Evening star., 1932-03-06
BY GEORGE VAN sLYKE.

NEW YORK, Marcn 5.-Eacn ster
forward In the campaign Of rivals fol-
the Democratic nomination for Presi-
dent gives further evidence that the
tional feud, threatening damage to the
national organization and its chances
Of victory by repetition Of something
like the Madison Square convention OF
1924 and the sectional conflict of 1928
The clash between Gov. Franklin D
Roosevelt and Alfred E. Smith for con-
troll Is out in the open at last, after
months of shadow boxing. It isn't q
polite, friendly contest any longer. The
amenities are being discarded. It is q
fight for political life. Bitterness which
long has smoldered under the surface
Is breaking through.
Al Smith discarded his pretense OF
being receptive, but inactive" candi-
date this week by authorizing over his
signature his entry in the Massa-
chusetts primary, and at the same time
Frank Hague Of New Jersey, his polit-
New England States and began staging
big drive, well financed and managed
with political skill.
With the uncovering of Smiths mill
tant candidacy, the religious issue has
flared UP again in New Hampshire as
prime factor in the New England
contests and the shock has been felt
through the party into the deep South
and the Far West. Al Smith cannot
move outside his own State, apparently,
without reviving that issue.
Tammany silent, sullen and watch
full, becomes more and more q deter
mining factor in this dramatic rivalry
Of Roosevelt and Smith. The situation
has reached the point that support OF
New York's 81 delegates is essential
to Gov. Roosevelt. His removal of one
Tammany sheriff, followed by the i'm
mediate appointment of another Tam
many regular to the Job, has somewhat
relieved the tension in New York, but
the effect this week on the Roosevelt
following elsewhere has been bad. The
Governor is believed to have lost ground
because Of 1t.
The favorite sons are driving hard,
convinced at last that Al Smith is in
the fight in earnest and that a coalition
to hold Roosevelt through the early
stages Of the convention Is q reality
even now.
Meanwhile. as the fighting grows
more intense On the Democratic side,
President Hoover has completed his
third year in the White House this
week. Assured another nomination, the
President approaches the Republican
convention with amazingly little parti-
san trouble on his hands. The leaders
are telling him the worst Is over, that
he has come through three terrible
years with less damage than might
have been expected and that whatever
the Republicans are unable to do for
him in times Of adversely the Demo-
Gratis are trying their best to do. Politi-
cal lines are Tightening in Congress as
Speaker Garner guards the Democratic
possessions and his own boom goes on
apace.
The Democracy viii be watching
nervously next Tuesday night for re-
turns from the New Hampshire pri-
mary, the first test at the polls be-
tween Gov. Roosevelt and Al Smith.
The little New England State, with her
eight votes, probably never has taken
on such national importance in o Dem
ocratic primary.
= So
Until five weeks ago New Hampshire
was conceded to Gov. Roosevelt with
out an argument. Then Al Smith be-
came receptive but inactive" candi-
date. His friends in Massachusetts, his
stronghold on the Atlantic seaboard,
began moving. The campaign spread
into the bordering State In two weeks
the Smith forces had begun to show
fight. During the last week they have
been making a real campaign under
the direction OF Frank Hague and John
J. Curtin Of New York, the latter being
close friend Of Mr.. Smith.
And in the closing clash the old
religious issue has fiared up again. Sec
ond to that In Importance has come
the projection Of prohibition into the
primary. Smiths friends evidently
divide naturally into two classes on
lently for or against him on one or
the other. The Smith forces, literally
supplied with money, took the offensive
this week and instantly, in spite of
all the Roosevelt managers could do,
the Smith Democrats and anti-Smith
Democrats were at 1t again, with Roose-
velt caught between.
Excepting for the moral effect, the
outcome in New Hampshire will not be
very important in the count Of dele
gates. But the way the Smith candi-
dacy has shaped itself there, where
tolerance Is not as unknown as in some
sections, convinces the party leaders
elsewhere that the former Governor
cannot 60 through the battle Of the
convention without projecting the reli-
gious and prohibition issues as the
determining factors.
The party leaders everywhere sense
that danger and deplore It. They de-
nounce It, but fear 1t. They know
the religious question Is double -barreled.
The Roosevelt men seek in every pos
sible way to avoid becoming involved
in such q controversy. They frown
upon 1t, but may not escape It. The
Governor cannot afford 70 be placed IN