Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
FOES LACK UNITY
In DRIVE TO STOP
SMITH AT HOUSTON

Georgia. both in this city, have issued
statements declaring themselves 100
per cent dry. But they have not de-
clared that AL Smith could not run
propsrly as a candidate for President.
They both insist that issues other than
prohibition are the issues Of the COM
ing campaign against the Republicans.
and that prohibition cannot legitimately
become major issue in that campaign,
Senator George put out formal state
ment today saying:
Personally I am committed to the
eighteenth amendment and am op-
posed to any weakening of the en-
forcement act Honest Democrats diff
fer upon this question, and I have not
sought to force it forward as the domi-
nant issue. I am Unalterably opposed to
every effort to commit the Democratic
party to wet program. Conditions
have made frauds in elections. graft
and corruption in Office the issue of
supreme importance, and the party
must meet this issue both in its nomi-
nee and its platform. The question is
and corruption-who can place that
issue first and keep it foremost? The
chief duty OF Democracy at this time
is TO put its hand upon that man.
The party must present a platform
upon which the liberal forces of the
country can in good faith stand and
make their fight.
The Georgia delegation is enroute
to Houston and 1t earnestly desires the
party to present candidate who can
marshal the liberal tcrces Of the Nation.
1t is prepared to fight to that end
Behind the nominee of the party.
Georgia will likewise stand to the end. .
Robinson to Arrive.
The South is relied upon by the
opponents of Smith to play the big
part in stopping" the Governor. Yet
Governor Smith already has made in
roads into that territory. The Louisi-
anna delegation is for him. He has
several delegates from North Carolina:
Kentucky, border state, has declared
for him In a word it seems that
the South Is cracking" In It's opposi-
| ton TO the New Yorker.
Senator Robinson Of Arkansas, Dem
ocratic leader Of the Senate, is due
| here tomorrow. he might put the
| final touch on the Smith victory be-
fore the convention opens by declaring
that the Arkansas delegation will vote
| for Smith. It has peen widely pub
| lished that a large majority of the
Arkansas delegates are really favorable
| 10 the New York governor. although
/ they are prepared to go where Senator
1 Robinson indicates on the first ballot
/ Robinson might do for the Smith can
didacy very much what the declaration
Of the Pennsylvania delegation did fol
| Hoover at Kansas City.
| The Texas delegation is divided ovei
Smith, although 1t is pledged TO dry
| platform and candidate who car
1 stand on 1t. The Smith people are
claiming an actual majority of the
| Lone Star State delegation. Gov Oar
| Moody. however. heading the delegation
| is committed to the dry cause. He
| may be- called upon TO lead the dry
| forces In the convention when 1t comes
I To the adoption of the platform. The
/ platform fight comes before the nomt-
nation Of the presidential and vice
/ presidential candidates.
See Early Victory.
The Smith people expect to nominate
/ Gov Smith within the first three bal
| lots. The opposition hopes 10 prevent
/ the nomination Of smith for at least five
/ ballots. If they can hold more than a
! third Of the delegates in line against
| Smith that length Of time, they assert
: they can prevent his nomination.
/ No open talk Of the religious issue Is
! heard in Houston The campaign
against Smith is waged on the ground
| that ne is a wet and Tsmmany man
| But underlying 1t all is the opposition
| in the South and elsewhere 10 the cleo
| ton Of a Catholic President Of the
! United States The prohibition talk Il
/ largely cloak for the real opposition
/ tn him by many Of those who are
/ fighting him one factor that Is help
! ing Gov. Smith IN his race for the NOM
/ ination lis the belief Of other candidates
] that IL Smith is not nominated, the
Democratic nomination for President Is
not worth anything 10 the man who
! finally gets IT,
! When Senator Reed Of Missouri ar
/ rived In Houston today, 1t was the ex'
pectation Of the Smith opposition thai
things would begin 10 pop, and that
real attack on Smith might at ieas'
be developed. But Reed made state
nlent no more fiery than the statements
| issued by the other candidates Tit
opposition appears 70 have trouble get
ting under way
wee pffsiuenLhi eannidatcs are uIl'
der discussion already though tn
Smith people are keeping hands OF a
present Senator Robinson Is amoni
those prominently mentioned and so Il
Hui Evans Woolien Of Indiana hes hi
following and 50 has Donahey Of ONO
II another wet should be picked and h.
would have 1t, Reed Of Missouri nigh
BE- the selection
The delegations are slow getting here
Many Of them will not arrive unit
Monday. New York's delegation Is Il
caucus then and will determine what i
will do about platform planks, If any
thing, snd who Is 70 represent IT on tn
resolutions committee
= Senator Wagner ls one Of the lat
arrivals here