The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-13
SATURDAY, JUNE 1s, 1881
After Hoover, What?

5AtF VII 0SS oSSuAAPbOA ti1oS T ASSiueuI 4AO0NeL will be the next nominee of the republican party for the presidency it is safe to say that he stands the best chance of any of the men, toned candidates democratic or republican. to be elected. Barring accidents he will be nom- mated by the republican party in lo32. His nomination will make him two to one fav- orite to defeat the democratic candidate anyone at all. That is safe prediction. In few instances has the republican party turn ed away from its president to nominate an- other man in his place. In few instances has the president serving his first term failed of reelection.
 Therefore we have made no radical statements above. Nor do we think it going too far to state that when and if President Hoover has served four more years in the White House the party is at crossroads where wrong turn may send 1t into state of abandonment. After Hoover. what? What indeedl Has the republican party given any thought to the future? It can't succeed Mir Hoover with Senator Dwight Morrow or Governor Pinchot. The first is too wet. the second too antagonistic to the forces that finance the republican party through its try ing and expensive campaigns. And yet these two gentlemen loom as the logical sucee ssors to Mr Hoover.
 There is Senator George Norris with his third party threat in the ofing. There are two more LaFoletts still to be heard from in the presidential ring They might go farther than their father. Fighting Bob." did in 1924 when he certainly aided in keeping John w. Davis out of the White House if any factor did. We don't say the democratic candidate would have been elected in 1924 if the race was just between Calvin Coolidge and John w. Davis, but the third party was more disastrous to the democratic cause than the republican. In the event that President Hoover remains the mouthpieee of his party until 1856 there is due pronounced split in republican ranks. Wet and dry lines will be drawn. government ownership will be arrayed against private enterprise.
 Keeping this in mind it behooves the dem- oeratic party to build its bridges well in 1932. The national convention of next year can be one of the greatest in the history of the demo- cratic party. It remains for the leaders to exercise little judgment in selecting the can- didates to make the run in 1852. There Is good chance for the democratic party to win in 1852. Despite the defeat of ex-Governor Alfred E. Smith in 1928 the party isn't doomed to eternal disappointment. It merely needs to fasten its chariot to the right star. Personally we think the sooner the demo- cratic party comes out for prohibition repeal the better of the party will be as whole. The issue won't down in either major party. The first one to face it squarely will be the gainer thereby.
 The history of the democratic party is closely bound up with the history of the United States. It will continue to be for many years to come. Its doctrines are too firm ly entrenehed in the minds of men to be blown away like ehaff before the wind. Claude Bowers advocates return to Jefer- sonian principles. We think he's right. It's got to be soon. It doesn't demand an about-face maneuver. It means that we must tighten our party lines. demand the candidate who fits the description. The democratic future is bright, We have no crisis to face in few more years. Why not make the most of our opportuni- ties? It would be foolish not to cash in our chips now that the game is about to end.