Evening star., 1932-04-14
Mr.. Smith Strips for Battle.

Addressing the embattled Democracy
of America last night on the occasion
It's annual tribute TO the founder
o. the party, in this city its titular
held marshal threw down the glove of
chaHenge, not to the enemy but to his
prospective successor as leader of the
host. Such in effect was the situation
when former Gov. Alfred E. Smith,
candidate of his party in 1928 for the
presidency, declared with Iarvent en-
phasis that he would ''ta,:e of his coat
and his vest" and fight to the end
against the nomination OF a candidate
Tor the nomination who persists in
any demogogic appeal TO the masses
OF working people of this country to de-
stroy themselves by setting class against
class and rich against poor" This was
an unmistakable reference to a recent
ladio speech by Gov Franklin D.
Roosevelt. now the leading aspirant for
the Democratic nomination. 1t was
an explicit exception to his own state
ment, made a few weeks ego. that
while he would accept a nomination
himself If it were rendered to him by
the convention he would not be for
or against any candidate.
Under the unwritten law of political
organizations in this country, Mr.. Smith
Is today the leader of his party. by
virtue of his nomination FOR the presi-
dency in 1928. But that leadership
is slipping from him as his former
friend and close political associate. the
present Governor of New York, con-
tinues to gather delegates to the ma
tional convention at rate to promise
MIN the nomination at an early stage
OF the proceedings in Chicago. He got
into the race himself tardily and with
qualif1cations. He has had little support
IN the primaries held subsequent to
his rather faltering announcement.
The stop Roosevelt" movement has
not been aided in any appreciable de-
gree by his action. 1t now remains to
be seen whether his challenge of last
night viii have any effect upon the
subsequent delegate selections.
FITTING himself against the un-
named, but sufficiently identified dem
agogue," whose proposals for relief of
the national distress he dismissed as
inadequate and dangerous. Mr.. Smith
advanced three remedies One was the
writing Of the tariff schedules bv a
commission independent of political in
huences. Another was a bond issua for
public works-already proposed at the
Jackson day dinner by himself and
later aSSailed as a stop gap" bv Gov.
Roosevelt. A third was a twentv-year
moratorium on war debts owing to the
United States, with an annual applica-
ton to those debts of twenty-five per
cent OF the value Of American goods
bought by the debtor nations.
These economic remedies will not At
tract as much attention as the chal-
lenge flung at Gov, Roosevelt in respect
TO MS nomination. They are not likely.
indeed, to be seriously considered The
tariff commission plan is an old idea
discounted by the fact that the Consti-
tuition vests the House of Representa-
tlVes with the sole power of origin ting
revenue measures. There is no novelty
IN the public works program through
/ immense borrowings of money. The
i lorelgn debt prescription is uniuue. but
not impressive.
( Taken altogether Mr. Smiths con-
tribution to the jefferson day discussion
Is not calculated to effect any particu-
! lar result at Chicago. and whether il
VIII have any effect in November re-
mains to be seen. 1t cannot, however
. De oth2EwiSe than heartening to the
. prospective Republican candidate.