Evening star., 1932-06-05

l. cratic nomination going to
Gov Franklin Roosevelt of
IL New York;" That is by far
the biggest question about
which there is any doubt in the two
approaching conventions.
Roosevelt has enough delegates to
nominate him under ordinary coEdi-
tions. Allowing for all disputes. he
has close to half the convent on. That
0 candidate having half the delegates
should be denied the nomination
would be extraordinary. 1t would call
for explanation 1t has happened very
rarely before, not over twice in Demo-
cratic history; and when 1t has hap
pened there were extraordinary rea-
sons.
1t happened in 1912 when Champ
Clark then Speaker of the House, had
more than half the delegates on one OF
the later ballots but was nevertheless
defeated by Woodrow Wilson. The "ex-
traordinary reason" in that case was
a double one: First, Woodrow Wilson
was in his person, extraordinary. and
the support he had in the country
was of kind and quantity that no
present opponent of Gov. Roosevelt now
has Second. William Jennings Bryan
was alive and was a power; ne. during
the balloting. deserted Champ Clark and
turned to Wilson upon the ground that
Clark was being supported by Tam
maryland that support by Tammany
of any candidate ipso facto made that
candidate undesirable.
It should be observed that ROOSevelt's
title to the coming nomination Is
stronger than Clarks to the nomina-
ton in 1912, for Clark did not have
majority of the convention until the
hall LOT PnncpvPIt n.
parent. can have majority Of the con-
yention on the first ballot. assuming
that his managers. in tthe strategy they
ADOPT. decide to throw his full strength
to him on the opening ballot.
1T takes two-thirdS to nominated
By every superficial condition Roose-
welt ought to get the nomination and
get it by not later than the third ballot
Yet the fact is. some leading Demo-
cratic politicians, some Leading OBJ
servers and some shrewd men among
the Republican politicians have doubt
whether Roosevelt will get it. Not all
doubt it. but some do. The doubt has
grown during the past ten days.
Not "Tammanyite."
The principal reason centers about
Tammany, the same Tammany which,
In a very different way, was the cause
of .Clark's losing the nomination after
he had a majority in 1912.
The relation of Tammany to the
nomination of Roosevelt is unusual. II
has nothing whatever to do with any
identity of Roosevelts personal char
acter. with the political reputation and
the commonly presumed character OF
Tammany Let it be said at once-1or
clearness sake it needs to be SAID,
though absolutely no one suggests the
contra1y-that the personal character
of Roosevelt is the direct opposite OF the
personal character that the country at
tributes to Tammany No one-not
any one of the considerable number
of political leaders who oppose the
nomination of Roosevelt. and no one
of the considerable number OF detached
observers who would deplore the NOM
nation Of Roosevelt-no one OF these
raises any question about Roosevelt
personal character. To do SO would De
the sheerest malice.
That Roosevelt is hlgh-mlnoeo
man. whose every impulse IS flne ana
worthy, is matter Of universal kno"l-
edge All his personal ASSOCIATIONS
the whole of his record, Is that OF a
man whom ordinarily every right
minded person would take pleasure in
honoring. While Roosevelt. for exam
ple. is wet as a matter of Judgment
about what the country should 90.
everybody, including the most arGent
drv Democrats makes a clear dlstlnc-
tion between Roosevelt's political wet
ness and the wetness of Tammany. 1t
is universally understood that Roose-
welt in his personal practice Is dry.
It is universally understood that both
Roosevelt and Mrs. Roosevelt, who
takes an active part In fine public
movements. are typically persons OF
the sort who in every community IN
the country, big and little, have the
complete respect of that section Of the
electorate which politicians call
"church folks" They are the sort OF
persons who in every community take
the leadership in good works. The
only faintest criticism raised by any
body in a judicial spirit against RooSe-
welt as a man is that while his good
ness on the emotional side Is abso-
lutely complete, it is not certain that
he has the understanding OF how to
bring goodness into concrete effect In
politics and government.
Since Roosevelt is clear of all the
things that have made Mayor Walker
and Tammany odious. since he is 100
per cent clear Of it-or a thousand per
cent. If you please-how does it happen
these recent explosions impair Roose-
velt's chance for the presidential NOM
nation?
Faces Decision.
The answers are two. First, 1t was
clear from the time Mayor Walker
went on the stand that the case would
be put up to Gov. Roosevelt; that
Roosevelt must pass judgment on the
mayor.
That necessity had obvious political
disadvantages to Roosevelt, but need
not have been seriously detrimental to
him. He could decide against the
mayor. That would make Tammany
angry, and presumably Tammany
would oppose his presidential nomina-
ton. Opposition from Tammany need
not deprive Roosevelt of the nomina-
ton 1t might help Roosevelt. Stand
ing alone. it would help him. for the
great mass of the strength on which
Roosevelt depends comes from those
sections. the South and WeSt-Amer-
lea outside of New York City-which
detests Tammany and all Its WORKS.
Opposition by Tammany might be, as
respe- is the delegates and the voters,
lust the thing that would cause the
convention to nominate Roosevelt with
as rejected by those delegates from
al, over tre ,ountr..-, would enjoy moth
ing so murh as to give Tammany a
swift, public and energetic kick in
whatever is the most sensitive part OF
Tammany's anatomy.
But at this point the more cautious
type of Democratic leader comes to
the front and the more prudently SELF
interested part of every delegate.
They want to win the election. First,
last and all the time that is their OBJ
jective. They may love Roosevelt or
Baker: they may love any man; but
more than that they love the prospect
of success And thinking in terms Of
success, they wonder If Tammany
would support Roosevelt in the elec-
ton. That Tammany should oppose
Roosevelt for the nomination is moth
ing. But Tammcny opposing Roose-
welt in the election would be sOme-