Evening star., 1932-02-01
ThePoliticalM Mill
BY G.. Gould Lincoln.

Alfred <. Smith will, according to
a dispatch in the Brooklyn Eagle, an
nounce his availability as Demo-
cratic nominee for President within a
short time. This has been q con-
tingency which great many Demo-
Gratis have feared, but hoped would be
avoided. If Gov. Smith becomes A
candidate for the presidential nom
ination, the party Is likely to be split
wide open, they hold, with row the
PROPORTIONS of which will resemble the
1924 conflict. when McAdoo led the
forces of the South and West against
the democracy of the North and East.
In 1928 the South and West had no
ralIying post against the Smith nom
nation. They accepted it in the DEM
ocratic convention with scarcely a
struggle. What happened after the
nomination had been made is mat
ter of history, with four of the States
of the solid" South going for Hoover
and all the States Of the West.
But this year the Democrats OF the
south and the West have a rallylng
post. they have candidate ready to
their hands, Gov Franklin D. Roose-
Welt OF New York. He Is not wet
enough to offend them, 1t appears, and
thew count on being able to beat Smith
with him in the convention. If the
battle for the nomination really be-
comes one between the Governor Of
New York and the former Governor
of that State, 1t is likely to tear things
wide open. No better set-up could be
hoped by the Republicans, for such
a contest, with the South and the
West ranged against the North and
East, with all the contset involves,
would leave sores that months of cam
paigning could not heal, whichever
side won.
And vet it Is toward such contest
that things in the Democratic party
seem to be drifting, If reports from
Smith strongholds are correct. And the
Democrats who are opposed to the
nomination of Roosevelt and who have
hoped to use Smith to stop" the Roose-
welt bandwagon are doing all in their
power to bring 1t about. 1t is dan
gerous course, one which may lead TO
the nomination of compromise"
candidate. What will happen to such
a compromise candidate in the general
election is problematical. The last time
the Democrats had a compromise can
didate John w. Davis, in 1924, they
met disastrous defeat. On the other
hand the Republicans. after hard
battle in Chicago in 1920 produced the
late President Harding as their COM
promise candidate and he was swept
into office. The people were aroused
against the Wilson administration in
1920. If they are aroused against the
Hoover administration because of hard
times this year, Democratic COM
promise candidate may sweep the
country as Harding did in 1920.
4 ~
The effort to keep Smith before the
country as presidential possibility is
being made, 1t appears, particularly in
Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
followers. What would happen in New
York State, with Roosevelt and Smith
locking horns. remains to be seen.
Smith is no longer Governor. He has
not the solid backing of Tammany in
New York Indeed, the Tammany
leader. John F. Curry, is no friend OF
his, and became leader over the pro-
test Of Smith. Roosevelt may go to
the convention with a large proper
tion Of the New York delegation, even
with Smith opposing him.
The nomination Of Alfred E. Smith
by the Democrats does not appear at
all to be within the realm of prOba-
bility. Suppose he stops Roosevelt,
as he may do. What Democratic lead
er actually believes that those elements
in the party backing Roosevelt today
will swing over to Smith and accept
him? 1t doesn't appear to be in the
cards.
In no State more than in Indiana
does the desperatenesS OF the Repubh-
can cause today appear to be bette;
exemplified. The HooSier State has
gone Democratic in the past, but gen.
orally it is regarded as Republican ter
ritory; one of those States that Re
publican candidate for President US
uallv has to have to win an election.
What happened there in 1880 and since
then in city and town elections is sig
to say the least. In 1880 the
Democrats won nine seats in the House
of Representatives, leaving only four
to the Republicans. This actually rep
resented a gain Of six congressional
districts for the Democrats Today
three -fourths of the cities and towns
in Indiana have elected Democratic
officials, including all OF the larger
cities. If these elections mean any
thing. Indiana is today strongly Dem
OCTdLlC.
election day, November 8, time alone
will tell.
Under such circumstances, It is
obvious that Senator Jim" Watson,
leader of the Senate, faces
a real fight for reelection this year.
He has come through many severe
contest before but those contests have
been severe more particularly because
Of factional fights among the Repub-
licans rather than because Of Demo-
cratic strength against him He is
lucky this year in having practically
the solid backing of the Republicans.
MANY of his old enemies are lining up
for him. His danger lies in what may
happen to him if the Democratic presi-
Dental ticket should sweep the State.
Under those circumstances, Senator
Watson might easily go down under
an avalanche of Democratic votes.
One Democrat already has announced
for the senatorial nomination in In
diana and there are half dozen others
who would get into the race on slight
Senator Watson's chances
would be enhanced if out of severe
fight Democrat of no great
standing in the State were to be nom
mated against him. Walter Myers, |
Democratic Speaker of the House in
Indiana, has declared himself a candi-
date for the nomination. At last two
Democratic Representatives in Washing
and Greenwood-are poten-
tial candidates. So Is Albert Stump,
twice a Democratic nominee for the
Senate and twice defeated, once by
Watson in 1926 and again by Robin
{r,
cratic editor, also has given signs that |
ne would like the senatorial nomina-
ion.
This year in Indiana senatorial NOM |
nations will be made in party conven-
ions instead Of in primary elections. |
The law has been changed. The State |
follow the primary cleo |