Evening star., 1932-04-14
Opens Fight on 'Demagogic
Appeals at Jefferson Day
Meeting of Democrats.
BYRD FOR SUBMITTING
DRY ISSUE TO PEOPLE
Ex-Governor of New York Proposes
to Write Off Debts in Proper
tion to Trade With U. S.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Democrats stood astounded today at
the fireworks touched off at their
Jefferson day dinner last night at the
Willard Hotel.
With Alfred E. Smith threatening
to fight to a finish the candidacy OF
| Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt for the
presidency and at the same time de-
manding a 20-year moratorium on the
debts owed the United States by foreign
nations. the Democrats were wondering
just where their party was headed in
the coming campaign.
Added to these astonishing happen
ings at dinner which promises to be-
come an historic affair in the annals
of the Democratic party, was declara
ton of former Gov. Harry Flood Byrd
of Virginia, who has been in the past
a leader of the dry forces in the party,
for submission of the national pro-
hibition issue to the people themselves.
Smith Out in Open.
Smiths attack on Roosevelt-al-
though he did not use Roosevelt's name
left the diners gasping. He labeled
Roosevelt demagogue. No longer will
any one wonder whether Mr. Smith is
for or against his old friend, the Gov
ernor of New York His threat to
fight Roosevelt to the last ditch was
interpreted by some of the Roosevelt
followers as a final effort to head off
the nomination Of Roosevelt at Chicago,
notice to the Democrats that Smith
is not going TO support Roosevelt if he
be nominated. 1t was as though the
standard bearer of 1928 had said to his
party:
Why nominate Gov Roosevelt when
l Will not support him? Without my
support he cannot be elected"
What effect this threat to split the
Democratic party will have remains to
be seen. At first blush it would appear
to make the supporters of Roosevelt
more determined to go through with the
plan TO nominate their candidate and
perhaps to strengthen their hands.
James A Farley, leader of the Roose-
velt campaign for the presidential nom-
1nation ana chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Committee of New York,
a guest at the dinner last night, de-
clined to comment on the Smith attack
OAl 1SOOcCfcAl ne SdlQ, however.
Gov. Roosevelt will be nominated
on the first ballot at Chicago. He viii
have every delegate west Of the Mis-
Sissippi River except those from Texas
and Oklahoma, who are supporting
favorite-son candidates"
Demagogie Appeals Scored.
will Mr.. Smith be able to support
Roosevelt If Roosevelt is nominated
after the attack Smith made on him?"
Mr. Farley was asked.
MI Smith is Democrat" replied
Mr. Farley. After the convention is
held and out of the way Democrats will
get together"
Even more spectacular than his
demand for a 20-year moratorium on
the foreign debts was Smiths declara-
ton Of war against any candidate for
the Democratic presidential nomination
VINO makes demagogic appeals to the
masses of the working people.
His threat was interpreted as di-
rectly intended for Gov. Franklin D.
Roosevelt of New York, who in a re-
| cent radio address, charged that the
little fellow" the common citizen, has
| been forgotten. Said Mr.. Smith:
I have recently stated that while
would accept a nomination for the
presidency if it were rendered me by
the convention, that until the conven-
ton assembled 1 would not be for or
against any candidate.
/ l announce tonight an exception to
| that statement.
i will take off my coat and vest
and night to the end against any can
Continued on Page 5, Column IL