Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-25
GARNER SET BACK
BY TAX DISPUTE
Speaker Still Has Chance to
Regain Prestige-Rooseve
and Hoover Gain Steadily.
BY BYRON PRICE.

While the political headlines busily
record the steady growth of delegate
support behind Herbert Hoover and
Franklin D. Roosevelt, events elsewhere
also are writing Important history in
both political parties.
For the Democrats, and particularly
for the presidential aspirations of
Speaker John N. Garner, the tax battle
in the House has taken on political
aspects of extraordinary significance.
Among the Republicans major under
surface agitation centers about new de-
mands from both sides with respect to
prohibition.
Gamers supporters have presented
the record of his House leadership as
outstanding proof of his availability for
the presidency. Now his espousal Of the
sales tax has been accompanied by at
least temporary loss of control and by
political reverherations far exceeding
expectations.
Gamers Friends.
What will be the ultimate effect on
his chances among the voters?
The Speakers friends declare he will
not suffer greatly in the long run,
although they plainly are concerned at
the embarrassments that have clustered
about him just at this stage of the
campaign The making of tax bill
is a long process 1t still is possible
the Garner leadership may regain. by
some sudden stroke. much Of the pres
tige it unquestionably has lost during
the past week.
Georgias sweeping Endorsement OF
Roosevelt at Wednesdays primary is a
barometer of disputed reliability in his
coming test of strength with Garner,
who was brought into the picture by
those convinced he was best qualified
to head off the fast-moving Roosevelt
boom. In Georgia Garner was entered
only by proxy, and by proxy without
outstanding popularity in the State.
The result was about what both sides
expected.
Clear cut Test in Nebraska.
A more clear-cut test-and probably
the first-will be furnished by the Ne
braska primary on April II, in WHICH
Roosevelt. Garner and Alfalfa Bill
Murray all are entered.
OF course, from Roosevelt's viewpoint,
Georgia is important. The primary
demonstrated in a Southern State the
same vote-getting ability New York S
Governor already had shown in North
Dakota and New Hampshire. To that
degree it increased RooseYelt's prestige
at a critical time, and its effect was
accentuated when another Southern
State, Kentucky, virtually was promised
the Roosevelt managers by Senator
Alben Barley.
Roosevelt now has efinitely-recorded
pledges of 85 delegates out of the TOO
and odd he needs He is sure to pick
up great many more during the COM
ing month, and most estimates OF his
first-ballot strength range from 500 up
ward. Then it will be a question of
the staying qualities of the smaller
groups supporting the is or more cam
didates against him.
Platform Is G. o. D. Trouble.
President Hoover, virtually alone in
the Republican race, picked up the
Iowa delegation of IS during the week,
and now has 81 delegates instructed,
pledged or claimed for him. Few dis
pute that by the end of April enough
to nominate will be in the bag.
The Republican troubles relate
rather to the platform-and to some
degree to the vice presidency. Two
months ago it was conceded generally
that the ticket again would be Hoover
and Curtis. Now some party leaders
are urging that second place be given
to the Eastern seabOard, and to an op-
ponent Of the dry laws.
Vice President Curtis has many
friends, and the movement against him
has not yet clearly developed. 1t may
work itself out along with the problem
of what to do about prohibition -
problem about which nothing definite
can be said, because the head of the
party, President Hoover, is saying
nothing definite.