Evening star., 1928-05-21
"Seein Things at Night"

Opponents Of Gov Al Smith and Sec
retary Herbert Hoover are seeking now
to "frignten" the Democratic and Re-
publican parties and so prevent their
nominations for President, at Houston
and Kansas City. They predict upris-
ings among the dry and Protestant
Democrats on the one hand against
Smith, and on the other uprisings
among the Republican farmers of the
West against Hoover. They foreSee in
dependent Democratic and Republican
candidates launched in the event of
the nomination of these gentlemen.
The supporters of Al Smith of New
York do not scare" worth a cent.
They are set for the nomination of
Gov. Smith, brown derby. Tamanny
and all. They are so confident that
they predict not only his nomination at
Houston but his election next Fall. If
the opponents of Smith are TO stop him
at Houston. it viii be only through the
means Of coalition of more than one
ka1AE0 vi AAIC OEAEkaIES ~ AAtC AAOhSNCAt
convention ready to vote against Smith
and for some other candidate until the
delegates have become as weary as they
were in Madison Square Garden four
years ago.
Suppose enough Democratic delegates
to the national convention hold out
against Smith to prevent his nomina-
ton, forcing in the end the selection
OF compromise candidate or the break
Up OF the convention itself. What hap
pens then? Do these Democratic die
hards have any assurance that the
overwhelming mass of Democrats from
the North and West now supporting
Smith will not stage a separate conven-
ton Of their own and put Smith ticket
in the field? Do they expect the tail
10 wag the dog always in the Demo-
cratic party? Owing TO the two-thirds
rule for nominations In Democratic ma
tional conventions this has happened
more than once. It happened four
years ago when William Gibbs McAdoo
was denied the nomination. and it hap
pened in 1912 when the late Champ
CLARK Of Missouri was turned down
after he had made all the running.
Secretary Hoover has less difficult
task than Gov. Smith 10 win his party's
nomination, for he has 10 have only
a majority Of the convention vote. But
the snti-Hooyer coalition, gathering in
al the favorite-son candidates and add
ing their strength 70 that of Mr..
Hoovers leading opponent, Frank o.
Lowoen Of Illinois, is presenting a for
midable array. II has sought 10 ham
string Mr.. Hoover IN two directions
First. It tried TO keep alive the draft
Coolidge" movement In order to bring
about the selection Of many uninstruct-
ed delegations which might otherwise
have favored Hoover. Second, 1t sought
70 line UP as many favorite-son delega-
tons against the Secretary OF Com
r1erce as possible. Mr.. Hoover. how
ever, viii 20 into the Republican con-
yention the leading candidate for the
presidential nomination, despite these
nasneuvers. He viii have close 10 a
raa aiority of the delegates, If not a ma.
Jority.
80, In final effort 10 prevent his
choice by the convention, his opponents
have started the cry that he cannot
be elected. that third ticket. repre-
senting ar agrarisn revolt against the
Republican party, viii arise in thf
Middle West and Northwest II he b.
nominated. II IL another attempt oi
the tail 70 wag the dog. MFR. Hoovei
has demonstrated his strength In tins
North, the ESss. the West and amonf
the Republicans Of the South. Th'
Corn Bet objects, although even there
Mr.. Hoover Is not without friends. Tn
Hoover supporters are no more inclined
70 scare" than those vino back Gov
Smith.