Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-01
ROOSEVELT STANDS ALONE
AMONG PARTY ASPIRANTS
Literally Running Solo as Sections All
Over Country Prepare to Send
Delegates to Back Him.

| city In the country. and because that
/ city Is the chief source of news, Il fol-
lows that any Governor of New York
becomes more or less automatically q
nationally known figure. Gov Ritchie
Of Maryland has had q more remark
able record as head of that State than
any other Governor OF any State in all
our history. think am safe In say
ing that no Governor Of any State,
other than Richie, has ever been elect
| ed four times In succession or served, as
Mr.. Ritchie has, IL successive years.
But because Maryland is q small State.
and Baltimore relatively q small city.
the country hears less Of Ritchie than
his qualities deserve.
Baker Lacks Publicity.
As respects publicity, practically
everybody is at q disadvantage COM
pared to whoever happens 70 be Cow
prnor Of New York. There Is hardly
q friend of Gov. Roosevelt's but would
admit that Newton d. Baker is Of
equal intellectual stature with him as
q public figure. And many persons con-
tend most seriously that Mr.. Baker is
considerably the superior of the two
men. But because Mr.. Baker lives In
Cleveland, and because it Is now some
ID years since he was conspicuous in
the newspapers as Secretary OF War, It
throughout the country knows little OF
Bakers record and hears almost Moth
ing about his personality today. SIM
ilarly, James M. Cox had very re-
markable record as Governor OF Ohio.
But because that record Is now some
is years old, and because Mr.. Cox's
campaign for the presidency in 1920 Is
nearly IL years past, It follows that
Mr.. Cox Is at disadvantage compared
to the man who now fills the public
eye as Governor Of New York.
Franklin Roosevelt Is very close to
the Democratic presidential nominal
ton. The default Of other candidates
may or may not be the chief reason.
That Mr.. Roosevelt alone Is marching
straight ahead toward probable taking
Of the prize Is the Judgment Of the
Judgment Of Mr.. Frank Kent Of the
Democratic Baltimore Sun, who knows
the leaders of the Democratic party,
big and little, asleep and awake. both
when they say what they mean and
when they are practicing the arts Of
finesse Mr.. Kent's judgment that
Gov. Roosevelt, as of today. Is close to
the prize, has special weight because
he ;s,s 6 go good MarylsndsT i kindly
Nevertheless, the picture Of the
complete without saving chat most al
the major leaders OF that party doubt
whether 1t Is the best policy to numi-
nate Roosevelt. and many assert strongly
that Roosevelt viii not be the nominee.
!: Major Leaders Inactive.
ar.1s,. A.. - -,
- So. aa.u sL
ara aerresxivsI,, y, ferr ~ ress.,,aiv
.Trsa,,y,s,e T1.,,3s,s - N.,,.tk ~. -r.,ss.s
| wl1nrn RooseveIt esrve 49, ss Ies'ste,,s
gecrefarv wher, ngr r,srs,eis ,s,ee sse~rs
farv ~ fia Nasrv q, SUiIsor,,e ..S5,ssi,s.
istratinn q nrnhabIv s., ear,,a.t s.,,,.
--thoi1eil dcrlbtiess M. Dar1leis fS,a,, e
highly also Of Newton d. Baker. VINO
was Secretary Of War at the same
time. Another Southern editor and
veteran In service on the Democratic
National Committee. Clark Howell Of
the Atlanta Constitution. Is agrees
sively and whole-heartediy Tor Rose
welt There are some others. But q
majority Of the powerful. active leaders
Of the party are either lukewarm In
their contemplation OF Mr.. Roosevelt
as the probable nominee, or else enter
tain the intention Of swinging the
nomination away from him when the
time comes.
The thing could be done, Ex-0ov
Smith Of New York alone could
do IT. AL Smith viii have more friends
IN the next Democratic National Con-
ventlon tnan Roosevelt win have. Fully
tWo-thirds OF the delegates from New
York State, substantially ell the dele
gates from New Jersey, Connecticut.
MASSACHUSETTS ana Rhode Island, fully
two-thirds OF the delegates from PENN
sylvania, and scattered blocs Of dele
gates all over the country win be ar
dent partisans OF Al Smith. Not all Of