Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-26
ROOSEVELT BOOM
APPEARS GROWING.
Recent Developments En-
nance New York Governors
r Chance for Nomination.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


for the Democratic presidential noni-
nation in 1882 Is little short OF anaz-
ing, in the eyes of Democratic politi-
clans in washington. AS they view 1t
today. the Roosevelt movement has al
most assumed band-wagon proportions.
Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt OF New
York occupies now practically the same
position in the race for the Democratic
nomination for Chief Executive that
former Gov. Alfred E. Smith Of New
York occupied back in 1927. In one
way. his chances for the nomination at
this time appear even better than olo
Smiths in 1927. The Southern Demo
cratic leaders are more whole-hearte0Iy
for him. They believe he can win next
year. About Smith they always had
their doubts, and many OF them be-
Neved he would lose.
Barton of Atlanta, chairman OF the
Executive Committee Of the Anti
saloon League of America and
leader In the anti-Smith fight In the
South in 1928, has just issued state
ment urging dry Southern Democrats
10 grid their loins to fight the nomina--
tion of Gov. Roosevelt on the ground
that Roosevelt Is wet But this state-
ment by Dr. Barton merely serves 10
emphasize the fact that Roosevelt Is
the outstanding candidate OF the Demo-
Gratis for the nomination TO-DAY.
Roosevelt Strength Grows.
Several things have happened within
&ba last few DAYS, in addition to the
Rarton statement, to give impetus to
the Roosevelt boom, among them peing
the interview with the astute ana sui
nowerful former Democratic national
committeeman for PennSylvanla. joseph
p Guffey, who declared that 66 OF the
~ delegates PENNSYLVANIA sends to the
national convention next year would De
whole heartedly for Roosevelt. Another
was the statement made in New YORK
nv ''Tony" Cermak, the new Demo-
cratic boss and mayor OF Chicago, tnat
Roosevelt was wet enough" 1or the
Democrats of Illinois. Cermak went
further and said after long tax WIN
All Smith that the former Governor
would not be a candidate for the nom
nation and that smith was genefany
friendly to Roosevelt
When it is added that Massachusetts
Democratic leaders, including Senator
David 1. Walsh and Mayor James Cur
lev of Boston, are friendly to the can
didacy of Gov. Roosevelt, although the
former insists that the first love OF the
Democrats of Massachusetts, Is Al
Smith, the favorable prospects OF RooSe-
Welt are still further enhanced. These
two Democrats of Massachusetts were
quests at a luncheon which Col. Edward
H House of Wilson administration
fame gave for Gov Roosevelt not long
ago at his North Shore Summer home.
The Roosevelt boom really had its
inception months ago in the West and
In the South. Senator Wheeler OF Mon
tana was one Of the first to climb
aboard the bandwagon. Senator Dill
of Washington is working for the NOM
nation of Roosevelt. Even the Repup-
Ncan insurgents in the West, through
Senator George w. Norris OF Nebraska,
have given the New York Governor a
boost, Norris declaring his admiration
for Roosevelt because Of his stand on
the waterpower question, and asserting
that what is needed in the White House
els another Roosevelt"
Has Support Of South.
Southern Democratic Senators and
members of the House are particularly
friendly to the New York Governor, who
was largely responsible for heading on
John ]. Raskob chairman Of the Demo-
cratic National Convention, in his effort
last March to have the National Com
mittee go on record as favoring plank
in the 1882 Democratic platform favor
ing a return of the control Of the liquor
traffic to the States. Roosevelt has for
years been spending part Of his time
In the South, in an effort to regain the
complete use of his legs, following an
attack of infantile paralysis IN 1921.
Today most of these Southern Demo-
cratic leaders say in confidence that
they are for the nomination OF Roose-
welt and they are confident he will be
nominated and elected. Senator Cara
way of Arkansas has declared himself
for Roosevelt if his colleague, Senator
Robinson, is not nominated.
There Is reason to believe that the
Democratic leaders in New York who
at one time were inclined to be divided
over the RooSevelt-for-Pr President boom,
are getting together more and more.
Owen D. Young and AL Smith have
their adherentS for the nomination.
But the advantage seems to be clearly
with the present Governor in the En-
pire State. Senator Robert F. Wagner
of New York, it is believed, will at the
proper time announce his support of
the Roosevelt candidacy. Wagner's
strength in New York's democracy Is
very considerable.
Reports from West Virginia line up
leading Democrats. among them Glen
Shaver, former Democratic national
chairman, for the Roosevelt nomination
also.
Others Are in Field.
The Democratic nomination for Pres
3dent next year Is not likely to go by
dGfault, however. There will be other
candidates with delegates In the ma
tional convention besides Gov. Roose-
welt, among them Gov Albert c. Richie
Of Maryland, whose name has been put
forward at three earlier national con-
ventionS and Senator Joe" Robinson
Of Arkansas, Democratic leader of the
Senate Newton D. Baker of Ohio, Sec
rotary of War under the Wilson admin
1stration, Is regarded as perhaps the
strongest Of the lot Of possible candi-
dates against Roosevelt. But so far
Baker has declined to lift finger. The
torially to prevail upon Mr.. Baker to
get into the race, and to seek the Ohio
delegation to the national convention.
Mr.. Baker has been holding back. II
the Ohio delegation Is not pledged to
Baker, then 1t may go instructed for
Gov. White. Ohio is one Of nearly a
score of States which hold presidential
preferential primaries. OF course, Gov.
Roosevelt will be at liberty to enter the
primary in the Buckeye State If he de-
Sires, against any "favorite son" candi-
date, just as President Hoover entered
the primary against the late Senator
Frank B. Willis in that State in 1928.
A lot will depend upon how far the
Roosevelt boom has gone by that time
and whether Ohio Democrats in large
and important numbers have declared
their personal preference for the New
York Governor.
In less than year from today the
Democratic nomination for President
will have been made. Much may hap
pen in the IL months before the Demo-
Gratis assemble in national convention.