Evening star., 1932-02-08
The Brown Derby in the Ring.

Democratic polltlclanS-RnQ Repup-
licans also-are wondering just how
far into the ring the former Governor
Of New York's statement has carried
that hat. His announcement still leaves
something to the imagination. 1t is
not as clear as the statement of Gov.
Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Demo-
Gratis in North Dakota, when he ac-
cepted their invitation to enter his
name in the State presidential prefer
ential primary, nor as clear as the dec
laration of Gov. Albert C. Ritchie of
Maryland at a recent dinner in Balti-
more, when he frankly said that he
would like to be President. Mr. Smith
has said:
If the Democratic National ConVen-
ton after careful consideration should
decide that it wants me to lead, I will
make the fight; but I will not make
q preconvention campaign for dele
gates.
It sounds as though the former New
York Governor was dabbling his toes
in the water to test its temperature be-
fore making the plunge into the sea Of
presidential politics again. In Demo-
cratic quarters opposed to the nomina-
ton of Gov. Roosevelt for President
It Is still argued that Mr.. Smith is
not particularly desirous Of having the
nomination himself; that his candi-
dacy is designed. to stop" Roosevelt.
There was no reason on earth why
Mr.. Smith should not have announced
his candidacy for the presidential NOM
ination If he desired to do SO. Nor was
there any reason why he should an
nounce that he would make no pre-
convention campaign, except perhaps
q desire to give other candidates a
chance to clean up in the presidential
primary States, which would not seem
to be good tactics if the former Gov
ernor actually wants the nomination
unless, indeed, he feared the primaries
would 90 against him.
The actual effect Of Mr.. Smiths
statement will be to put him into the
race for the presidential nomination. In
some States his friends already are plan
ming to send delegations ready to vote
for Mr. Smith. The opinion is ex-
pressed that the entry Of Smith into
the campaign~is Is q greater blow to the
candidacy Of Roosevelt than it is to any
other aspirant for the presidential nom
ination; that 1t paveS the way to a
deadlocked convention, with Roosevelt
on one side and Smith and the favor
ite son" candidates allied against the
New York Governor on the other side.
In such circumstances, with 9 two-thirds
vote necessary to nominate a presi-
dental candidate, the chances for q
compromise candidate, a dark horse
candidate, appear to have increased.
While the entry Of Smith into the
presidential race may have the effect
OF losing to Roosevelt a considerable
number Of delegates upon whom the
Roosevelt camp was counting, 1t never
theless will solidify the opposition to
Smith back Of the New York Governor.
There are many Democrats In this
country today who are opposed to the
denomination Of Mr. Smith. There
are many Democrats who have no de-
sire to have Smith take the position in
their party which was formerly held by
the late William Jennings Bryan, who,
with a strong following in the party
won the presidential nomination three
times and each time went down to de-
feat
II Smith and his friends are de-
termined upon a last-ditch fight to re-
nominate him for President, the Demo-
cratic National Convention is likely to
prove . battle-ground indeed. If they
are merely determined to give Smith
the veto power in the conven-
ton to block the aspirations Of Gov.
Roosevelt, another situation may be
presented But whatever they plan, it
looks as though the coming national
convention would be as hard fought as
those Of 1912 and Of 1924. Anything
may happen All Of which has not hurt
the feelings Of the Republicans.