Evening star., 1932-06-06
The Democratic War.

1no UeMOCTdClC wal.
The war between the Democratic sup
porters Of Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt OF
New York for the presidential nomina-
ton and his opponents has broken out
in new direction. The ultimatum from
the Roosevelt camp Is that Jouett
Shouse, chairman Of the Democratic
National Executive Committee, Is to be
denied the Office of permanent chairman
Of the Democratic national convention.
Instead, the Roosevelt forces will back
Senator Thomas j. Walsh Of Montana
for that post. With Walsh In the chair
and former Gov. w. w. Brandon Of
Alabama shouting his battle cry, Ala
bama casts twenty-four votes" at the
head Of the roll call Of States memory
turns Immediately to the stormy days
of 1924, when the Democratic hosts
met in their last pitched battle in Madi-
son Square Garden.
Roosevelt supporters are opposing Mr..
Shouse for the permanent chairman
ship Of the Democratic National Con-
vention, they say, because he has been
actively aligned with the "stop Roose-
velt' movement. They do not intend
to put him in q position where by his
rulings he might make the nomination
Of the New York Governor still more
difficult. The statement that they in
tend to place Senator Walsh In NOM
ination for permanent chairman Of the
convention came from James A. Farley.
Democratic State chairman Of New
York and one Of the principal leaders
Of the Roosevelt forces. His statement,
made to the press after . conference
with Gov. Roosevelt, Is taken as
the throwing down Of the gage Of
battle now, without waiting until the
convention meets on June ~ IN Chi
cago.
II the claims Of the Roosevelt leaders
are correct, they will dominate the ma
tional convention and be in . position
to change the rules, If necessary, to
bring about the nomination Of the New
York governor. At present they insist
that they will have the support OF 691
delegate votes at the opening Of the
convention, leaving to the opposition
only 463. With such a majority we'll
handled, the Roosevelt forces are likely
to be able to do what they desire. Under
the two-thirds rule which has prevailed
for a hundred years tn Democratic ma
tional conventions Gov Roosevelt would
be compelled to obtain ITO votes for
nomination. A majority Of the con-
vention, however, could adopt the ma
jority rule and throw out the two-thirds
plan II It saw f1t.
The anti-Rosevelt forces are not
likely to take lying down the attempt
to ditch Mr.. Shouse. They have con-
sidered the plan to have Mr.. Shouse
as permanent chairman an excellent
piece Of strategy, growing out Of meet
ing weeks ago of the Committee on
Arrangements. At that time Senator
Barkley Of Kentucky was picked by the
committee for temporary chairman and
keynote speaker. The Kentucky Sena-
tor Is one Of the Roosevelt supporters
The committee ut that time COM
mended" Mr.. Shouse for election as
permanent chairman. The Roosevelt
forces insist that they are not bound
by this action, and, furthermore, that
Mr.. Shouse has continued actively In
opposition to the nomination Of Mr.
Roosevelt.
The same reports that disclose the
determination Of the Roosevelt leader,
to substitute Senator Walsh, who ha.
been friendly to the Roosevelt cause, TO,
Mr.. Shouse, also disclose the fact that
Alfred E. Smith called a meeting of hi,
supporters from Massachusetts,, New
Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut and
Pennsylvania for today. At this con-
ference the plans of the Smith cam
paign are to be outlined. 1t is well
understood that Mr.. Smith will 60 into
the convention with a small number oi
delegates pledged or instructed for him
probably considerably less than 200. II
is quite evident that unless steps car
be taken to halt the onward rush ol
Roosevelt, Mr.. Smith has no chance
whatever. In many quarters 1t has beer
contended that Mr.. Smiths candidacy
is, after all, only part Of the "stor
Roosevelt" movement. Plans made al
the Smith meeting, however, may be Of
great Importance to the outcome of the
national convention. He has back Of
him q resourceful group Of Democratic