Evening star., 1932-04-15

Nearly everybody, even Democratic
newspapers and newspaper men, play
up the Smith Roosevelt feud as the
outstanding feature Of Jefferson day
in Washington. A far more impressive
manifestation to this observer was the
battle lust and victory consciousness
that permeated the Democratic clans.
II G.. o. P. scouts on the job faithfully
reported their findings, they must have
told of the mighty will to win which
fires every Democratic soul in 1882.
Hard boiled party cynics, who too often
have seen the Donkey triumphant h
April and slaughtered in November
werf struck by the splll- OF the Jeffer-
SonaN lo"e feast. Seldom. except at
nttlonal convention, has an event
brought together so large and varied
an attendance. Every section was rep
resented. Women were numerous. All
and Sundry brought tidingS OF the
mounting tide Of discomfort with Re
publican miSrule" A common assertion
was that "a yellow dog" could carry
the Union for President on the Demo-
cratic ticket this year, SO disgusted is
the electorate with existing conditions
and SO determined to alter them by a
sweeping change in the national admin
lstration. The collapse of Democratic
as tieabite which the voters will have
forgotten about cons before election day
Significant as the Democratic fight
ing spirit is, with its handspring in the
cast-iron hope of victory. the Smith
Roosevelt fracas is saturated with
dynamite and poison 1t contains the
same i.ind of destructive possibilities
that smashed William Howard Taft
when another Roosevelt was arrayed
against him in 1912. Al Smith cannot
conceivably be nominated at Chicago
himself. But he can throw forked
lightning all through the convention
and into the election campaign after
ward II his arChfOe walks off with the
nomination. When Smith announced
that he has his coat and vest or
TO combat a "demagogic candidate"
for the presidency he didn't mean he
has thus dlSrobcd for the pre-conven-
tion contest only He has enlisted for
the duration Of the war. which doesn't
end until November next. Every
primary makes Gov Roosevelt look
more and more like All invincible
bidder for the Democratic standard
bFarrtEhip His real troubles will date
from that time onward It's during
the ensuing Summer and Fall that
the happy warrior" will get in his
deadly work.
What's the true lnwafdneSs Of Al
hintn's vendetta against Gov Roose-
vsH' It's never been CirCumstantially
dis spEed The Commonest impression
Is tl.4t the idol Of Manhattan regarded
the 1882 nomination as his oyster by
divine right and in common Justice
that Smith was entitled TO another try
at the presidency under conditions i'm
mepsufably more promising than they
we're in % Times are desperately
hard The wet trend is undeniable.
Hoover. who blew up Smith four years
ago. has himself blown up-so runs the
argument Of Smiths supporters They
contend that every angle of it bristleS
with the fairness and the obviouSness
OF giving Al his second chance, and that
Frank Roosevelt threw himself athwart
that legitimate ambition with the faith
lessness OF BrutuS. Not all of the
5000, 900 men and women who voted
for Smith. will retaliate by stabbing
Gov. Roosevelt in the back. but after
this week it becomes a moral certainty
that thousands will do so if Al Smith
gives the word. Many Democrats
think that's exactly what he did give
on JEFFERSON Qay.
*
All doubts have now vanished that
the Democrats will be wringing wet in
1882. Gov. Harry Byrd's conversion to
the anti-dry cause-next to the Smith
Roosevelt fiare-up. the sensation of the
Jefferson week - virtually takes the
Dixie Democracy of the water wagon.
That the Chicago platform will contain
q repeal referendum or modification