Evening star., 1932-05-01

NEAR CL|MAXF|GHT
Hopes Lie in California, Ala
bama and South Da-
kota Primaries.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 30-Alfred E.
Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt are
in more open warfare than ever before
as the political battle-ground shifts
thousands of miles to California.
Rarely does either mention the name
of the other, in public or in press con-
ference, but the line between them has
been clearly drawn.
Each is banking heavily on delivering
a severe blow to the others political
ambitions next Tuesday, when Cali
fornia elects its A Democratic National
Convention delegates.
Since Smith captured the entire
Massachusetts, delegation of 36, his
name has been the subject of much
of the political talk at Roosevelt head
quarters.
Fight to Last Ditch.
In statements issued during the week
from the two camps, there have been
indications that the fight which reaches
its climax next week Is being fought to
the last ditch.
Both Smith and Roosevelt were out
of the city today on vacation trips, but
James A. Farley, the Governors unoffi-
cial campaign manager, talked Of the
prospects.
"If Roosevelt gets the rs delegates
to be elected Tuesday in California, Ala
bama and South Dakota, it will be all
in the bag" said the man who is
head of the New York Boxing Commis-
sion, chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, and at the same time close
personal friend of both Smith and
Roosevelt.
1t is Farley who has been claiming,
even in the face Of Roosevelt's defeat
In Massachusetts,, that the Governor
will be nominated on the first ballot.
Explains Hopes.
Today for the first time he explained
what he meant.
He does not think Roosevelt will get
the ITO votes necessary for nomination
on the first roll call, but he is sure. he
says. Roosevelt will have so nearly 770
that enough delegates to make up the
difference will shift before the result
of the first ballot is announced.
That, technically, would give the
Governor a first ballot nomination.
In defending Roosevelt against some
editorial criticisms that he has not
been specific enough" in his speeches,
Farley said:
There will be plenty Of time for
him to be specific after his nomination.
Then he will have to make his posi-
ton clear on all national subjects"
In California, Farley predicts Roose-
velt will run first, Karner second and
Smith a very poor third.
He said the Governor has several
thousand active workers in Los An
geles County alone; that all Smiths
strength lies in San Francisco, and
that all Garner's strength Is in South
ern California.
Smiths Friends Optimistic.
But his predictions were made in the
face of equally optimistic claims from
Smiths friends. who are convinced
Garner will split the Roosevelt vote and
thus assure a sweeping victory for
Smith.
Roosevelt, by annexing the Hawaii
and Alaska delegations of each, has
boosted his strength to 279 votes,
claimed, pledged and instructed.
This does not include any from
Pennsylvania, where the results are still
in doubt, with Roosevelt leaders claim
ing so to sc.
In telegram to Smith today, Charles
A. Jones. one of the former Governors
Pennsylvania leaders, said a careful
check indicated the 76 would be divided:
Smith, 81; Roosevelt, 35; uninstructed,
without leanings in either direction. 4.
THE result" he SAID, sis the more
surprising when it is borne IN mind that
the Roosevelt organization, aided by
what then seemed band wagon pros
poets and plenty of finances, have been
assiduously at work for a year, while
the large body of Pennsylvania Demo-
Gratis who are opposed to grooved con-
vention, irrespective of what particular
candidate it might aid, had no place to
rally until former Gov. Smith reaSserted
his party leadership on February g."
Jones called the preferential vote re-
suit "a great disappointment to the
Roosevelt managers"