Evening star., 1932-07-07
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

DNnlOCIdAS
ately to close up the wounds left by
the Democratic National Convention
lust closed. That those wounds ran
deep into the body Of the Democratic
party is evident from the conversation
Of some OF the supporters OF Alfred Z.
Smith and some of the other opponents
of the nomination of Gov. Franklin D.
Roosevelt of New York for the presi-
Dental nomination. At last Mr.. Smith
has come forward with a statement
that he intends TO support the Demo-
cratic party" Ii the coming campaign.
Even in that statement he indicates
however. depth of the resentment felt
By the anti Roosevelt Democrats and
his own supporters when he says that
he has been urged to head an inde-
pendent ticket Mr.. Smith, however
has shown his party loyalty in declin-
ing to be beguiled into becoming the
leader of a third national ticket. Per-
hsps he had in mind the rate OF the
Bull Moose" party in 1912. when a
great Republican leader broke away
from the G.. o. P. In that year the
effect of the third party ticket was TO
make certain a Democratic victory at
the polls and at the same time not TO
bring victory to the leader OF the inde-
Dendent ticket, the late Col. Theodore
Roosevelt. Roosevelt had been the idol
of millions of people in this country,
Just as has Mr.. Smith.
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The Smith statement made no men
ton by name of Gov. Roosevelt nor
of Speaker Garner, the heaos Of the
Democratic national ticket. But as II
seems impossible for Mr.. Smith to sup
port the Democratic party without sup
pcrting at the same time its preSiden-
tial ticket, his statement has been
widely interpreted as meaning that Mr.
Smith intends to give his support to
Roosevelt fnd Garner. Perhaps this
olive branch viii be held out to Mr.
Smith by Roosevelt. 1t has in the past
Even before Mr.. Smith made his state
mcnt that ne would support the Demo
cratic Party, many of his principal
followers in the fight for the presi-
Dental nomination had announced they
would go through for the Roosevelt
Garner ticket. In no State did Mr.
Smith have more ardent support than
in Massachusetts,. Senator David
Walsh. however, and many of the other
democratic leaders there, including
REPRESENTATIVE John MacCormack OF
Boston and other members of the House
have declared themselves in the fight
Ito win for Roosevelt. Massachusetts,
is ordinarily Republican State. Al
Smiths victory there four years age
was the first for a democratic presi-
dental nominee since the Civil War
except in 1912. when Wilson won with
a divided Republican vote going to Taft
and Roosevelt. 1t becomes important
a. trr11d hn NIB
and file of the democratic followers OF
Al Smith in the Bay State will go along
with the leaders like Senator Walsh OF
whether they will prefer not to vote
for Roosevelt because of their djsap-
pointment over the Smith defeat in the
Chicago convention.
A dispatch from Massachusetts, de-
clares that Mayor James M. Curley OF
Boston has announced his support OF
Gov Joseph Ely, Democrat, for renom-
ination and reelection as governor. The
Democrats here regard this as hope
full sign that the Smith and Roosevelt
factions may get together in the State
Curley led the fight for Roosevelt in
structed delegates to the Democratic
National Convention, while Ely was the
head and forefront along with Senator
Walsh of the Smith drive in MaSSachu-
setts. Perhaps the Roosevelt high
command has told Mayor Curley that
/ he must play BALI with his one time
enemies. In any event, there must be
joining Of the Democratic forces II
Roosevelt is to have a chance in
Massachusetts, against President Hoover
Carrying the Bay State for the demo-
eracy this year is going to be no ctnch
IL present indications are correct
There Is not the same urge for the
people to vote for Roosevelt as for
Smith. Times have been hard in
Massachusetts, for SO many years that
the people have had chance to adjus.
themselves and New England has been
better off in recent months than other
parts of the country.
+ 4 ~
Progressive Republican leaders in the
West are looking the political situation
over carefully Just now. Senator Norri,
Of Nebraska has come out for RooSe-
Velt's election, it is true. But Senator
Norris had indicated he would do just
that thing weeks before the Democratic
National Convention was held. There
is Senator Gerald P. Nye of North Da-
kota, for example, who has just beer
renominated in a primary election by
vote of 10000 to $1,000. Efforts
have been made TO make Senator Nyt
say that he will support Gov. Roose-
velt against President Hoover in the
coming presidential race. Senator Nye
however, is saying nothing about whom
he will support. Indeed he may say
nothing about the presidential candi-
dates until election day. He has him.
self to re-elect in any event. He has
as an object lesson the part which
Senator Shipstead, another progressive
played in Minnesota in 1928. Senator
! Shipstead. running as the farner-labol
candidate for the Senate. but with de-
cided Republican leanings, kept hi,
| mouth tight shut on the presidential
! candidates four years ago and was re-
elected by a tremendous vote.
Then there is Senator Blaine of Wis
! consin. The Wisconsin Senator has nc
| love for President Hoover. He sup
ported Smith against Hoover in 1928
| But Mr.. Blaine is a candidate for the
| Republican nomination fer the Senate
in the Badger State this year and the
primary does not take place until Sep
| tember Under the circumstances
Senator Blaine is not announcing his
! stand on the presidential candidates at
present, nor will he do so until he has
the Republican nomination safely in
his pocket-or until he has been de-
MED that nomination by the voters
Blaine, it has been reported may have
real fight on his hands in the COM
ing primary. But If the decision OF
the North Dakota voters in favor OF
Nye Is any criterion, Blaine the Pro-
greSslve should win over his regular
Republican opponent. On the other
hand. the regular Republicans trounced
| the La Toilette Progressives in the nri-
mary for the election of delegates to
the Republican National Convention.
which has sent cold shivers down Mr.
Blaine's back
4 4
While the dry leaders and their or
paniZatiOnS have heero eaaI,;,1o. a. 5.4,,.