Evening star., 1932-03-13
HAMPSHIRE VOTE
HELD S|GN|F| F|CANT
Roosevelt'S Defeat of Smith
in Primary Regarded as
important.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Shifting March winds f1uttered the
ensigns of every political camp last
week.
They swept Franklin D. Roosevelt
nearer the Democratic nomination for
President, deposited the prohibition is
sue once more on President Hoover's
doorstep and stirred a Republican,
insurgent challenge to the convention
system of choosing candidates.
RCOSevelts defeat OF Alfred E.
Smith in the New Hampshire primaries
was easily the stellar performance in
point of general interest. Mr.. Hoover,
receiving a petition from the New Jer-
sey Republicans for repeal plank.
adopted an attitude of complete silence
toward such proposals.
Conventions Assailed.
The convention practice of nominat-
ing presidential candidates was de-
clared Yesterday by Senator La Fol-
lette, Wisconsin Republican independ-
ent, to have "degenerated into a
farce" He offered bill to afford a
popular vote for candidates week be-
fore the Republican National Conven-
ton, with each State morally binding
its delegates to abide by the peoples
choice.
Aside from benefting Roosevelt from
a psychological standpoint, the New
Hampshire result was regarded as i'm
portant because it was Smiths first
appearance before the voters in 1882.
If it can be taken as an index Of Smith
opposition in other States the Roose-
welt people have a right to be joyful.
But the Smithites are not throwing in
the sponge yet. Their refusal to COM
promise with Roosevelt hackers in
Massachusetts, is one example.
The 1923 standard bearer also has
to be contended with in the pivotal
States of Pennsylvania, New York and
California. as well as other New Eng
land sectors. April and May balloting
will provide the answer to the Smith
Roosevelt enigma.
President Hoover has had little to
worry him as far as denomination Is
concerned. But the prohibition prob
lem has now been dangled before him
in formal fashion with New Jerseys
Republican plea that the convention
take a wet stand while at the same
time indorsing him.
He would not comment when Sena-
tors Kean and Barbour Of New Jersey
presented the petition. Furthermore,
Republican leaders do not expect him
to take a stand on prohibition before
the convention. He has been repre-
sented as feeling this matter for the
convention to decide. Naturally he
would be expected to abide by the con-
ventions decision, dry, wet or moist
Proposal Studied.
Political observers last night we're
irving to read between the lines of the
La Toilette proposal. Whom it would
benefit, if adopted before the June con-
ventions. was a highly debatable ques-
ton. Hoover already has SO delegates
pledged to him and Roosevelt has 48
to lead the Democratic field.
La Toilette himself said unless the
American people are afforded pop
MAR vote in advance of the Chicago
convention the Republican nominee
would be named by delegates con-
trolled by the use of Federal patronage.
The Democratic nominee" he add
ed, will be named under the two
thirds rule as the result Of secret deals
ard trades among the bosses of power
full political machines in the larger
cities of the country" =,
The La Toilette proposal also would
open the way for any independent
candidate to go before the voters with
out the expense of large sums for
organization purposes. There have been
attempts to enter an independent
against President Hoover, but all have
failed thus far Lack of money and
the accepted rule that it's well nigh
impossible to defeat a presidential in
cumbent for denomination have
prompted most of the refusals to con-
test for the Republican banner.