Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-18
POLITICAL UNREST
IN MAJOR PARTIES
Early Bids of Hoover and
Roosevelt for Leadership
Challenged by Foes.
BY BYRON PRICE.
BY the Associated Press.

New STRINGS Of political unrest, agi-
tating Republican and Democratic pre-
cinctS alike, are challenging the early
bids of President Hoover and Gov.
Roosevelt of New York for the leader
ship Of their respective parties in 1882.
Nearly all of the practical politicians
still think Mr.. Hoover will be renom-
mated, and is as likely as not to have
Mr.. Roosevelt as his Democratic oppo-
nent. But it now is recognized that
neither will escape organized oppo' Jon
Of strength still to be determined.
Former President Coolidge's renun-
citation has not Stilled the anti-Hoover
Republicans, but has diverted their
activities into new channels. The cam
paign for Roosevelt has encountered a
widening circle of counter-endeavorS,
plus a recommendation by former Gov.
Smith that one Of the Roosevelt con-
stitutional amendments in the New
York election be thrown out Of the
window by the voters.
Hard Political Winter.
A large number of State organiza
tons, in both parties, are in a condi-
ton of studied hesitation. With the
business situation unsettled and Con-
gress of uncertain proclivities about to
inset, men and measures must pass
through the test Of hard political
Winter before single convention dele
gate is chosen.
So far as actual commitments are
concerned, many State leaders are sub
jecting all candidates. to the thunders
Of complete silence.
President Hoover has the advantage
OF friendly national party organiza-
ton. His denomination is in the cards
If the party is TO follow the precedent
Of half century The appeal of Mr..
Coolidge for precedent and regularity Is
echoed widely among the Old Guard.
Mr.. Hoover's opponents concede that If
he can be beaten for denomination, 1t
will be only after a stubborn, uphill
battle.
The opposition to him takes two di-
rectionS. One group. under the cap
taincy of Horace Mann, the Hoover
Southern manager in 1928. Is making
an organized effort to harvest delegates
instructed for others or else uninStruct-
ed. Most of the party stalwarts greatly
discount this movement. but 1t is con-
tinuing with energy both in the South
and elsewhere.
Opposition in West.
The other wing of the opposition, I'M
organized and diverse, centers among
the Western Senators and others who
have adopted the name of ProgresSives.
They are talking privately of many can
didates, but show no present prospect
of agreeing on any one. Like the Mann
movement. the objective seems to be to
keep as much delegate strength as pos
sible in dissent in the hope that win
ming combination may be found even
tually.
In this group IS Borah of Idaho. one
of the Hoover campaignerS in chief in
1923. He remains in the solitude of
great silence about 1882, although he
is talking freely about many other
things. while "Borah-for- President
Clubs are being organized in Idaho and
even so far east as Virginia.
Another who is keeping his own
counsel on politics is Hiram Johnson,
though he spoke openly enough day
or two ago in opposition to Hoover
foreign policies.
Meantime, the Hoover managers
themselves are not idle. A we'll or
gsnized denomination campaign, di-
rected largely by Hoover Californians,
is on the hunt for delegates.
Roosevelt Gets Early Start.
Among the Democrats, the boom for
Roosevelt got such start during the
Summer that some of his partisans
now say it's all over, and are issuing
invitations to seats on the bandWagon.
Roosevelt for President Clubs" are
functioning in many States. from coast
to coast. although no publicly organized
central headquarters has been estab-
lished.
There are plenty Of Democrats how
ever. who say it is still anybody's race.
A constantly growing circle of other
candidates., too, is bottling up poten-
tial delegate strength behind favorite
sons. 1t takes tWo-thirdS OF the dele
gates to nominate in Democratic con-
ventior. and whenever one-third of the
total can be kept in state of mobility,
anything is possible, even. at the last
minute
Roosevelt has the advantage of being
the only Democratic aspirant for whom
a campaign is in progress in any ma
tional sense. There is widespread talk
of Newton D. Baker, but no co-ordi-
mated movement has appeared.
Among the Roosevelt followers, In
quirers are reminded of the political
adage that You can't beat somebody
with nobody" The past week has
seen, however, an appreciate expansion
didates heretofore claSsed merely as
"favorite sons" destined to receive
complimentary support without real
thought of nomination.
Richie Backers Busy.
In this group, Gov. Richie Of Mary
land has been speaking across the line
Ill Pennsylvania, and his hackers are
becoming active in several States.
Oklahoma's always interesting Gov.
Murray has been in conference with the
leaders of neighboring States. Former
Senator Reed of Missouri has been de-
ing some travelling and lot of private
comforting.
1t will require several months more
for flood waters to be drained from the
Yanptze Valley of China