Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-27
Politics at Large
By C. Could Lincoln.

is bad year Tor dark nofSeS IN the
great game Of presidential politics. The
Republicans at their national conven-
ton at Kansas City nominated Herbert
Hoover, who early in the pre-conven-
ton campaign became leading candi-
date for the presidential nomination.
And now the Democrats at Houston
are about to pick, as their candidate
against Mr.. Hoover, Gov. Al Smith OF
New York. Only miracle, 1t appears,
an unexpected turn of the political fates'
could prevent the New Workers. romi-
nation.
Gov. Smith, like Mr. Hoover leaped
quickly into the lead for the presiden-
tiaI nomination of his party.
Both Mr.. Hoover and Gov. Smith en-
tered the presidential preferential pri-
maries In many States. Hoover met oe-
feat in two favorite-sor States, Indiana
and west Virginia, but In the otner
States. including Ohio, he demonstrated
his great personal popularity with the
voters. - =.
~~ON
by narrow margins
Gov. Smith met successfully every test
except that in North Carolina. He won
II the West in the East, and, OF course,
In the Middle Atlantic States he en-
tered.
FOR the first time in many years the
two major parties apparently have
elected to present to the voters their
outstanding men--men who have made
their mark. who have demonstrated
great executive ability-one brought up
a Quaker and the other Catholic. The
voters have a real choice set Deiore
them for the November election. Eight
wears ago the Republicans named the
late President Harding as their canul-
date for Chief Executive. He came out
of the ruck at the Chicago convention
after the convention had deadlockeo lot
A day. Four years ago the Democrats
selected John w. Davis of West Vlr-
ginia and New York. who. able man
that he is, was not widely known 10
the people CT the country. and who was
for many ballots little more than dark
morse candidate. His nomination, too.
came after a prolonged deadlock.
4 \ +
The set-ups In the Republican and
the Democratic conventions have been
strangely similar in other respects IMAM
that Of the victory Of the leading canal
date for the presidential nomination IN
the one and the expected victory OF tne
leading candidate In the otner botn
have had their tissue" to plague them.
In the case of the Republicans 1t was
the farm issue, and In the case OF the
Democrats it is the prohibition issue.
THE leaders of some of the farm or
CARNATIONS and several OF the candl-
dates at the Republican convention
fought for the McNary- Haugen Dill, ana
some of the farmers came to the con-
vention city to stress the cause.
In Houston the drys have been the
active workers against the nomination
of Gov. Smith. Just as some OF the
farmers were active against the selec-
ton OF Herbert Hoover by the Repuo-
licans.
The Republicans picked Senator,
the Republican leader OF the upper
house. Senator Curtis of Kansas. for
Vice President. The Democrats are IN
q fair way to nominate Senator Robin
son of Arkansas. the minority leader
of the Senate.
But there are certain differences be-
tween the two conventions. The Bit
terness and hatred evinced In the Re.
publican convention have been absent
on the surface. at least. at Houston.
There has been spirit of harmony and
lack of personalities among most of
the Democratic leaders. Underneath,
and among the rank and file Of the
party. however. the Democratic harA
mony Is not so great. After the nomi-
nation for President has once been
made, the real rub may come.
The nomination Of Senator Curtis OF
Kansas for Vice President has pleased
large number of Republicans. both
because of the personal popularity of
the Kansan and because they believe
that his nomlnatiun will help the ticket
in the Midwest States. The nominal
ton of Senator Robinson will be as
pleasing to many of the Democrats.
He has proved an able leader of the
minority in the Senate. He comes from
the Southwest. from state that is in
cludcd III the Democratic solid South
always when politics are discussed.
Arkansas was food sufferer last
year and many of Its citizens have been
grateful to Herbert Hoover for the work
he did among the flood sufferers.
Furthermore. there are not few Ar
kansas DEMOCRATS who do not relish the
idea of AL Smith for President There
has been even talk of Hoover carrying
the State against Smith. 1t Is difficult
to believe that any of the solid
South will fall away from the Demo-
cratic column this Fall. But doubtless
Hoover Will get more votes in Arkansas
than any other Republican who could
have been named The nomination of
Senator Robinson. q dry, Is calculated.
II II materialises. to help the Demo-
cratic ticket in the South and also IN
the West.
The Arkansas Senator, I'm q measure
Is entitled to the gratitude of the smith
Ioliowing and also OF the entire party
Tor the firm attitude he took In the
senate when an attempt was made by
Senator Hefiin of Alabama to interject
the religious question into the debates
of that body and to attack the leading
Democratic candidate for the preSiien-
tial nomination on the ground he was
Catholic. As party leader he stood
squarely against such tactics and gave
the Alabama Senator a severe drubbing
His stand for tolerance and for har-
mony In the party Ia worthy of re-
ward, many of the Democrats feel, and
his nomination as Vice President would
please them. There Is no doubt that
Senator Robinson will accept the noml-
nation II 1t Is rendered him.
y
Vice presidential nominations are
slippery things. until they are actually
made, At the Chicago convention OF
the Republicans In 1870 the leaders who
had succeeded In nominating MIR. Hard
Ing for President we're ready to nOmi-
nate az his running mate former SEM
ator Irvine L, Isenroot OF Wisconsin.
The word had been passed around, But
before this could be accomplished the
convention got up on Its hind legs and
nominated Calvin Coolidge OF Massa-
chusetts. Only few weeks ago there
was widespread talk at Kansas City
about. the probable nomination of Vice