Evening star., 1932-04-07
ROOSEVELT GROUP
FORESEES VICTORY
Pre- Convention Drive Opens
Here at Meeting in
Willard.

Gov. Roosevelt of New York last
night was pictured in victorious
march to the White House. as the pre-
convention campaign of Democrats IN
the District got under way with a
meeting of the local branch OF the
Roosevelt League of Clubs at the
Willard Hotel.
ton. one of the original hackers of the
New Yorker. a group of speakers which
included leaders Of organized De-
mocracy in the Capital pointed to
primary triumphs already scored by
Roosevelt throughout the country and
predicted his nomination and election.
The local party heads-John F.
Costello, Democratic national COM
mitteeman, who is president OF the
league, and John B. Colpoys, chairman
of the Democratic Central Committee,
vice president Of the league, also
discussed the local situation, referring
arisen again over party rule here.
Colpoys pointed out in this con-
nection that, although Democratic
leaders propose to work for slate OF
Roosevelt delegates to the national
convention, the primary in which
these six delegates and alternates will
be chosen along with the % members
Of the Central Committee and the
national committeeman and committee
woman, will furnish an open field for
all who desire to contest for places.
Voice Given by Parties.
Both Costello and Colpoys also
emphasized that the Democratic and
Republican parties afford, in a small
way. a right to the people OF the
District that is denied by the Govern
ment-that of voting in a primary.
THE two great parties are kinder
TO us than the Government, CoSteilo
said.
Praising Gov. Roosevelt as an
executive, Senator Dill, in comparison,
assailed the administration OF Presl-
dent Hoover, blaming present conditions
on special privilege legislation" the
tariff, monopolies. stock juggling, sales
of worthless foreign bonds, and
dishonest and crooked management OF
banks" which. he said, Federal ana
State bank examiners did nothing 10
stop"
The only opposition to the Roose-
velt candidacy today, OUTSIDE OF tnaC
from "favorite sons Dill said, comes
from the power trust"
He hit at President Hoover on the
power issue, declaring that Mr..
dOOVeI Oy uAS aPPOAAUSSS " VAC - =
Commission has completely satisfied
the power trust"
He also criticized the administration
On Unemployment relief, and Tor
failing to take earlier action toward
balancing the budget, asserting that
Roosevelt had coped satisfactorily with
both of these problems in his State.
Huston Thompson Speaks.
Huston Thompson, former chairman
of the Federal Trade Commission, who
now is serving the Power Commission
as special counsel in the fight Of the
Appalachian Electric Power Co. against
licensing requirements for the cele-
brated New River project, also spoke,
being called from the audience by
Costello, who was presiding.
Mr.. Thompson likewise held up the
power question as important, ana
urged also that Democrats prepare to
meet a fight that, he said, would be
waged on Gov. Roosevelt on the
grounds that his physical condition
would initiate against his fulfilling the
duties of the presidency.
Scofing at such a contention. Mr..
Thompson asserted the issue was one to
be grasped boldly.
The best defense is good offense,"
he said.
It was announced that the date Of
the primary would be set by the
Central Committee early next week
and that the widest publicity would
be given to all arrangements to allow
for the fullest participation.
The Roosevelt League is to meet
weekly. There we're about 200 persons
at last nights gathering.