Evening star., 1932-06-30
SOUTHWEST RIFT
WITH EAST SEEN.
Union of Rural Forces to
Combat City Domination
Declared Evident.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.


CHICAGO, June 30.-There is some
sign, but not necessarily a serious one,
that the cleavage in the convention will
leave active sores to remain open in the
campaign. One group of leaders will
nurse disappointment, but as respects
voters there is no reason why the
cleavage should be material in the CAM
paign.
Throughout the fight on prohibition,
in the lineup on the presidential NOM
ination and in every respect the essen
tial picture Of this convention IS that
of a majority fro the rural South and
rural West inspirl bv the wish to get
rid Of the city and E4stern forces which
Won control of the party in 1928 and
nominated the National Commit
tee under Chairman John J. RaSkob
since 1928 The intentnesS of the
South and West on rejecting the city
invader and getting the Democratic
party back under Southern and West
ern control caused them TO take little
interest in anything else.
In the fight on prohibition the dry
South and West did not really struggle
very hard for their point of view. AS
for the economic planks in the plat
form. the majority South and West did
not listen very carefully to hear whether
their farming and other interests are
cared for.
Union Of South and West.
The heart of this convention Is q
union OF rural South and West, held
together by dislike and fear Of the city
East How fundamental this cleavage
is can be realized by observing that it
is a duplicate of the convention
which in this city 36 years ago almost
to the day nominated William Jennings
Bryan.
The South and West did not choose
Gov. Roosevelt as its symbol. Left to
themselves, they would have chosen an
other. Roosevelt, however, partly by
conscious shrewdness Of those who pro-
NOTED him, partly by circumstances,
partly by influence of the name to
which he is a distant cousin, Theodore
Roosevelt, appealed to the South and
West. In getting that territory he went
farther than he at first intended and
alienated from him the Eastern city
leaders, symbolized by "Al" Smith.
Then in proportion as Smith fought
him the South and West solidified be-
hind him. The South and West are
not today fanatic about Roosevelt as
they were about Bryan. They have
become lately indeed a little dubious
about Roosevelt. At any time this week
the South and West would have been
equally satisfied with Newton D. Baker
The conviction that Baker would be a
stronger candidate grew each day. The
South and West feared however, that
If they tried TO switch their allegiance
Smith might leap upon them in the
process and seize control for the East
Fear Of Smith, the cities and the East
is the cement that holds the South and
West solidffied behind a candidate who
really does not greatly excite their
enthusiasm.
The City Unemployed.
In this line-up it has been made to
appear that Smith and the East are in
an economic sense what Bryan called
the octopus great business in
terests. That is not true. When Roose-
welt partisan Senator Clarence Dill of
Washington implied in effect that any
body voting against Roosevelt's interest
is an instrument of big business the
convention "booed' him. This disap-
proval was as spontaneous an act of
intelligent understanding and of Justice
as often happens in an imperfect world.
What Smith really represents Is the
city workingman. This is shown by
details Of the convention management.
The arrangements were made by parti-
sans of Smith, who, under Chairman
John J. Raskob, operate the machinery
of the permanent National Committee.
They thought in terms Of appealing to
the city workman, just now the city
unemployed. The opening prayer was
made by an officer of the Salvation
Army. The function Of singing THE
Star Spangled Banner" was given to a
Boston woman with name suggesting
our recent Armenian immigration In
cidentally, the anthem was never sung
with greater fervor or sincerity or musi-
cal skill. The prayer on the second
day was made by a Chicago clergyman
with a Polish name Here likewise
there was sincerity in the appeal for
succor for the distressed city unem-
ployed.
Roosevelt and his following are as
interested in the city workingman as
in any other element OF the electorate.
The difference between Roosevelt and
Smith is that Roosevelt by acts of his
as governor Of New York and by his
speeches has MADE the impression OF
having an equal or superior interest in
the rural South and West.
(Copyright, I932)