Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12

IL SeeQlS IdlT 10 say LIldb eoLllJA was
able TO bring to the polls for the Demo-
cratic ticket at least 5000 900 voters,
who, II any one other than Smith had
been the candidate, would have voted
the Republican ticket or stayed at
home. It viii be objected, at this point,
that some of Smiths vote in the 1928
election came to him as a result Of his
religion. But If 80 that must have been
balanced by the vote that went away
from him on account Of his religion.
Smiths following of 5,00o,o0 Is not
ex-religion, as they say on the Stock
Exchange.
Voters Still Loyal.
These 100000 voters were and are
personal to Smith They were his in
1928 and they are his today. None of
Smiths following has fallen away from
him. More likely it has increased.
Such following as Smith has is not
merely political asset; it is also re-
sponsibility. 1t is not a set Of pawns
that the owner can use as he wishes
(although much political thinking-and
figuring-assumes it Is like that. A
man does not, as rule, get such q
following as Smiths without deserving
1t. And to keep such a following he
must go on deserving It, A mans fol-
lowing comes to look upon him as a
symbol, as meaning certain standards
and points Of view, as perSonifying GER
tain policies. And the man who be-
comes a symbol must do what the SYM
Dol stands for in the minds Of his
followers; he must do what his fol-
lowers expect Of him--or lose the fol-
lowing
The query Is, what will Smith do with
his following in the coming contest for
the Democratic presidential nomination,
in the convention where the nominal
ton is made-and after the nomination
is made-in the election?
May Run Second Time.
The common notion is that a man
IN Smiths position uses it TO try to
get his partys nomination for the
Presidency-as Bryan did again and yet
again, and TO a less degree as Presi-
dent Roosevelt did in 1912. For this
assumption about what Smith is likely
to do the basis is, so to speak, the
average expectation Of human nature.
The assumption is that the human ma
ture of political leaders conforms to the
familiar law, and that, therefore, Smith
will do what Bryan and Roosevelt and
others have done. There are straight
thinking persons who firmly believe
this; IL would be quite easy TO get bets
lIOIu financially solvent persons tndI
Smith will go after the presidential
nomination-and get II.
1t may be so. 1t may be that either
Smiths conscious purpose, or a sub
conscious impulse more compelling than
overt purpose, will lead Smith TO try
TO grasp the presidential nomination
a second time. If it Is so, one can
comprehend and sympathize There are
reasons and motives TO urge him on.
Might Poll More in '32.
Among other reasons there is strong
Justification for Smith believing that
as q candidate in 1882 he would get
more votes and carry more States than
he did in 1928. He would get more
because in 1882 he would have the ad-
mittedly great advantage accruing to
the Democratic candidate in 1882 as a
Hesult of the business depression.
The wish to better a record, when
the obvious opportunity to better it is
In sight, is one of the most powerful
motives that ever moves any of us.
especially when, as in Smiths case, the
FIRST record was not very thrilling. The
practically sure chance Of lettering his
first record would be sufficient motive
10 lead most men TO try the second
time. And II Smith should start To
brood upon the very great likelihood