The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-28
FAvORITE SONS
SENTIMENT BAR
TO ROOSEVELT
Poll Shows 402 Delegates
Pledged to Home Pet
Candidates.
BY PAUL r.. MALLON
United Press Stan Correspondent

ACODNIlAut. 1891 DN OulbeQ FEeSSt
WASHINGTON, Dec. pa grad
ual and generally unsupported
growth Of favorite son sentiment has
lodged a major obstacle in the
Democratic presidential path Of
Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Fourteen states have in prospect
the selection of 402 delegates pledged
for favorite sons, it was disclosed
today in poll of political expert
opinion conducted by the United
Press.
The poll totals show:
Roosevelt, 400.
Favorite sons, 400.
Doubtful, 296.
Necessary for nomination, 734.
The figures are based upon pres
ent-day prospects for selection of
convention delegates. Confidential
opinions of various state representa-
tives now in Washington were re-
lied upon in the main. congressman
contributed most of the private in
formation upon which the alloca-
tons were made.
Not Conclusive Evidence
While the survey is not conclusive
evidence of how state delegations
will be assigned in June, it does rep
resent possibly the best available
judgment at this time.
Among the striking conclusions
disclosed we're:
Roosevelt has the northwest and
part of the south we'll lined up, but
only three states now in prospect
east of the Mississippi river and
north of the Mason-Dixon line
New York, Connecticut and Mich
igan)
In faYorite son states and some
doubtful states, he has gained sec
ondary strength which will increase
his total materially after the first
Skirmishing ballots are cast in the
conventions. For instance Virginia,
Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas and
North Carolina are listed in the ia
vorite son category, but they contain
latent Roosevelt prospects.
In the doubtful column, Roosevelt
is agreed to have a good chance to
get Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Penn
sylvania, New Mexico and Indiana.
With all this incipient strength,
Roosevelt could climb we'll above a
simple majority, but two-thirds is
required for nomination. His abil-
ity to get two-thirds still is left
problematical by the poll.
Alfalfa Bill Strong
Favorite sons are conceded pros
poets which give them thirty-five
votes more than enough to stop
Roosevelt. However, this is a nu-
merical fact which does not take
into consideration the psychological
advantage which would accrue to
Roosevelt, if his maximum delegate
strength is realized, in doubtful
states or the additional fact that
he has secondary strength among
the favorite sons.
The secondary strength of Gov
ernor Alfalfa Bill Murray outside
his home state, Oklahoma, was sur
prising. In Kansas, Iowa and Colo
RADIO, a substantial measure of farm
support for him was found.
The table of figures likewise fails
to reveal the strong undercurrent
which has been stirred up in many
localities for Newton D. Baker of
Ohio. In Indiana Kansas, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Kentucky and some
other southern states his name was
mentioned widely. The feeling was
expressed that if he should become a
candidate after the early balloting,
he could expect greater swing of
unpledged strength than is evident
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