Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05
Party to Oppose Nomination.
but Shift Is Seen if
Governor Wins.
TALK OF INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATE DISCOUNTED
Leaders Hold State Will Stick to
Houston Selection-Rift Looms
in Ranks of Republicans.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


COLUMBIA. S. c.. February A.
South Carolina is a ne-party State
the Democratic party.
Such Republican party as there Is has
for years Travelled around in the vest
pocket OF one man. Joseph w Tolbert.
who is Republican national committee
man and State chairman. all rolled into
one 1t does not figure in elections.
though II does in Republican national
conventions and the distribution of Fed
eral patronage.
The Democrats OF South Carolina can
do what they want with the electoral
vote for President and Vice President.
They face a different situation in the
year 1928 than do the Democrats OF
North Carolina and Virginia. In those
two States there is an appreciable num-
Der Of Republican voters, Here there Is
not. No one even dreams that the State
would go Republican If Gov Alfred E.
Smith Of New York were nominated for
President. 1t just couldn't be done. A
few thousand votes cast for the Demo-
cratic presidential nominee would set
tie the matter.
Now the Democrats of South Caro-
lima in large majority oppose the NOM
ination OF Gov. Smith. They don't
like his wetness. They don't like his
church affiliation. The State Is more
strongly Protestant than any other In
the Union. and the Baptist and the
Methodists predominant Yet the
Democrats here realize along with the
Democrats in other States that the
New York governor. II he remains in
the race. will have a great following in
the Houston convention next June, and
that he stands good chance OF nonii-
nation.
Expect Electoral support.
Gratis going 10 do about it? The fact OF
the matter Is. they haven't made up
their minds II the delegation remains
In the convention and does not bolt
after the nomination OF Smith, II that
occurs. the chances are that the elec-
toral vote OF South Carolina will be
cast next November for Gov. Smith.
Some of the leaders here say frankly
they do not believe that the delegation
will bolt the convention II Smith is
the party nominee.
Others are less willing 10 express
their opinions In this matter, An in
dependent dry Democratic candidate
for President against Smith and the
Republican nominee might carry the
State A third candidate would not
split the Democracy and permit a Re-
publican victory here as he might In
North Carolina and Virginia The State
will go Democratic in any event.
though under such conditions the
electoral vote OF South Carolina might
be lost to Gov Smith. and TO that ex-
tent help the Republican nominee.
Gov. Richards, who is allied with the
Senator Cole Blease faction of the
Democratic party. Is outspoken in his
opposition TO the nomination OF Smith
He makes no bones about the matter.
Evans Opposes Smith.
Il am against IT,. nomination of
Gov. Smith, Gov. RI gflie of Maryland.
or any other wet" The governor told
me. IF Gov. Smitt came from any
State other than New York. from a
State which has comparatively small
electoral vote. he would not now be
considered as candidate for the
Democratic nomination. There would
be no demand for him. ! do not be-
lieve In swapping principles for votes
Gov Smith Is opposed TO the principles
for which the democracy OF South
Carolina stands"
National Committeeman John Gary
Evans also Is opposing Smith strongly.
The Stat convention Is not held
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