Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-04
SMITH IN DILEMMA
OVER CANDIDACY
Faces Problem Of Backing
Roosevelt OF Seeking
Office Himself.
NJ DAVID LAWRENCE. =

The most embarrassed man in the
Democratic party b Alfred 3. Smith,
standard bearer IN 1928.
Hers and there expressions In favor
Of his candidacy IN 1882, are cropping
oct. Only this week John J. walsh.
chairman 81 the Democratic state Com
miittee IN the successful campaign last
year IL Coz. Gross Of Connecticut,
comes out with statement fapUftng
the denomination Of Mr. smith.
Over In New York fnefe are still
tales OF frictaon between Gov. Roose-
vet and Mr., Smith Lately there has
been 4 suggestion voiced that the only
inan wIl9 could 6tep Mr.. H0csevelt's
candidacy from getting too much head
way would be Al smith, and tnat the
sooner the latter did u the more chance
been contended that nobody else could
head on the Roosevelt candidacy exc
cent the former Governor of New York.
But in what position does this place
Al Smith? Perhaps no other phase Of
national politics Is as much discussed
BY the insiders as Al Smiths dilemma.
II he openly opposes Franklin u. Rooee-
welt and, declining to run himself, tries
TO swing his strength to Q candidate
other than Mr. Roosevelt would this not
lay him open TO the charge Of political
ingratitude? This Is something Al
Smith as On orthodox politician would
never care to have associated with his
political record.
ObIigatea 70 Roosevelt.
After all, Mr.. Roosevelt reluctantly
accepted the gubernatorial nomination
In 1878 and did 30 TO please Al Smith,
for whom he made D dramatic nominal
Ing speech at the 1874 convention ct
Houston and for whom he has been
steadfhstly campaigning since 1870,
when he placed Mr.. Smiths name in
nomination ct the Democratic National
Convention at San Francisco.
Al Smith has q right, OF course, TO
seek the nomination for himself. His
claims 30 the leadership Of the party
are more powerful than MT. Rocseyelts.
For in 1928 Mr.. Smith polled the
largest popular vote Democratic nOfni-
nee ever received for the presidency,
and were It not for the bolttng Of regu-
lar Democratic on the religious issue, the
friends Of Al Smith are convinced he
would hare been elected easily.
Any man who Is beaten on such an
issue finds It hard TO abandon his
chances 70 be chief executive Of q
democracy. II It is suggested to the
Smith leaders that prohibition really
defeated Al Smith, they point 70 the
charges that have occurred since 1923
In the very States where Al Smith
failed TO win the electoral vote-States
like New Jersey. New York and Illinois,
the winning OF which would have made
considerable difference In 1873.
Admirers Persistent.
The admirers Of Al Smith are not
really tracked. They want Al
Smith He himself may have ambitions
to try again, notwithstanding the fact
that among his friends are leaders who
insist Il would be fatal 70 raise the
religious issue once more.
so Al Smith IL embarrassed. II he
decides 70 run In his own behalf, he
will drive the arti-Smith Democrats be-
hind Roosevelt and cause them to ac-
his friend. II he decides TO allow the
use of his name TO block the Roosevelt
candidacy and transfer his strength to
somebody else, the antAgonisns devel-
oped out Of such o situation would have
their effect on the campaign to follow
the national conventions.
Mr. Smith knows better than anybody
else the importance OF party harmony.
He probably wants 10 see the party
triumphant more than any other man.
But he also knows Franklin Roosevelt.
and II he should happen 20 sympathize
with the idea that somebody else would
make . stronger candidate because Of
broader experience or any other rea>
son. he Is bound TO be condemned as
having deserted the man he himself
Endorsed for the goyernorship in two
campaigns So Al Smith. keeping his
own counsel, may solve his ersbarrass-
naent by saving nothing between now
and the Democrats National Conven-
ton. incidentally, this may explain his
silence thus far.