Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29
ILLINOIS TO HOLD
PIVOTAL POSITION
Democrats Ponder Their Sec.
ond Choice-SmaII Holds
G. o. P. Upper Hand.
BY v. Y. DALLMAN.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


Special Dispat ch to The Star.
SPRINGFIELD. Ill, May 28.-That
Illinois will be the pivotal State in the
approaching presidential election is the
opinion of authorities in both parties.
With the denomination of President
Hoover now assured. attention turns to
the Illinois delegation to the Demo-
cratic National Convention. consisting
of 80 individuals with a voting strength
OF So
Democratic leaders in every State are
wondering how the Illinois delegation
will be distributed after the early bal
loting. A careful poll shows that in the
first ballot practically the entire delega-
ton will be cast for United States Sem
ator James Hamilton Lewis, Illinois IA
vorite son. After the Senator's name
has been thus placed before the con-
vention, with practically unanimous
support from his own State, giving him
prestige as one Of the leading candi-
dates, Is or more of the 80 delegates
elected from Re Is downState districts
will swing to Gov. Franklin D. Roose-
welt of New York.
At the same time. practically the en-
tire block Of delegates from the 10 con-
gre-ional districts in Cook County are
expN Ted to swing to Melvin Traylor of
Chicago, where Alfred E. Smith of New
York and Gov. Albert c. Richie of
Maryland are known to have aggressive
supporters and where Newton D. Baker
of Ohio is said on good authority to be
in the background as probable dark
horse"
Great interest centers upon the infor-
NAL meeting Of all of the Illinois dele
gates and alternates, as we'll as men,
t>nr- off, hn 10 VI io
Association. which has been called to be
held in Springfield Thursday. June 2.
Senator Lewis has been invited to at
tend this conference. but will be unable
to come because of the press of business
In Washington. Mayor Anton j. Ger
max of Chicago who aspires to be DEM
ocratic national committeeman from
Illinois and who Is now recognized as
the dominant factor in the Democratic
State organization. will attend this con-
ference. as will Judge Henry Horner of
Chicago. the Democratic nominee for
Governor.
Cermak Avowed Candidate.
One Of the principal subjects to be
considered at that time will be the cleo
ton of a Democratic national commit
teman from Illinois when the delegates
assemble in Chicago June 81. Mayor
Cermak is an avowed candidate to sue
coed the present national committee
man. State Representative Michael L.
Igoe OF Chicago, defeated candidate for
the gubernatorial nomination.
Mayor CermakS election as national
committeeman is assured, because his
friends control the block of delegates
from Cook County and a number Of
down-State delegates, but there will be a
sharp division, nevertheless.
One of the strange developments in
Illinois recently was statement made
BY Thomas F. Donovan. chairman OF
the Democratic State Central Commit
tee and candidate tor lieutenant gov
crnor. that the second choice of the
Democrats of Illinois. after their dele
gates have voted for Senator Lewis. is
Gov Roosevelt This ircensed Mayor
Cermak. who promptly announced that
Chairman Donovan had spoken out of
turn and that Illinois second choice is
Banker Melvin Traylor of Chicago.
Chairman Donovan and Mayor Ger
max have been SO closely identified in
political activities that this amazing
conflict in statements at such a critical
period in the development of conven-
tlon StrategieS has caused observers to
wonder If serious break has come.
Those eplthetS are quoted from the
address delivered by Len Small before
the Illinois Republican Convention in
Springfield Friday.
Len Small. who was Governor from
1922 to 1923 and now seeks a third
term. received a tremendous ovation
when he addressed the convention. 1t
was noticeable tina. he did not lndOrSe
the national administration of Presi-
dent Hoover. but the Hoover forces are
satisfied that Small is ready to accept
a harmony agreement with the national
administration. provided the HOVER
forces enter into reciprocal agreement
for mutual support
Small very adroitly sounded as key
notes: Back to prosperity" and Back
to Amerlcanism.' Though not men
tlonlng the Hoover administration. he
charges internatiOnaliSrl with causing
economic disaster and widespread I'M
employment. This he traces back to
the Wilson administration and charges
that the Democracy is responsible.
Tie riost sensational declaration
made by the former Governor was that
the Cermak machine proposes to i'm
pose upon the people of this State
modelled after the infamous Democratic
Tammany Hall machine of New York"
Three Small Factors.
Three factors brought about the re-
nomination of former Gov. Small.
whose victory was simplified because
the opposition was divided between
several candidates. foremost among
whom are Attorney General Oscar E.
Carlstrom and Omer N Custer. That
Small overcame the Custer candidacy,
which was supported by the Emmerson
pay roll organization. indicates that he
has human qualities which hold for
him the active support of his former
powerful organization. The three fac
tors of strength foremost in his can
didacy are his appeal to the farmer,
the friendly attitude of labor and his
ability to hold the colored vote. espe-
ciallv in Chicago. where former Mayor
William Hale Thompson is his chief
aide
Controlling as they do most of the
81 delegates to the Republican National
Convention. the Small forces will be
able to draw important concessions
from the national organization
One probable development at the
national convention will be the appear
ance of Frank L. Smith of Dwight,
three times refused a seat in the Fed
eral Senate. as candidate for national
committeeman to succeed Roy o. West.
The latter has indicated to his friends
opposition at this time. but significant
mention is made Of the possible candi-
dacy CT Frank Smith. Mrs Jacob Baur
OF Chicago will be reelected Repub-
lican national committeewoman with
ont ODpOSitiOD