Evening star., 1932-06-05
BY GEORGE VAN SLYKE.

traditions Of their parties, the Repub-
licans and Democrats are of for Chi
cago and that strangest Of American
political phenomena-the national con-
vention. The advance agents are on
the way. The field managers are set
ting up the stage. The thirty second
President is about to be nominated to
preside over the Republic for the four
momentous years ahead.
The master minds are shaping the
plans for the dramatic spectacle. and
soon the land will be filled with the
resonding clash OF personal rivalries,
the noise Of battle as strong personali-
ties fight for control Of the democracy,
the conflict Of partisan and sectional
groups struggling for the greatest po-
litical prize in the world and gloomy
warnings and forecasts Of disaster from
the acqusitive gentlemen seeking their
own advantage.
Tradition has it that the Republicans
show more sk1llful management, better
control of their forces, less animostty
and more restraint In the conduct OF
their convention. That Is one Of the
strong appeals the party makes to the
Nation. This year appears to be no
exception. They have relatively
smooth and easy road ahead, consider
ing the fact that their administration
Is just emerging from one Of the most
disastrous and uprooting economic de-
pressions in the history Of the country.
danger, and with the entire mental tai
ent of the party concentrated on writing
the hundred words needed to make the
ideal liquor plank, it seems possible
something may be evolved to avert the
threatened conflict.
It u more than tradition-it Is real
history that the Democrats love their
convention battle. They have staged
the great political dramas OF the last
half century. The party out Of power
naturally lacks the centralized authority
Of the administration In power, with It's
army Of disciplined odlceholders meekly
obeying the orders Of the commander
in chief. And so the Democrats are on
their way evidently fully prepared to
live up to their reputation.
As any student Of American politics
knows, anything can happen in a ma
tional convention Candidates who were
positive winners down to the eve OF con-
ventions have gone to defeat. Lincolns,
Garfields, Bryans and Hardings have
stepped into the blazing limelight at the
last moment to thrill the country. Is
there another upset ahead?
Can the Democrats 60 through their
crisis, torn by intense and bitter SEC
tional and religious emotions, and
come out O solidihed party with .
real lead~3 Can the minority, Stub
born and capable In It's determination
to defeat tbe leading candidate. beat
down that leader. With IN almost -.
sured majority at his back, and not
tear the old party to pieces? Chicago
holds the answer.
Now that the preliminarieS are end
ed and the big show is about to start.
the politics OF the campaign can be
reduced to relatively simple terms.
What has been obscure in prospect be-
comes plain In retrospect.
Six months ago wise men shook
their heads and said sadly that Preei-
dent Hoover could not weather the
storm. II was bad luck, but too much
for any man to survive. He would
have to pass out to save his party
from annihilation. Any Democrat could
beat him In the Autumn Of 1882. It
was certain that a third party would
emerge. The Borahs Of the Senate.
the Pinchots of the East, the radicals
Of the West were against him. The
odds should be 8 or s to ! that
Hoover could not be nominated; even
longer that he could not be elected
II nominated. Such was the picture
when the campaign began to hit It's
stride.
Today the Republicans are about to
enter their convention and it Is a one
man convention. The only serious
challenge offered to the denomination
of Mr.. Hoover came from former Sen
ator France Of Maryland. who made
q national canvass. with almost no
results. La Toilette and Pinchot have
been trimmed in their own States.
Borah II sulking. but not leading: The
third-party movement has faded ous
and Is almost forgotten q . factor IN
the situation. Hoover has builded
cent months in handling the immense
problem Of the Government and has
been aided by the weakness Of the
Democratic control of the House. He
will have practically unanimous,
nomination few days hence. And
the trained shouters will put on .
demonstration which will convince the
country that the party sdores the
President and sincerely believes him
one Of the great men Of history. Inc
Republicans, with q convention fuu OF
omceholders. can do 1t. too.
+ \
When the Democrats came to their
first crossways in their jackson day
celebration in Washinton last January
their politics was Q tumble. Gov
Franklin D. Roosevelt Of New York
was leader in the race. More than {
dozen other candidates were IN the
field. Al Smith was the brown
derbied mystery Of the party. Roose,
welt was too far in the lead; he could
not stand the pace. they said.
The party has travelled far since tnal
day. Roosevelt has not only held tn
pace but has made . faster pace and
one which none Of his rivals could
keep up With. He goes 70 the conven'
sursd : M ms,crstS. % Ia W,s hsvs NOR
tann Go vo&e1 a IL mt tA9ot, ~