Evening star., 1932-02-19

Plenty Of interest. regardless Of party,
Is exhibited by the public in former Gov.
Alfred E. Smiths statement in regard
to the Democratic nomination for Presi-
dent. The statement is held to have
cleared up uncertainties and to have
made it possible to test the strength OF
the several candidates.
Some comments put emphasis upon
the influence in the convention that
Mr.. Smith may be expected to WELD.
He seems to be holding the balance
CT power" says the Ann Arbor Daily
News, while the Oklahoma City Times,
remarking that "even his stanch sup
porters feel he has little chance of win
ming a nomination" believes that his
principal gain will be sufficient author
ity in the convention to make sure that
no nominee can be chosen without has
approval" The New York Herald
Tribune agrees that "it seems well with
in the range of reason that he and his
friends will be in q position to control
the nomination"
His own stake will not be more than
enough to give spice to the play" thinks
the Charleston IS. c. Evening Post,
voicing the conclusion: He will be an
important figure in the convention and
will have a powerful influence in the
determination Of questions that may
arise including the selection OF candi-
date The Roanoke Times AYERS that
1T is now clear that Smith isn't sup
porting Roosevelt, and without Smiths
support it seems unlikely that Roosevelt
can win" More favorable is the COM
ment by the Milwaukee Sentinel that
no one can question the fact that the
man who received q vote of $4,000, ,000
more than was ever given to any Demo-
cratic candidate in history. must be
considered a serious contender for the
nomination"
'It Is the most intensely interesting
political statement that has thrilled the
country since those crisp words came
from another great political leader, I do
not choose to run for President In
1929" says the Pasadena Star News
adding that "his assertion that he will
not actively seek the nomination does
not diminish the fact that he will be a
candidate If his friends and supporters
work up a formidable following" The
Youngstown Vindicator holds that "a
dramatic situation is created. which may
not be solved until November" The
New York Times views the result as one
which will be such a test Of Gov
Roosevelts political stamina and skill az
he has not had to undergo before"
"Mr. Smith has put himself definitely
in the race" asserts the Birmingham
Age Herald. land that is not good
thing for the party or the country
There is tide in the affairs Of men
and 1t has swept on to make Smiths
availability highly questionable The
Nashville Banner feels: He has in
jured. not aided himself: he has perma-
nently and deeply impaired his stature
as a party leader: he has challenged the
judgment and welfare Of his party. And
in self-defense the party must repudiate
his counsels and his ill-considered at
tempt to perpetuate control Of party
procedure.
"He puts self above party" in the
judgment OF the Charlotte Observer
while the Atlanta journal remarks that
"he has declared and has reiterated
that he is not candidate for the presi-
Dental nomination. decision which
one" The Journal believes that ''ir
truly Democratic decisions the voice OF
power is the voice of the people; and
that voice, if we may judge from the
1 present tone, will wax more and more
decisive for Franklin D. Roosevelt"
There are indications that the
chances of the present New York Gov
ernor may be strengthened by the
| Smith announcement" states the
i Charleston. w. Va, Daily Mail. Tht
Kansas City Times remarks that "hi:
personal following undoubtedly Is large
but 1t Is not the kind Of support thai
can dictate the policy OF . party thai
wants to wiA that believes IL can win
md Dat HI1m - b pa1n1AI eaGs9u