Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
Only Hope Seen in Favorite
Son Candidates From
South and West.
PROHIBITION QUESTION
PROMISES FIREWORKS
New York and Illinois Delegations
May Propose Referendum
on Dry Law.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
StAf Correspondert of The Star.


HOUSTON, June 2S.-Who can stop"
Al Smith of New York in his quest of
the Democratic nomination for Presi-
dent at Houston this week? The an.
swer appears TO be at this stage of the
game, mo one"
The opposition to the New York gov
ernor lacks cohesion 1t has centered
on nc single candidate. Its only hope
lies in the favorite son candidates from
the South and the Middle West holding
on to their delegates in sufficient num-
Der until the Smith forces begin to
disintegrate. But this seems to be an
idle hope.
The two big contests that loom in the
convention are those over the selection
of the presidential candidate and over
he prohibition plank. which is to be
sritten into the national platform.
The first seem settled already, with
Smith victor.
The second contains dynamite. It
might cause real row on the conven-
ton Goor, and probably viii anyway in
the resolutions committee. Much de-
2ends upon the attitude Of the Smith
people from New York and Illinois
IN both those states referenda in 1926
resulted In q declaration by q majority
Of the voters that the individual States
should have determining voice in the
alcoholic content Of beverages sold in
the State. There are reports to the CT
feet that both the New York and the
Ilinios delegations viii suggest planks
declaring for the enforcement Of all
laws. including the dry laws. but also
suggesting referendum on this matter
3f alcoholic content.
Can Expect Fireworks.
II these delegations, or either Of them,
put forward such a plank, there viii
De plenty of fireworks. There are dele
cations in the South and West which
may be willing to have Smith nom-
mated, but they are not willing to have
the Democratic party nationally espouse
the aIlti-prohibition cause. Wen in
formed Democrats. who believe that
Smith should be nominated but who
hail from neither New York nor Illinois.
insist that no such effort win be made
oy Gov. Smith to dampen the platform.
They point out that the Smith people
are here to nominate the governor for
President, and that they have been con-
..ilfatory toward the dry Democrats
They insist that Gov. Smith has not
ret said anything that may be consid-
@rcd as a desire to have the national
party take up the vet cause. They say
further that 1t would be unlike the gov-
ernor to hurl such bomb into the
Democratic national convention at the
.aSt minute: that IL he had been going
20 take such stand he would have
lone 50 some time ago.
George z. Brennan, Democratic ma
ioTiaI committeeman from Illinois, when
g. f<.1a n4A~s
The candidate is our platform
This pretty well expresses the view of
I'll Smith followers. They are not in
crested so much in the details Of the
1arty platform It Is possible, of course.
hat plank so dry might be written
ato the platform that II would be diff
acult for Gov. Smith TO stand upon It,
3ut 1t is not expected. Smith opponents
would dearly lore to have this done. But
he resolutions committee is not ex-
sected to bring forth any such plank
hen II makes its report to the national
convention.
Ignorant Of Proposal
hfr. Brennan, it Is true. has discussed
he possibility Of a iaw-enforcement
s!ank which would carry IN it some
nenticn Of a possible referendum, or
he right of the States to determine
~
averages under the eighteenth amend
aent Of the Constitution. But Norman
= Mack, national committeeman of
lev York. said tonight he did not know
II any such proposal by the New York
delegation. II Is clear, however, that If
gew York puts forward a plank dealing
sifh prohibition, IL viii be in accord
ance with the wishes of Gov. Smith,
ezid he Is not here.
The candidates for the presidential
nomination and their open followers are
n three camps. There is Al Smith, who
occupies one camp all by himself
There Is Reed Of Missouri, who has an
3theT camp TO himself. and there are
sTuil OF Tennessee. George Of Georgia
Voo1len OF Indiana. Pomerene of Ohio.
Hitchcock Of Nebraska, Jones Of Texas,
and Ayres of Kansas, who are more or
ess grouped in third camp
Smith Is q vet. Tanmany man
md a Catholic. He is the leading
candidate for the nomination. In a
measure all the rest Of the field Is
against him. But Reed is also a wet,
though he has soft-pedaied prohibi-
ion during the pre-convention cam
paign. The rest are drys, except
Pomercne and Hitchcock and even they
come from dry States.
ceeh Dfy CAndMate.
The drys are hoping TO use Reed and
7omerene and Hitchcock to staye off
tIle nomination OF Gov Smith. After
hey have been 50 used, IL the dryg have
heir way. they. TOO, will be cast of and
dry candidate viii be nominated. This
program Is likely 10 be difficult Of ac-
.onnplishment. however. Senator Reed
zopes on the other hand To use the
9Fyg TO stop Smith. 20 that he may
finally be nominated.
The Smith people are la a vastly bet
ser situation than either of the other
sanpe. They haye more than q ma
,ority Of the delegates already COM
nitted 10 Gov. Smith, some 6e2,
md they have some assurance that i5I
stEleF delegates may swing TO Smith on
"a early ballot II takes 1888 l-3 votes
. nominate under the two-thirds rule
s-he Smith people do not have to stop"
anyone: all they have 70 do Is TO nom
nate their candidate.
The lack Of bitterness on the part
4 the presidential candidates and their
managers is extraordinary consider
ng the views which separate them
10 one Is making personal attacks on
smith and he is making no personal
attacks on the others. The bitterness
Is found among the woman drys, who
nave headquarters here and occupy IN
Houston much the same position that
The farm organizers occupied In Kansas
City In their campaign OF hate against
Terasert Hoover,
Tull Of Tennessee and George Of