth amend
ment.
The next fight On the years card
we're the first and second primaries,
usually the main attraction in Tex
as political shows. Out of the smoke
and fire e~ngendered by the campaign
emerged Moody an easy winner m
the first primary. Lieutenant Coy
ernor Barry Miller won renomina-
tion when Senator Love withdrew
after first primary, and Congress
man Tom Connally dccisively defeat
cd United States Senator Mayfield
IN l0tlF EuU~OIl fhEi TdiFHs
Boilers Sat Upon
The post-primary convention IN
Dallas saw the so-called boilers"
finally banished from the councils
of the regular democratic ~orraniZa-
ton. The half dozen or so anti
Smith contesting delegations were
heard, then firmly waived aside. and
the convention proceeded harmoni-
ously to endorse the national con
vention's nominee and platform.
This, thought the electorate. was
the end Of the show, but soon came
the rumblings Of another battle. II
! grew in volume until a surprised
state found itself in the throcs Of
an unaccustomed late summer and
autumn strife. with the i~rreconcila-
bic foes of Governor Smith ranged
on the side Of Herbert Hoover and
the regular democrats striving 10
keep the state in line.
"A hot fight has been waged right
10 to election time, with both sides
bringing heavy artillery into the
fray. Besides the local leaders
ranged on one side or the other.
such notablcs as United States Sena-
tor Morris Sheppard, author Of the
eighteenth amendment, campaigning
for Smith. and United States Senator
William Il. Borah. speaking for Hoo
YER. have joined ID the struggle.
Now IL is all over, the arguments
are all in, and the weary common
wealth awaits the verdict. Whatever
the outcome. Old Man Texas, it is
predicted. will take the result philo-
sophically. Cattle. hog and sheep
prices have been good. and a. the
old man fondlcs the huge bankroll
he receives for his five million bales
Of cotton. he seems able to survive
easily any shock the election may
bring forth. II has been a hot sum
mer, politically and otherwise, but
whitening leaves and chill breezes