Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-07
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

Gov. Roosevelt, according to his en-
thusiastic press agents, already has the
Democratic presidential nomination
cinched The latest news from the
Roosevelt camp claims not alone his
nomination but claims it on the first
ballot, with a tabulation assigning to
him more than tWo-thirds Of the dele
gates to prove it. 1t is all over but the
shouting. The rush to the Roosevelt
bandwagon is pictured as a veritable
stampede. Such claims, however. are
subject to heavy discount in Washing
ton and in New York as well. The
scramble for the nomination is not over
yet. 1t has hardly started. The choice
Of next years Democratic convention
still rests in the lap Of the gods. Gov
Roosevelt has not yet openly broken
with Tammany Hall, and there is an
abundance of evidence that he has no
intention of doing so. The Southern
Democracy has not yet acquired any
real relish for Tammany-tagged presi-
dental aspirants. Al Smith is not yet
on the Roosevelt band wagon-not by
a long sight-nor Owen D. Young, nor
the trio Of Ohio stalwarts, Baker, Buck
ley and Cox, and so on down long
list Of Democratic notables, who will
WELD influence in greater or less de-
gree in party primaries, in party coun-
CHS dIlO III IIle WV
senatorial Washes. Richie, Robinson,
Pat Harrison, McAdoo, to name a few.
4 X X
Gov Roosevelt is not yet assured Of
the solid support Of the New York dele
CATION, much less the support Of two
thirds of the entire convention, either
on the first or any other ballot. 1t Is
a common assumption that when and If
the day comes that Al Smith is fully
persuaded that the 1882 nomination is
out of his reach, he will put the full
force of his own power and influence
behind Roosevelt. Perhaps it may turn
out that way, but 1t looks ike risky
assumption. With respect to Tam
many, the New York Governor is be-
tween the devil and the deep sea. Tam
many support is heavy handicap at
the convention and in the campaign.
Yet if Roosevelt publicly repudiates
Tammany he splits the New York dele
CATION at the convention and guaran-
tees that If he is nominated the Demo
Gratis will lose New York in the election.
Such a situation and prospect would
Just about eliminate Mr.. Roosevelt as
a candidate for the nomination.
X X
In these days Of distress when a Job
and a meal are the uppermoSt concern
of many millions, when lifting of COM
modify prices to save the agrarian areas
from utter ruin. when the rescue OF
the railroads from a financial plight
which strikes terror to the investing
public" when the sterilization Of in
ternational finance, lest worldwide So
cial debacle enSue. are the problems OF
the hour it is difficult to promote ex-
element about the power trust and
the water-power issue. That was the
issue with which Roosevelt has sought
to identify himself. That was the issue
on which he planned to wage the 1882
battle with Mr.. Hoover.
X X X
To placate the South Gov. Roosevelt
has felt obliged to soft-pedal the prohi-
bition question. His middle of-the-ro ad
course on this issue makes no hit with
the militant vets. At present the
Governor holds the center of the stage
with his unemployment relief program
presented to the New York Legislature.
His prescription has no novelty. He
says he, too, Is against the dole. He,
too, sees in expansion of public works
the means and the only means whereby
the Government itself can directly pro-
vide more jobs. His $40, 100000 from
the State treasury will help feed the
hungry and shelter the homeless this
Winter, but affords no solution of our
basic economic difficulties. In a word
Roosevelt's course so far Is good adver-
Using, but provides him with no issue
X X
If Roosevelt wins the Democratic
nomination it will not be by default
He has plenty of formidable COMPETE
ton. Never in recent times have the
Democratic political woods been so full
Of presidential timber. The tallest
cedar Of them all is Alfred Emanuel
Smith. Yet, so far as anything can be
] certain In politics, it is certain that the
Democrats will not renominate the man
In the browpc derby. The reasons why
they viii not need not be restated here