The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-06-25
fcontinued from First PAGE

Continued from First Page
figure of 750 there Smith had been
accorded only 40 votes from the So
called solid South, the Arkansas and
Louisiana delegations and four from
North Carolina.
AS the great mass of delegates
poured into Houston today by train
boat and motor there were rumb-
lings that indicated Smith may get
a good many scattering votes
from Southern States that his man.
ayers have regarded as unfriendly
territory. Six of Virginia's "a
votes, for example. were reported
ready to go to Smith on the first
ballot. or whenever the Governor S
managers want them called in
Eighteen OF Indiana's 30 were said
to be ready to go for Smith as
soon as released by Evans Wocllen.
the Hoosier favorite son.
The road seemed to be opening
up for band wagon movement
that threatens to sweep everything
in front of it, just as at Kansas
City, where the Hoover band wagon
could hardly provide space for all
who wished to Chamber on.
Reed Fights Alone
Only Senator James Reed of Miss
ouri, Governor Dan Moody of Texas,
Senator Walter F. George of Geor.
gia and Dan Roper of North Caro-
lima were left to carry on the fight
against the seeming inevitability Of
it all. They constituted themselves
AR
Smith movement, but they admit
tedIy were making little Roadway.
Figure as they would, they could
not see more than a maximum Of
40 votes that could be counted on
TO oppose Smith after the first
ballot. And that figure is gener'
QUE by perhaps 20 votes. according
to a careful calculation.
The fight against the nomination
of the New York Governor was in
a state of utter collapse. There re-
manned only the hope of sinking the
Smith craft in the platform COM
rnittee through the adoption Of A
dry plank so radical that Smith
might refuse to run on 1t. But
this. too, appeared a forlorn hope
for, as the Smith managers quickly
pointed out, If two-thirds of the
convention is for Smith it is reason.
able to expect that majority OF
the resolutions committee will also
be friendly to his wishes in building
the platform structure.
Headed by Roper
Leadership in the final drive
against Smith seemed to rest today
with Daniel c.. Roper, an old Nc
Adoo lieutenant, who was Internal
Revenue commissioner in the Will
son administration, an ardent dry
and skilled politician. Roper's
room in a downtown hotel was the
mecca for all the anti-Smith ele-
inents.
To it at various times during the
past twenty-four hours have gone
the anti-saloon league people, num-
erous friends of McAdoo-and even
Senator Jim" Reed, of Missouri
The aim, the purpose and the goal
of the dissenters was expressed by
Roper himself this morning as fol-
lows:
The elements of the convention
which are convinced of the necessity
of saving the Democratic p1rty
from notification of the Eighteenth
amendment, and from Tammany con-
troll of the Federal Government, are
in agreement upon the course OF
procedure to be followed in the
fight"
Not Entering Deals
The nature of that agreement"
and the course of procedure" was
not diYulged, either by Roper him.
self or by Senator Reed. who left
q conference there at 2 a. m. The
Missourian was in a belligerent
frame of mind as he climbed into a
taxicab with several of his man
ayers.
IT have entered into no coalition
combine or combination" ne
snapped, in reply to questions,
Missouri is here for only one thing
to get all the votes we can.
1--WE are entering no deals in
volving the presidency, possible
cabinet posts or anything else"
This last remark referred to the
activities Of the Smith managers
While the allies have been busy
cooking up trouble for the New