Evening star., 1932-06-29

dinous idol evoked a significant demon
stration at one stage of Tuesdays pro-
ceedings. He had been invited, along
with Gov. White, Jim Reed and other
party dignitaries. to occupy a place on
the platform. Ritchie preferred to re-
main on the floor in the midst of the
Maryland delegation, which hoisted him
TO a standing position on his chair and
unloosed storm of cheers which spread
through the convention like wildfire.
The racket rose to the dimensions of a
stadium din as the handsome
Marylander, easily recognizable be-
cause OF his snow-topped crown, waved
aloft the States standard.
**
Ritchie, beyond the shadow of
doubt, sits pretty if Roosevelt demon
strably cannot make the two-thirds
grade. In nearly every delegation
there is leavening of Ritchie second
choice strength. The Roosevelt rough
riders themselves, once they find the
road to victory barred against them,
are extremely likely to turn to Gov
Ritchie. The Smith contingent looks
with equal favor in his direction. He
has made no enemies and nothing but
friends at Chicago. When the black
and-gold banners of the Calverts are
unfolded in the convention, following
the placing of Ritchie's name in nomi-
nation by Senator Tydings. tumult is
certain. 1t will be a straw showing how
the wind may blow before the week is
over.
1t would be impossible to exaggerate
the depth of hostility rampant in the
Roosevelt camp against Newton D.
Baker. Whether the Ohioan deserves
it OF not, he is plastered with the
power label, and the Rooseveltians are
hanging it on him with a vengeance.
They would almost prefer to help NOM
mate Alfalfa Bill Murray than to see
the little giant of Cuyahoga walk of
with the bacon. This observer will not
be surprised to hear some perfervid
Roosevelt nominator or seconder para
phrase William Jennings Bryan in such
terms as these: You shall not cruelty
mankind on a cross of power You
shall not press down upon the brow of
labor a crown of public utility thorns"
1t will be Baker the 'spellbinder will be
shooting at.
John w Davis was showed into the
breach as the last hope of the Shouse
faction in its attempt to stem the tide
that soon was to sweep Senator Walsh
into the permanent Craftsmanship. The
Democrats silyer-tongued 1924 stand
ard d-bearer pleaded for Shouse on the
simple ground Of gratitude ITO elect
him" said Davis, would be merely
fitting reward for faithful service we'll
rendered" Shouse was on the platform
while his fate was being decided He
took defeat In sporting fashion. keeping
his own tally sheet and realizing, as
the ballot tapered to finish. that he
was licked. He probably will be mac
tive in the campaign if Roosevelt is
nominated.
Senator Huey Long is held on nearly
all hands to be the buffoon and dema-
gogue. His Louisiana fees so declare
him to be, but he emerges from his
first combat in the national arena an
undeniably effective politician. Red
headed and tousel-haired the self
styIed Kingflsh handled himself adroitly
on the platform as he conducted his
own case for seating his hand-picked
delegation. You can hate Huey all you
please-and almost everybody does-but
he seems to have the goods.
Two nationally known Democrats ex-
perienced the novel sensation of being
trapped in a Chicago speakeasy Just as
a troop of Col. Woodcock's Federal pad
lockers seized the joint. 1t took the
politicians three-quarters of an hour
to establish their Identity and contrive
their liberation.