Evening star., 1932-02-11
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Widespread editorial comment was
made yesterday on the statement by
Jouett Shouse, chairman OF the Demo-
cratic National Executive Committee,
to the Associated PreEs that the party's
national headquartero was maintaining
strict impartiality in the pre-conven-
for the presidential nomination, and
that he personally favored sending Of
uninstructed delegations to the con-
vention.
st. Paul, Mimi, Dispatch dndepend-
ent): The statement is calculated to
answer the charge Mr.. Shouse is try
ing to block the nomination of Gov.
Roosevelt. There is grain OF genu-
inc wisdom in his reasoning, but 1t
does not have enough weight to nullify
the right of the rank and file of the
party to voice in the decision.
Minneapolis Tribune (Republican)-
One has reason to suspect that what
Mr.. Shouse fears more than anything
is convention deadlock over two out
standing men, with the possibility a
weaker candidate might win the nomi-
nation in q compromise move. AS a
friend of Mr.. Smith he has every rea-
son to assume that an uninstructed
convention would make the nomination
OF his friend great deal easier.
Unit Rule Opposed.
Austin (Tex.) American Demo
cratic Really uninstructed delega-
tions from all States, the delegates to
be high-minded and patriotic Demo-
Gratis, would work wonders in the max
ing of a platform and the naming of a
presidential standard bearer Delegates
hog-tied under the unit rule are dele
gates as dumb as wooden Indians.
Helena (Mont.) Record Herald IRE
publican) the storm clouds
that are gathering to break at the
Democratic National Convention. Jouett
Shouse is the latest leader to come for
ward with a plea for unpledged dele
cations, when he we'll knows that bor-
ders almost upon the impossible. He
AYERS he is neutral. which is just an
other way of side-stepping inevitable
trouble.
Albuquerque IN. N.Y. Journal (inde-
pendent) Roosevelt is the only candi-
date who might obtain control of the
convention. Shouse's statement. on top
Of that of Smith. indicates the des-
perate methods Roosevelt opposition is
taking to head him off,
Cheyenne Wyoming State Tribune
Leader lRepubIicanl-Jou Shouse's
Interpretation of his expressed wish for
Democratic National Convention COM
posed of delegates unpledged in ed
vance TO any candidate as complete
mpartiality' falls on the ears of sup
porters of Franklin D. Roosevelt as
reverse English" and the echo they
hear is Smith"
Field Should Be Omen.
st. Louis Post Dispatch independent
DemocraD 1T might very well happen
that the favorite Of today might not be
the logical choice of an unpledged con-
vention four months from now. 1t is
conceivable at least that the man of
the hour may appear in the meantime.
A national convention charged
with the high duty Of nominating a
President ought to be fair field where
the best man wins.
Ohio State Journal columbus. Re-
publican)- denying the existence of
any attempt to keep Franklin D. Roose-
welt from obtaining the Democratic
presidential nomination. Jouett Shouse
mas indicated the opposite pretty plain
ly. His explanation is too detailed
The Raskob-S b-Smith-Shouse COM
bination to stop Roosevelt is too ap-
parent to be denied away.
Seattle Times (Republican)-It is an
interesting coincidence that on the day
Mr.. Shouse was urging an,open- minded
and untrammeled convention, M
Rsskob, chairman of the Democratic
Nationa! Committee. declared mis- neu-
trality as to the various candidates
The Democratic party is under
heavy financial obligations to Mr
Raskob. 1t is evident Mr.
Shouse does not purpose to bite the
hand that writes the checks.
Clovis IN. Mex News journal
Democratic c)-Pledged votes often
create blocs with resultant rivalry that
clouds sane Judgment.
Neutrality Is Doubted.
San Francisco Chronicle (Republican)
-Jouett Shouses insistence on unin-
structed delegates looks hard to explain
to the Roosevelt cohorts as anything but
a move in the interest of Alfred E
Smiths candidacy. Mr.. Shouse
protests that he is neutral The Roose-
welt forces are likely to say he protests
too much. They can hardly view as
friendly, or even neutral. a suggestion
that they throw away the lead they
have so laboriously piled up.
Oklahoma City Times tDemocratic)
1t is difficult to avoid the conclusion
that Shouse. who was hired by Raskob
is hand in glove with Raskob and Smith
in the movement to thwart Franklin D
Roosevelt
Baltimore Sun (Democratic): II