Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05
Southern States Are Chiefly the Scene of
Pre- Convention Political Activities

take a wet candidate, perhaps under
protest, if he is a Protestant.
OF the many definite, tangible devel-
opmentS of the last few days, which
have come with amazing swiftness, the
outcome of the Nationwide poll, as
made by Jesse I. Stratus, prominent New
York merchant, is perhaps the most
important, as it is the most iluminat-
ing, indicating, as it does, the drift Of
straWS in the political winds.
Mr.. Straus canvaSsed the delegates
and alternateS to the Houston conven-
ton in 1928, asking their preference for
q candidate in 1882. The vote gave
Gov. Roosevelt of New York 478 bal
lots, Alfred E. Smith of New York 125,
owen d. Young of New York 10, Gov.
Ritchie of Maryland SO, Senator Joseph
T. Robinson of Arkansas SO, Newton d.
Baker of Ohio So, James A. Reed of
Missouri Is, and Is other prospective
candidates fewer than 10 votes each.
= X X
Gov. Roosevelt maintained uniform
lead in nearly all States among the
men and women who nominated Smith
in 1928 and a large number Of whom
will be in the next convention. He was
as strong in the South as in other sec
tons, despite the fact that he is a pro-
nounced wet, that he was reelected by
record-breaking majority as a wet
and must run as a wet TO hold his
Eastern strength. Roosevelt is making
a strong bid Tor the South, spending his
vacations in Georgia, where he is de-
veloping a health colony, and from
which point radiates much activity on
his behalf. The vote for Smith in the
Eastern States has given the Southern
and Western leaders something OF a
chill.
The Straus poll puts three New York
ers at the head OF the Democratic list
and the significant thing is that it gives
Gov. Roosevelt more votes than Smith
and Young combined. That fact sus-
tainS the belief of his friends that
Roosevelt can be nominated without the
united support of the New York dele
cation ana in the event of a break
with Tammany and Smith. Tine New
York politicians do not know what Mr..
Smith has in mind for the future. He
has given them no indication of his po-
lttical intentions. He is credited with
leaning toward owen D. Young, sharing
the view OF John j. Raskob, national
chairman, as the alternative if he has
no chance for nomination.
The New York situation is much con-
fused at present. Mayor Walker and
aAAAAA4allJ dAC uilAlCA l1iG d1ll tIlE 4CAG-
tons between the city and the State
capital are somewhat tense. This has a
direct and important bearing on the
national situation and the next nomi-
alton, as involves the State delegates,
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Raskob.
Silent on the subject of candidates,
Jouett ShouSe, chairman of the Demo-
cratic Executive Committee and the 60
getter Of the party, heads into the West
for what he announces is the unofficial
opening Of the 1882 campaign. He will
go to the coast, comforting with State
leaders across the continent strength
ening local organizations and building
party fences. He states that he Is
more interested in issues than can
didateS.
The all-important subject of issues is
secondary in this period of formation
and construction, when organization
work comes first. The leaders, National
and State, are more concerned in set
ting up the machinery for the pre-
convention campaign than anything
else. Issues will be determined later by
candidates and circumstances.
Copyright, 1879