Evening star., 1932-04-14
The Political Mill
By G. Gould Lincoln.

out other Candidates Tor the Democratic
nomination. Today out in Michigan
the Democratic State Convention is
expected to elect a Roosevelt delegation
to the Democratic National Convention.
Earlier in the week. as was expected.
the Kentucky Democratic State Con-
vention instructed the Kentucky dele
gates for Roosevelt. and on Tuesday
in Nebraska's primary, Roosevelt bowled
over the opposition by about 2 to l.
His opponents in the primary were
Speaker John N. Garner and Gov.
Alfalfa Bill Murray of Oklahoma.
Apparently neither the Speaker nor
Gov. Murray had much appeal to the
voters of Nebraska, for Roosevelt re-
ceived almost twice as many votes as
Garner and Murray combined.
K
1t is the reports from the primary
States which have given ROosevelts
presidential boom so much impetus
For the voters are the people after all
who must elect a President next No
vember The demonstration of strength
which the New York Governor has
given before the actual electorate in
the various States holding primaries
has been impressive to say the least.
In less than two weeks primaries are
to be held in Pennsylvania and Massa-
chuSettS where Roosevelt is opposed bv
Al Smith. who last night at the Jeffer
son day dinner here declared he would
take off his coat and vest and fight to
finish to prevent RooSevelt's nomtna-
ton. Smith did not use Roosevelts
name. but every one realized that the
standard bearer OF 1928 was referring
to the New York Governor in the at
.-oIr l,a = Il
who was making demagOgic appeals to
the masses.
Roosevelt supporters in PENNSYLVANIA
including "JOe' Guffev. former Demo-
cratic national committeeman. who was
here for the jefferson day celebration
yesterday, say that it is all over but
the shouting in the Keystone State.
They insist that AZ of Pennsylvania s
delegates are already in RooseveIts bag
since those pledged to support Roose-
welt running the districts indicated are
without opposition. In some of these
districts there are contests for delegate,
but both sides, it is said, are supporting
Roosevelt. Guffey is claiming 66 dele
gates. James M. Farley, State Demo-
cratic chairman in New York and a
manager of the Roosevelt preconvention
campaign, said last night that he was
confident Roosevelt would have no less
than 60 of the Pennsylvania delegates
and that he probably would have more.
Mr. Farley said, too, he had been in
formed by Mayor James NJ Curley Of
Boston, who with Gov. ROoseyelt's son.
James Roosevelt, is leading the fight
for delegates in Massachusetts, that
Roosevelt would get a majority of the
delegates in the Bay State. This is
Irv fol
who look to Senator David l. Walsh.
Senator Marcus A. Coolidge and Gov.
Ely to carry the State for Smith From
other and more impartial sources in
Massachusetts, come reports that al
most anything may happen" although
on paper it looks as Though the Smith
forces would triumph. with only a
scattering of delegates for Roosevelt
chosen.
Should Roosevelt clean up in Penn
Slyv2nia. as it seems likely he will, and
should he break even in Massachusetts.
1t would look to be all over so far as
the presidential nomination is con-
cerned in the Democratic National Con-
vention. Most of the Democrats now
are climbing aboard the Roosevelt
bandWag0n, and the efforts OF the anti
Roosevelt group are unavailing. It is
terribly difficult thing to stop a band
wagon movement. Frank Hague. the
Democratic boss Of New jersey. one CT
the leaders in the anti-Rooseve,t camp.
IS still moving heaven and earth to call
halt in the Roosevelt stampede II
the latest Smith move. q declaration to
fight Rooeevelt 70 q finish as a dem--
sogue. makes little impression in Dem
ocratic ranks. it locks as though the
fight were all but over, however.
The progressive steps of Al Smith in
his opposition to the Roosevelt can
dldacy are interesting. AT the first
Smith vas silent as a sphinx No one
knew whether he would be a candidate
himself or whether he would come out
for Roosevelt, who had supported him
IN two preconv5ntion presidential cam
palgnS. Many thought that cut of
gratitude to Roosevelt, Smith would
eventually get behind his candidacy this
year. This period of silence went on
for months. Then in February came
Smiths declaration that he was a recep-
tive candidate for the rCm.n2 ton HIM
SCI, but that he would not make
campaign for delegates and would net
favor or oppose any other candidate
Even then there were those who believed
that finally he would throw his support
TO RCoseTelt. He visited Roosevelt and
talked with him for an hour immediate
" after he had made his statement
Then came Smiths defeat in the
primaries in New Hampshire, followed
= defeats in the State conventions of
Minnesota. Iowa and other States, and
then in the Wisconsin primary. If
Mr.. Smith ever had any idea of sup
porting Roosevelt these successive de-
feats seem to have eradicated that
idea. And finally last n.gnt at the
Jefferson DAY dinner, Smith announced
ii fighting tones that he would make
an exception TO his rue not to Cppcse
any other candidate in the preconven-
ton campaign. That exception is
Roosevelt. So ends, it seems, an old
political friendship of years standing.
What it will mean for the Democratic
party next November is ano. her matter.
Fro0ably nothing could cheer the Re
puplcanS more.
X \
Al Smith has plenty of courage.
WHAT Cther Democratic candidate for
the presidential nomination today
WCuld have made the speech he did
last night in favor OF a 20-year mora
torium of the debts owed the United
States by foreign nations, with remiS-
SION OF those debts according to the
amount and value of goods they pur-
chased from this country in the in
terim? The answer is not Cne would
have dared to make such a proposal
Perhaps some may take UP the idea
now that Smith has advanced it. al
though there seems small likelihood.
Newton D. Baker of Chic, an advocate
in the past OF cancellation OF the World
War debts. might come forward in sup
port OF the Smith proposal. but he
seems to be the only one. Even Mr..
Baker, sensing the opposition to inter-
nationalism IN this country today. net
long ago backed away from his in
.5tcnce that the United States join the
League of Nations, at me Icst L.
thee who wish him to be nominated
lor President on the Democratic ticket.
Yesterday at the tomb O. Woodrow
Wilson. whose Secretary of War he was,
Ar Baker delivered an eloouent ad