Evening star., 1931-12-20
SWING TO RITCHIE GIVES
IMPETUS TO 1882 FIGHT
Support of Hemphill, Prominent Penn.
svlvanian Sends Governor Off
to Good Start.

been followed by demonstrations Of sup
port. The support comes chiefly from
the conservatives among the Democrats,
from those who are at once conserva-
tive and wet
There has always been high poten-
tlality IN Gov. Ritchies candidacy.
Had his long record Of successful gov
ernorship taken place in New York in
stead OF Maryland, there would be less
doubt about his leadership. Maryland
is small State with only eight cleo
toraI votes, compared to New Ycrk's
45. Also, because New York State hap
pens TO contain New York CITY. il re-
suits that the Governor CT New York
gets into the news all over the country
as the Governor Of Maryland does not.
Mr.. Rltchie has been not only Governor
OF MARYLAND for longer continuous
period, II years. than any other Cover
nor of that State. he has been a Gov
efnor Tor a greater continuous period
and with greater number Of re-eleC-
lions than any other man who was ever
Governor Of any State in the Union
III there Is any exception TO this state
ment 1t would be eX-GOv. George w. P.
Hunt OF ArizonaJ That Maryland ha-
bltually seeks and obtains distinction
and ability in it's public men is further
testimony to Gov. Ritchie's quality.
Gov. Richie runs as a wet He was
probably the earliest exponent, among
men highly placed in the Democratic
party, Of the view that the prohibition
amendment is an invasion Of States
rights. In the sense Of holding this
view, Gov. Rltchie is strongly wet and
unequlVocally wet. In asking for the
PRESIDENTIAL nomination he necessarily
relies upon vets. II is the greater out
spokenness Of the Maryland Governor
on this question that CCnmends him to
much OF that wet support among the
Democrats of the North and East which
Gov. Roosevelt IS pretty clearly losing.
On this point, Mr Hemphill was very
plain He is Tor Gov Pitchie in part
because I think that the courage Of
Gov. Rtchie gives him a higher right
to the support Of PENNSYLVANIA than
the apparent vaCIllatlon Of Gov. Roose-
veIt on the prohibition issue"
Candidacy Placed.
All this is not 10 say that Gov.
Rltchle IS going TO win the Democratic
presidential nomination. 1t is n-t 70
say that Gov Roosevelt is eclipsed in
the race. What this does mean, coupled
with some other developments. is that
Gov Roosevelt. TO a concrete ana meas
urable degree, is ceaSL.g to be primarily
the candidate of the North and East,
and in something like the same propor-
ton is becoming the candidate of the
South and West
The whole Of the Democratic pic
ture, in its latest phase. can begin as
we'll as not with the status of Gov
ernor Roosevelt. He is still the lead
ing candidate. He vii continue to
be. if not the, at least Z" leading
candidate. That status is insured to
~
New York
1t is apparent now that Governor
Roosevelt will not march on to a prac-
tically unopposed victory He will not
be allowed to get the nom ination in
the bag" before the convention opens.
The nomination will be held in sus-
pense, and ultimately will be made by
meeting Of minds on the part Of
leaders.
Roosevelt Important
When those leaders get together in a
room 10 estimate what is best to do in
order to assure victory in tie Gle ion,
there IS one fact about Governor Rose
welt, ore asset Of his. that they will
take into account. to which the Will
give much weight: Franklin Roosevelt
is Governor Of the largest State IN the
Union. In that State he has proved
4444l4So44 SILOIIS NOLe-s 'LlbI, HEeSuIn-
ably-though of course this is not GER
taln-Roosevelt can cone nearer to
carrying the largest State against the
Republican candidate in the preslden-
tlal election than any other Demo-
cratic nominee.
That fact about Roosevelt the leaders
will remember even after the dry cnes
have regretted that he is wet and the
wet ones have complained that he is
not wet enough.
Only two conditions can arise 10
offset this permanent advantage that
goes with Roosevelt II is Just possible
that by next Summer the Democratic
going may be so good Tor the Demo-
cratic leaders may think it Is SO good
as to persuade then that thev can
carry New York with any fairly strong
candidate That state Of mind if it
should arise. might cause the lea.ers
70 dismiss this greatest Of Governor
Roosevelt's assets.
Also. there is one other State for
which both parties bid almost as siren
uously as they bid fer New York. Next
TO New York, almost more than New
YORK, party leaders court the favor OF
Ohio. Other things being anywhere
near equal. the Democratic leaders
might reason that it is as much TO
tner advantage 10 name a candidate
VINO gives promise of carrying Ohio as
one VINO gives promise OF carving New
\ orH. And II is certain now that there
Is gong to be in the Democratic pic
ture Strcng candidate from Ohio, in
the person of Newton D Baker.