Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-24
Political Window Dressing

| xUlII1cdl WlHuoW dressing,
The New York Democratic State Con
vention, to be held in Syracuse Monday
is to be graced by the party's topliners
Two former presidential candidates ar,
TO play principal parts. And, if many OF
the party leaders are to be believed, TIT
! nominee of the convention for Cover,
nor Of New York will be the party's presi.
Dental candidate in 1882. Certsinl,
everything possible is being done Il
give the Kew York State Convention ar
| impressive and national prominence
which, under ordinary circumstances
would scarcely be warranted when it is
known in advance just who the nominee
will be and what the party platform will
contain.
John W. Davis, the party standard
bearer in 1924, has been selected to be
permanent chairman of the State con-
vention. Alfred z. Smith, the party.
nominee for President in 1928, is draft
ing the spesch with which ne will nom.
mate Franklin D. Roosevelt for re-elec-
self, If he wins the gubernatorial cleo.
ton in November, will be the most
talked-of possibility for the presidential
nomination two years herce.
1t is entirely fitting that former Gov
Smith should place Gov. Roosevelt ir
nomination. On three occasions, in 1920
1924 and 1928, Franklin D. Roosevelt
has placed before Democratic Nationa
Conventions the name of Alfred E
Smith for the presidential nomination
the last time successfully. 1t was at the
behest of Gov. Smith two years ago that
Roosevelt finally agreed to become can
didate for Governor in New York. That
Roosevelt won while New York was 60.
ing for Herbert Hoover is one of the
eccentricities of politics.
Although the party nomination fol
President is still two years in the future
it is becoming increasingly apparent
that the leaders of the Democratic ma
tional organization are in sympathy witt
the selection of a candidate who favors
amendment. This does not mean that
the dry Democrats are to take the SIT
uation lying down. Indeed, already there
Is the suggestion that Senator Joseph r.
Robinson of Arkansas, Democratic leader
Of the Senate and vice presidential nom
inee in 1928, is to be the rallying post OF
the drys at the Democratic convention
in 1882. The drys lacked such a leader
at Houston in 1928 There was a pleth-
ora of minor candidates, but none on
whom all the dry forces could center to
head on the nomination of the wet Mr.
Smith. Senator Robinson's hat has al
ready been cast in the ring by the Dem
ocratic State Convention of Arkansas
The prominence now being given the
coming nomination Of Gov. Roosevelt at
Syracuse may be taken as the reply OF
the vets to the first blow, struck by the
drys at Little Rock not so long ago
Outside of Senator Robinson no dry
Democrats are prominently mentioned
for the presidency in 1882. When the
time rolls around there may be others
For example, Cordell Hull, former Ma
tional COMMITTEES chairman, will be a
member of the Senate from Tennessee
at the time. He may have following.
1t IS somewhat unfortunate for the dry
wing OF the Democratic party that the
feeling still exists that the nomination
OF Southerner for President would be
little short of political suicide for the
party. The drys in the party appear to
be concentrated just now in the South
Even in the West the Democratic or
CARNATIONS are as general thing wet
in sentiment. If the nomination Of a
Southerner is ruled out practically al
the start, there seems little chance for a
dry nomination for President in 1892.
Arkansas is Western. hut it is also con-
sidered Southern, when the roll of
States is called.
On the other hand, the proponents
Of repeal have already a considerable
list from which TO choose their presi-
Dental candidate-RooseveIt of New
York, Ritchie of Maryland, Reed OF
Missouri, Buckley of Ohio, provided he
be elected Senator this year, and
finally, Smith OF New York. The for
, mer Governor still holds a warm place
| in the affections of the Democratic
party. 1t is to be remembered. too
that even though he lost he polled up
| ward of fifteen million votes in the last
election. Gov. Smith, whose views
on prohibition have now been echoed
by Gov. Roosevelt, may prefer to back
his old friend and supporter for ths
nomination, rather than make the
race again himself Certainly Mr.
Smith is likely to have a good deal tc
say in the next national convention
when it comes to picking the presi.
dental nominee. It is true that Sen.
ator Robinson, who fought Loyalty anc
shoulder to shoulder with Smith in tn,
1928 campaign, may have a call upor
the gratitude of the former Governor
of New York as well as Gov. Roosevelt
The success or failure of wet candidate
for office this FAN may have some,
thing to do with the final judgment o
the party in 1882.
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