Evening star., 1931-12-20
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

TINE Democratic presidential stu
atlcn has passed definitely into
new phase. An outstanding
L sign OF 1t is the action OF a very
important Democrat, John
Hemphill OF Pennsylvania. in indorSing
Gov Albert Ritchie Of Maryland for the
nomination. The incident has signifi-
cance in its bearing on the Democratic
situation as whole. in the forward i'm
pulse 1t gives to Gov. Ritchie as
candidate and in its relation to the
man who thus speaks from the Penn
sylvania Democracy
Mr. Hemphlll'S Importance lies in the
elevation Of his standing as a man and
in the political record he has made in
pennsylvania. In 1880. as Democratic
candidate for Governor he came nearer
to carrying the great Republican State
OF pennsylvania than any other Dem
ocrat since 1890 In total vote of
2,O9l ,222. Mr Hemphill came within
23,260 OF winning. His achievement is
not materially modified by the fact
that his Republican opponent was Gift
ford Plnchot, which would account for
the detection Of some Republican votes.
Nor is Mr.. Hemphill's near-victory
materially modified by the fact that he
was the beneficiary of 74.753 votes from
a tIIAIu htL DdT<
In short, Mr.. Hemphill, BY the record
ne made in Pennsylvania in 1880. is
a very important Democrat nationally.
Had he won the Pennsylvania Cover
norshlp he would have been recognized
instantly as one Of the biggest two
or three Democrats in the country.
All the other Democratic victories in
that Democratic year-Massach chusetts.
Connecticut, IllinoiS-would have been
paled. Gov. Roosevelt of New York
owes much Of his availability for the
presidency to the fact that he carried
New York in 1880 But for a Democrat
to carry New York for Governor is no
tr!ck at all. Suppose Democrat Hemp
NIL had carried the State that has not
gone Democratic since 1890 and is the
second largest in the Union? Every
eye in the country would have been on
MN. He would have been today prob
ably the leading pOtentiality for the
Democratic presidential nomination
And Mr.. Hemphill only missed that
enormous distinction by a scant 23268
votes in total OF 2,09l ,222-missed il.
that is, by Just little over l per cent,
All Of which constitutes one of those
interesting might -have-beenS in poll
tics and history. about which it is
sometimes fascinating to reflect.
Has Fine Record.
Mr.. Hemphill is comparatively
young man. with a fine personal record
ana reputation ans an ancestral back
ground Of several generations in each
Of which his fcrbears have been local
judges in the same PENNSYLVANIA
county. He is grounded in the prin-
clpies OF craftsmanship as we'll as the
historical principles Of the Democratic
party, and he knows how to think with
eXactness and express himself clearly
Some twenty-four thousand more votes
for Mr.. Hemphill in the 1890 Pennsvl-
Vania election for Governor might have
mace some political history in the
Part Of the significance Of the thrust
ing forward of Gov. Ritchie of Mary
land in the Democratic presiden-
tial race through Endorsement of him
by Mr.. Hen,phill of Pennsylvania lies
IN the condition that Mr.. Hemphill
pelng the sort Of man he is. his words
mean what they say. When Mr.. Hemp
NIL says he regards Gov Ritchie
rs the most available candidate" for
me Democratic presidential .norina-
ton, as the one whose selection would
best serve the interests of the Demo
cratic party and the Nation when Mr.
HeIpElll says that he means lust that
and all Of that
The point is. this Endorsement from
Pennsy lvania is no mere bit of political
pyplay; 1t IS no part of any stop
Roosevelt movement. BY this approval
IRON: SO nigh source in PENNSYLVANIA
and by some other recent events Gov
Rltchie becomes, without any doubt a
major candidate for the Democratic
nomination.
The circumstances that give inonor-
tance and strength to Gov, Ritchie,s
candidacy begin with his intellectual
consistency as Democrat He knows
the traditional Democratic doctrine
about States rights. and as he inter-
pretS 1t he stands by it. He stands by
all OF it. He is for States rights on
the liquor question and he is also for
States rights on other questions in
Guiding particularly the regulation of
public utilities.
Admits Candidacy.
Gov Ritchie approaches the presi
GENITAL nomination in the manner of an
older and more candid day. He saws he
wants the nomination. Then. since he
feels that the leaders and voters who
VIII make the choice are entitled II
Know his position on public questions
he deliberately writes out his views in
a series Of carefully composed speeches
THESE speeches he delivers before audi
eneeS OF Democrats and others in Sc
!ected portions Of the country-Boston.
fAtSourSh. Chlcago. His appearances
ana MS eSpos!tlons CT his views have
n@-l NJ"