Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-14
BY. C. Could Lincoln.

cussion at the Institute of Public Al.
fairs, meeting at Charlottesville, Va.
The publication Of Gov. Smiths auto
biography. up to Now" also has
brought abaut no little talk Of the posi-
bility Of hts denomination In 1882. In
| deed, the title of his autobiography sug-
gestS that the former Governor OF new
York may have very definite ideas for
the future. But, whether he has or not,
Gov. Smith is saying nothing about
| them, and II he Is bent on seeking to
| stage a comeback" in the field OF major
| politics, as some OF his friends believe,
| he Is wisely awaiting the turn OF events
before making any announcement OF
his plans.
But whatever the hopes of Gov.
! Smiths friends may be for his renorni-
! nation, there are leaders of the dennoc-
| great positiveness that he will not again
be the nominee of the Democratic party
Tor President. They add corollary, and
| say that If he Is the party nominee in
| 1882 the entire South will either go Re
publican or 1t will set up an independ
| ent Democratic ticket and cast its cleo
toral votes for that candidate. These
Democrats would much prefer the latter
course. For by following such course
the solid South" in line for the
democracy of the future. On the other
| hand, Ii they placed an independent
Southern Democratic ticket in the field,
| or even nominated dry Democrat from
the West or North as their candidate,
the Democratic party might become 30
badly split that IL would disintegrate
and give place to new political align
ment.
The Democratic national convention
still has the wo-thirds rule for nomi-
nation OF candidates for President. The
Southern Democrats feel that they will
be strong enough, aided by some Of the
party leaders in the West, to stop"
Gov. Smith should his name be put
forward seriously in the 1882 conven-
ton. Last year. at Houston. the South
ern Democrats acquiesced in the nomi-
nation OF the popular New York gov
ernor, though It was against their bet
ter judgment. All the border States
were lost to the ticket and four of the
dyed-in-the-wo Democratic States Of
the solid South" The Democratic
leaders, who have been accustomed to
carrying these States Of the South as
regularly as clockwork. say they have
had enough. Mr.. Smith, they declare.
!, mad his day and they do not mean to
prolong it. This comes from men who
gave their support to the former Gov
crnor of New York openly and whole
heartedly during the last campaign.
Assuming for the moment that these
Southern Democrats-and some of their
western colleagues are equally en-
phatic-are correct in their judgment
and That the presidential nomination
OF their party will not go to Mr.. Smith
In 1882, the question arises:
II not Smith, who will be the party
nominee?"
1t is early to neutrality-suspicious. far
too early. But there is no doubt that
some Of the Democratic leaders ALREADY
are casting round for a Moses to lead
them out Of the wilderness. The
names which they mention in their
discussions are those of Gov. Franklin
d. Roosevelt Of New York. who carried
the Empire State last year when it was
giving It's electoral vote to President
Hoover over Mr.. Smith Owen D.
young. also OF New York State: Sena-
tor Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas.
Democratic leader of the Senate. who
was Smiths running mate in the last
campaign: Newton D. Baker of Ohio.
former Secretary of War in the Wilson
administration, and Senator Thomas
j: walsh OF Montana, q Catholic but
also an ardent dry.
Naturally there are many "ifs" con.
nected with the chances of any of those
mentioned for the presidential nom.
nation. Gov. Roosevelt. for example.
must be reelected chief executive of
MS state next year If he is to be seri-
ously. considered for the nomination
HIS health, fortunately, has been on
me mend. But that, too. presents en-
element OF chance. Owen D. Young
looms IN the public eye today as the
=
tons and debts of the nations Of
europe. and also as an eminent Ameri.
can business man. His candidacy has
oeen advanced in a number Of the
southern States already. On the other
hand. 1t has been intimated in sonoe
quaItefs That his connection with tho
eiects1cal power development NAV act
as oeterfent when It comes to pick.
ing presidential candidate,
Tne Democrats who urge the NOM
t t;s OF senator Robinson call atten-
tion to his long public career and bis
| success as Democratic leader ~ ~.
| senate. He has been on the firing
me Tor the party for years. He might
wen De expected to win the support of
| friends OF Gov. Smith. whom he n
loyalty aided In the last Campaign. II
Is the custom, they say, for big or
carnations to promote men to vacancies
| at the head Of those organizations who
nave served In many capacities in the
go for political organizations as we'll &c
those Of big business. Senator Robin.
son has been q member Of the General
assembly OF his own State, has been a
presidential elector and electoral mes
senger. a Representative in Congress-
Governor OF Arkansas, a Senator OF the
United States, and, finally. the party
candldate for Vice President. He has
led his party on the floor Of the SEN
ate Tor eight years. The only other
sSep nc, Ior nun to take, they say, is into
| some OF the Democrats Of the West
Ike the thought Of running Newton D.
Baker OF Ohio for President. They look
on him as q Progressive who would
have the solid support of the Democrats
who followed Woodrow Wilson. They
cite his great ability, and believe he
has not so far retired from the field
| OF politics that he cannot be brought
back successfully. The West also has
| possible candidate In the person of
Senator Walsh Of Montana, q Progress
sive. dry, and one of the most prom
inent figures in the party.
~ ~
New Jersey Republican leaders are
striving to frame q slate that will fit
after Senator Walter e. Edge shall have
shaken the dust of the senatorial
chamber from his feet and gone to Paris
10 represent the United States there as
Ambassador to France. David Baird, jr.,
| one of the most active of the younger
political leaders of the State. seems to
be the choice of many of them. Sena-
tor Edges term of Office expires ordi-
narily March 4, 1881. His successor
must be elected next year. But the
governor will appoint his immediate
| successor soon after Senator Edge re-
signs from the Senate to 90 to France