Evening star., 1932-01-24
PRESIDENTIAL RACE FIGURES
ALL ARE FAMILIAR TO PUBLIC
Nominees Will Shape Method of Cam
paign, Whether on Stump or
Front Porch.

! politics, life itself, seems bright, al
! Turing adventure. AS Governor Of New
York he has Travelled more about State
enterprises than many a predecessor.
Smith Speaks for People.
As the unknown quantity Of the
Democratic re-convention situation,
former Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New
York, logically falls next in line. His
are too fresh in the popular mind to
need recapitulati0n. His strenuous
drive for votes in 1928 was typical.
+ The Smith keynote in campaign,
! State or national, has always been the
/ same. Whatever the issues. he pur-
| ports to speak to ard for men OF the
common lot. of hum BILE origin like him
| self. Simple words, a blunt, direct
manner and a voice untouched by
oratorical infections, avoiding any
| charge of affectation, are his weapons
on the stump.
Albert c. Ritchie, Marylands four
time Governor and the first open
candidate for the Democratic nomina-
ton, is another blunt-spoken man in
public. Starting with the unhesi-
| tatingly declared anti-prohibition views
around which his candidacy centerS,
the Marylander tends to apply the
same rule to every other issue he dis
cusseS. States rights and common
sense are the guiding principles Ritchie
invokes to meet any specific topic OF
discussion on the national hustings.
Ritchie Would Campaign in Person.
Ritchie is a man of distinguished
presence. Because he is less we'll
known nationally, perhaps, than other
| nomination possibilities, he, too, as
party nominee would be under special
necessity of making a Nationwide per-
sonal campaign.
Two other Democratic imponderables
of the campaign year are Newton ID.
Baker of Cleveland and Speaker John
Nance Garner of Texas. The names OF
both are already widely known, Baker
for his service as wartime head OF the
War Department; Garner as persona
flying Democratic conquest Of the House,
the major factor inspiring Democratic
hopes of sweeping victory in November,
Baker is perhaps more of a natural
orator than any of those named. He
speaks extemporaneously and displays
a depth of culture and learning in de-
bate.
His is the crusader type, however. He
is classified as the logical spokesman Of
Woodrow Wilson idealism, and the fact
may impair his chances of nomination.
Baker himself has given no indication
whether he is even receptive.
Garner Is Fiery Debater.
Garner would be a newcomer to the
national political stage, despite his
5oube decade in Congress He is fiery
debater in the House, adroit and skill
full in parliamentary maneuvering, in
slant in political give and take. Yet he
has never figured prominently on a
national campaign speakers list.
Nor even in his campaigns for re-
election to the House. Garner has made
very few speeches except on the House
floor. He has been reelected at times
without returning to his district from
Washington. How he would conduct
presidential campaign as nominee only
Garner himself knows.
One thing stands out. All of these
men would diSdain personalities. All
would demand for themselves and ac-
cord to opponents respect and accept
ance of patriotically sincere motives in
keeping with the dignity of the high
office at stake