Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-23
COALITION IS GOAL
OF SMITHS FOES.
Southern States to Fore in
Last-Ditch Campaign
Against Governor.

BY the Associated Press.
HOUSTON, Tex, June 23.-An at
tempt to organize a last-ditch fight
against the Smith forces in the Demo-
cratic national convention next week
was in full swing today In the face OF
confident expressions from the camp
of the New York Governor That the
battle for the presidential nomination
really was over and all that remained
was for the delegates to register Tor
mally their choice.
Bitter-end foes of Gov. Smith III the
solid South were sponsors OF the move
ment looking to a coalition of candi-
date with the hope of holding away
enough convention strength to prevent
his nomination on an early ballot.
They believe that If this could b. &C.
complished, the Smith phalanx wou'o
disintegrate.
Conferences to this end were maui
gurated yesterday and continued TO-DAY
Not all of the Southern states were
represented, as Louisiana already IS IN
the Smith column and party leaders
for one or two of the others froWned
upon any movement which might leao
to a renewal of the bitter fght OF Ioui
wears ago at Madison Square Garden.
Reed Bolsters Hopes.
The presence in the convention city
of Senator Reed of Missouri, VINO arrlV-
ed last night from Kansas City, gave
renewed hope of the Southern GROUP
that the tide might be turned oelore
the convention opens Tuesday OF al
at least before the balloting cts unoer
way Thursday or Friday. ,
Reed conferred with his poiitlcal al
visers. who informed him that apparent
ly only a vigorous and concentrated
drive could head of Smith, ana tna'
such a counter attack had been launcn-
ed by party leaders from the South. ne
gave no indication that he would aoan-
don his usual practice of playing a lone
hand.
The anti-Smith forces were further
heartened by a statement issued last
night by A. c. Sallee, personal repre-
sentative of Evans Woollen. Indiana
favorite son. that the Hoosler state
delegation would remain "steadfastiy
and Loyalty behind" the Indianapolis
banker until a candidate Is chosen
by the convention"
The 90 delegates from Indiana. under
that States laws, cannot swing 10 any
other candidate until released by Wool
len The Smith opponents said the man
ayers of the New York governor had
counted on strength from Indiana in the
final drive to put Smith over.
Senator George Arrives.
Saliee's statement was issued almost
coincident with the arrival. not only OF
Reed. but also of Senator Walter r.
1R uyHn has tho in
dorsement of the delegation from his
own State and Is promised delegate
support from South Carolina, Florida
and Alabama, in addition.
George said his State delegation, not
only was instructed to vote for him, but
that the members individually had said
that they would stand by him as long
as his name was before the conven-
ton. He added that he did not believe
Gov. Smith would ever get any Georgia
votes for the nomination.
with the arrival of George and Reed
three presidential candidates were on
the ground, The third is Cordell Hull
Of Tennessee, who hes been here for
some days helping in arrangements FOL
the opening OF the convention Tuesday
After participating In conferences with
other leaders from the South. including
Daniel Roper. Internal Revenue Com
missioner in the administration OF
woodrow Wilson. and George Fort MIL
ton, publisher Of the Chattanooga
Tenn. News, Hull issued statement
declaring that he was decidedly op-
posed to anv modification or weaken
ing Of the present Federal prohibition
measures"
Seen Answer From South.
While this statement made no refer
ence to that issued recently by Gov
Smith at New York, to the effect that
he had not changed his belief that the
present prohibition provisions should be
amended, friends of the Tennessee Rep
resentative regarded 1t as an answer
from the South to the New York gov
errors declaration.
Despite the evidences of increased &C
tivity In the camps of the enemy, with
prohibition as the railying point. the
Smith lieutenants appeared confident
that nothing could stop their man, and
said they felt no concern over the stu
alton. They passed the word that the
New York governor would have around
TOO votes on the first ballot. and that
after the convention had been afforded
full opportunity to pass on the candi-
dacies of the favorite sons and others
he would quickly muster the necessary
1888 Ia votes.
The Smith forces, led by George r.
Van Nance. pre-convention campaign
manager. are hourly being augmented
by leaders from various parts of the
country. Among the late arrivals were
George w. Olvany, leader Of Tammany
Hall, and Representative John r. Carew
dean Of the Tammany delegation In
Congress.
Olvany, departing from his usual
course OF silence. declared Smith to be
the Abraham Lincoln of the sidewalks
Of New York and predicted not only his
nomination next week. but his election
In November. He said the matter oi
platform planks which New York might
present would be taken up at the caucus
Of the State delegation Monday night