Evening star., 1932-07-01
GOV. ELY'S SPEECH
FIERY YET LOGICAL
But His 0ratory, for All Its
Glow, Fails to Stir
ReaIiSt Delegates.
BY WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.

CHICAGO. July CNANA).-A
long, hot day of gable, clack, racket,
tumult and the mechanical simulations
of passions marked the fourth days
session of the great National Demo-
cratic Convention far into the night.
Not ali the passions there were sim
ulated. Some were genuine. There
was a real moment when the galleries
followed the band and sang NY Hero
after Al Smith had been put in nomina-
ton. Delegates from less than half a
dozen States rallied under Al Smiths
banner.
The marching crowds and the paid
bands on the floor Of the convention
passed among delegates WHO stood Stoi-
icly immoyable to the uproSr, which
was largely Clack so far ss the demon
stration on the floor was concerned.
But in the gallsries-there the emo
tion was real.
EIys Speech Impressive.
Gov. Ely Of Massac chusetts made one
of the most impressive speeches of the
four days' session in putting Smith in
nomination. The pathetic fact that
New York. Gov. Smiths own State, was
not the first to give his name to the
convention. but permitted neighoor
state to present him, gave polgnancy
to Gov. Ely's speech, which had It's hre
as we'll as its logic.
And vet for all its glow Gov. Ely's
Grafton moved the delegates not at all.
The modern political convention OF
thousand men, each picked largely pc
cause he is an adept in pollucS, De
cause he is a realist and follows orders
10 fNt off
Nearly 40 years-36, in fact-haVe
nassed since Bryan swept the Demo-
cratic convention here in Chicago of
its feet and the delegates rallied 10 MS
nomination. That was the last miracle
in American politics.
Theodore Roosevelt came TO Chicago
to trv miracles He also had the gal
leries with him. the crowds in Chicago,
but Taft had the delegates and Roose-
welt was vanquished.
TODAY another Roosevelt hes the
delegates and the galleries cannot move
them. Smith, a sturdier man and wiser
than BRYAN. saw the galleries thrill at
his name, saw tears in the eyes OF
thousands who loved him, and knew
that all the cheers and all the singing,
all the crashing of bands and the
throbbing of drums were only han ana
fareWeI IDH ye5E W a 4C3NCA SAS'NNA'
but beaten and ignored.
Partly His Own Fault.
Somewhat it was Smiths own fault.
In this convention he has been saying
cattv things about Roosevelt, merely
cattv-not in Smiths best manner.
Today the Alfred E. Smith organiza-
ton circularized the delegates end press
with an article written by Haywood
Broun smashing at Gov. Roosevelt. II
Smith had said it and Broun broadcast
il. it would have defeated Roosevelt.
As it was a Smith -Broun circular, 1t
was merely q wrist-slap. II merely re-
veals the fact that Smith hates Roose-
velt and is afraid for some queer rea-
son to put his wrath behind the punch:
One feels that the Happy Warrior
has been sparring in the ring. He de-
ljyers wisecracks in fine form for toe
work. but his left jab is wanting, and
his enemies fear no wallop.
Nevertheless. the Smith cemonstra-
ton was the most gorgeous thing-the
most real thing in the convention.
The Roosevelt demonstration was In
the nature of things wooden. II
creaked en- the hinges OF its well laid
plans.
In the galleries tens of thousands
looked down in the pit as Alabama
Welded to New York They saw slowly
the Roosevelt portraits arise in the
aisles: the Roosevelt banners appeared
at stated intervals along the 1oorWays.
They observed the BANDS cutting in,
taking their we'll appointed places. They
saw all the preliminary maneuvers OF
a vast stage spectacle forming ano
they gazed at the preparations without
enthusiasm.
When the thing swung into position
and began to perform. the galleries un-
moved at the numbering machinery on
the floor. knew how hollow ana empty
it was.
This was no fault of GOV. Roosevelt
and no detracti from the worth OF
his candidacy. Mr.. HcOvers demon
stration had the same purely mechan-
izeo aspect as the galleries saw 1t swing
into action like some tremendous mari
onette marching at the pull Of its wires.
Roosevelt, indeed, occupies somewhat
the position in this convention, SO far
as his lead in the votes goes ano the
lack Of enthusiasm for his name, that
Mr.. Hoover occupied in the same nan
two weeks ago Both men got their
delegates early-before the passions Of
the Ueople had grown warm. The dele
gates are here in the stadium under
directions, obeying faithfully.
Points Of Similarity.
Moreover. 1t is likely that If Roose-
welt WINS he and Mr. Hoover VIII have
many points OF similarity so far as the
emotional responser Of the United
States touches them Probably the
cheers and ieers. the filings and arrows,
the loyalties and hatreds will center
around issues rather than men. Two
candidates. Hoover and Roosevelt prob
ably will remain detached. almost aloof,
from the realities Of the campaign.
A new song was introduced into the