Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29
UTAH WANTS DERN
ON NATIONAL SLATE
Many Republicans Joining
Democrats to Obtain Second
Place for Governor.
BY FRANK p. STEWART.
cial M M 81 IN Thu

BY FRANK p. STEWART.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
| SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May %
Utah Is playing for big stakes this
political year. 1t is Democratic
game, but many Republicans are<join-
ing in. for they helped to elect George
H. Dern Governor twice and now think
he should be Vice President. Dern
! is Democrat and he has been and
! is an ardent supporter Of Gov. Frank
lin D. Roosevelt of New York for the
nomination of his party for President.
Whether or not there Is any under
! standing between the two Governors
has not been announced, but the gen.
eral opinion prevails in Utah that,
should Roosevelt receive first honors
at the convention, Dern will have a
good chance for second place. Those
who express this opinion. however, also
seem convinced that Dern's chances
are very small If Roosevelt is not
nominated
OF course, the Democrats Of Utah
realize that Utah has but a few votes
to offer. 1t is generally regarded as
| Republican State, although Senator
! William H. King has been elected
three times in succession. But the
Dern supporters base their hope on
the general popularity of Dern
throughout the Western States. He
has been extremely active in Cover
| nors' conferences outside of Utah He
announced, and it was generally pub
lished, several weeks ago that. while
he was being mentioned for the vice
presidential nomination and would &C
cept it if it we're rendered him, he
would not work to get it.
Hoover May Lose State.
Republicans are not grooming any
body for either President or Vice
President. At their State convention,
held May 7, they quietly aligned them
selves behind President Hoover Err
nest Bamberger, twice defeated by
Senator King, was elected national
committeeman. The Republicans will
/ support President Hoover as a body,
but the stagnant condition of the
mines and the general depression will
cut the Presidents lead, which was
not large four years ago, and might
defeat him.
Senator Reed Smoot is up for re-
election. I believe he will be reelected
by the people Of Utah. There is much
talk Of his opponent. but the Demo-
Gratis are far from settled on any one
man. Many names have been ad-
vanced, but most of them meet with
some opposition within the Democratic
party. A national landslide will not
defeat Smoot unless there is an ex-
ceptionally strong candidate arrayed
against him here at home and unless
that candidate has the united support
of every Democrat and can also appeal
to the Republican voters. Smoot has
a hold on the people Of Utah that it
will be extremely difficult to break.
Don B. Cotton, Representative from
the first Utah district, also seems to
be pretty secure He is a wonderful
campaigner and popular throughout his
district There is some talk, however.
of running him for Governor. If this
is done the Democrats will have an
even chance to win his seat, as his
popularity Is personal and some of the
counties which always GO for him will
vote Democratic if the right man is
nominated.
Loofbourow Faces Fight.
Fred c. Loofbourow, Representative
from the second district, which in
cludes Salt Lake City and much of
the mining district Of the State, which
now is in great distress. may have
hard shedding There are a number
of Democrats in this district who would
stand chance of defeating him. How
ever as usual, it Is anybody'S race for
the nomination.
Utah voters will elect a complete
State ticket in November Several On
each side of the fence are working.
Democrats are waiting until they see
Several Republicans are definitely in
the race. Harry S. Joseph, mining
of Representatives probably is the most
active. He is a nephew of former
Democratic Gov. Simon Barhberger.
w. w. Seegmiller Of the extreme south
ern part of the State, formerly
rancher and also one-time speaker of
the House of Representatives, also has
quite a following. Hamilton Gardner.
former president of the State Senate
and colonel in the National Guard.
has been working for the nomination
for some time, but his support seems
confined mostly to the officers of the
National Guard
Other Coming Races.
Democrats most prominently men
toned for Governor, in addition to
Gov. Dern, are c. Clarence Neslen,
former mayor of Salt Lake City, now
in the building and loan business. He
is popular throughout the State and
seems to be the leading candidate.
Henry H. Blood. chairman of the
State Road Commission, also has active
supporters all over the State. He con-
trolls many votes in the organization
OF which he is head and would make
good race. Another man who has
been prominently mentioned. but has
not said he would run. is William R.
Wallace, chairman Of the Utah Water
Storage Commission and prominent
business man of this State.
The remainder Of the State ticket
IS incidental. Secretary of State Mil
ton H. yelling wants to succeed him
self. He Is a Democrat. DR.. c. NJ
Jensen. State superintendent of
Schools, Republican, also is expected
to be nominated again. George p
Parker, the attorney general, Repub-
lican, will be either candidate for the
nomination for Governor or for the
office he now holds. The State
treasurer and State auditor, both Re-
publicans, are prohibited by the con-
stituticn from succeeding themselves in
office.