Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-05-26
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WASHINGTON
az RApFoRD MOTLEY


Washington, D. c., May 23.--Now that
the political orators in Congress have
got most of their oratory off their
chests and have buckled down to the
business of keeping the financial ship
Of state on an even keel. interest at
the capital again centers upon the
Forthcoming national presidential con-
ventions,
The main interest, naturally, Is IN
the question of who will be the demo-
cratic presidential nominee On the
republican side. it is foregone con- I
clusion that President Hoover will be
renominated practically by acclama-
ton, and nobody is very much inter-
ested in speculation about the vice.
presidential nomination. In fact, as
things stand now, Mr.. Curtis can have
it if he wants it, and apparently he
does. since he changed his mind about
entering the race for U. S. senator
| from Kansas.
The democratic situation, however, Is
very much more exciting than 1t was
when. for time 1t looked as if Gov
ernor Franklin p. Roosevelt Of New
York was going to walk away with the
nomination. His lerstwhile friend and
present political enemy, Alfred T.
Smith, has grabbed off the delegations
Of Massachusetts and few other
states and will, as things look now,
control solid block somewhere be-
.ween 100 and $50 delegates, who will
vote exactly the way he tells them to
vote. That is not enough TO prevent
Roosevelts nomination if the New York
governor should get all the rest Of
.hem. Under the two-thirds rule
which applies in the democratic COZ
vention but not in the republican con-
vention. the nominee must have ITO out
Of the 1854 votes That means that =
lakes 1856 opposing votes to block HIM
Mr.. Roosevelt will probably have 2
majority of the convention, but the
supporters Of Speaker Garner, OF Mel
yin A. Taylor and of dozen or more
other candidates who will have small
blocks of delegates, will be able to hold
him in check as long as they vote &C
cording to instructions.
II is not the understanding here thai
Mr.. Smith has any hope or desire o.
getting the nomination for himself. HI
is master Of political strategy how
ever, probably the ablest politician who
will take part in the convention, and the
! anti Roosevelt people are willing to &C.
cept his leadership in the effort to brint
about the nomination Of candidate t
, whom Roosevelt delegates may be ex'
J pected to flock when they see thei
t own leaders cause is hopeless,
The situation as 1t presents itself NOW
more than a month before the conven
: ton. which meets on June 9th, seem
i closely parallel to that Of 1912, whe
Champ Clark had clear majority
i the Baltimore convention and held
= for twenty-six ballots until Mr.. Bryal
i the most astute politician of his tim
Il succeeded in breaking the solid bloc
and starting the swing to Woodro
Wilson
e Who Governor Smith would favor
e compromise candidate, is natural
i still uncertain The indications q
that he would like TO see Owen
. Young nominated. There IS no questit
~ among democrats or republicans
X Mr. Young's outstanding ability
has everything in his favor excel
possibly. the fact that he is chairm
Of the board of the General Elect
Company, which while not in itself
public utility, is, nevertheless, close
II, tied to the light and power industl
!, 1t may create prejudice against
III Young in the sections where the pow
1T trust" is regarded as public mena
IL Little confidence is placed in the su
- gestion that John W. Davis, who "
!. 50 disastrously defeated BY Mr.. &C
~ lidge in 1924, will be nominated aga
Mr. Davis is also, undoubtedly, m
:, Of great ability, but he lacks aim
- all Of the elements of popular appe
~ while Mr.. Young has most OF them
nj And there is always in the pict'
be the possibility Of Newton D. Baker v
~. was secretary of war in MIR. Wilso
. cabinet, and who is generally rect
= nized as not only a great lawyer
ay 4 great statesman, with outstand
an ability to sway an audience when
,st makes a speech.