Evening star., 1932-04-24
LEADING
IN NPENNSYLVAN|A
Governor Faces Bitter Fight,
However, From Al Smiths
Cohorts.
Continued From First Page)

least.
But now the Democratic followers
of Smith and opponents Of Roosevelt
point to the letter written by Mr.. Smith
to Thomas A. Logue, chairman of one
OF the two Democratic city committees
in Philadelphia. In that letter Mr.
Smith said: II hope that the voters
in the Philadelphia primaries will ex-
press their preference and I VIII. c!
course, be gratified if 1 again receive
the expression of their confidence
which they so fully accorded me in
1928"
That In the opinion Of Mr.. Logue.
makes Mr.. Smith full-fiedged candi-
date. The only regret the Smith fol-
lowers have is that he did not write
the letter month ago.
Although they are claiming more.
the real hope of the anti-Roosevelt and
Smith leaders in Pennsylvania is that
with A OF Pennsylvania's delegates
to 80 for Roosevelt.
See Blow to Roosevelt.
They say, and with much Justice,
that If Smith wins a majority of the
delegates, it will be a terrible blow TO
tllC IlOOnCfClb LIE fIOOSp-
welt supporters, headed by Joseph F.
Guffey. former Democratic national
committeeman, are claiming so dele
gates as a minimum for their candi-
date, and say they will have more.
The anti Roosevelt and Smith Demo-
Gratis have the backing of the State
chairman, John P. Collins, and the
national committeeman, Sedgwick Kist
Ter. The Democratic State Committee
had the job Of picking the slate of
delegates 16 in number, with
half vote each.
Kistler and Collins are both included
in their slate. Eight are men and
eight are women. The Roosevelt Demo
Gratis have put up half a dozen candi-
dates to run against the anti Roosevelt
and pro-Smith men slated for dele
gates t-large. The women are un-
opposed. Mrs Emma Guffey Miller. a
sister of Joe" Guffey, Is one of the
women on the list and is for Roosevelt
Mrs. Emily w. Roosevelt, wife of a
cousin of Gov. Roosevelt, also is listed
But she Is said not to favor the Gov
ernoris candidacy.
After the names OF the delegate can
didates Is printed either promises to
support popular choice Of party in the
State" or does not promise to sup
port" the winler Of the preference pri-
mary. Apparently this means little. for
some of the delegates have openly an
nounced they will vote for Roosevelt or
for Smith, no matter how the primary
goes.
The Roosevelt people have asserted
many times that they already have
A of the district delegates "in the bag"
since in those districts only Roosevelt
supporters are running This is vehe-
mently denied by the Smith followers,
who say no such state of affairs exists.
If Mr.. Guffey is right In this claim,
Roosevelt, of course, already has more
than majority of the delegates.
Two "City Committees"
Here in Philadelphia there are two
so-called Democratic city committees.
One is headed by Mr. Logue, a Smith
and Roosevelt man, and the other
by John O'Donnell, county commission
er. ODonnell insists that he is chair
man by virtue of his election by the
city committee and has been for the
last 10 years. His opponents say the
O'Donnell organization is merely an ad-
junct Of the Ware Republican organi-
II.
nell in 1923, and set up a committee
of their own, the Logue committee.
AS matters stand, however. O'Don-
nell has the party patronage in Phila-
delphia and therefore great influence.
Impartial observers say that ODonnell
and his faction, who are supporting
Roosevelt, will have 10 or IL of the
IA district delegates to be elected In
County. ODonneH him
self claims all but one, and Logue, on
the other hand, insists his delegates
will be elected.
The Roosevelt forces have the ad-
vantage of an early start In Pennsyl-
vania. Guffey came out for the New
York Governor back in August, 1881,
and the Roosevelt organization has
been steadily built up there. The op-
ponents of Roosevelt at first declared
they were for an uninstructed delega
ton. Some of their leaders said they
were favorable to Baker and others to
Gov. Ritchie of Maryland. Finally,
when Mr.. Smith in February issued his
now famous Il will accept" statement,
they centered on Smith as their stand
ard bearer.
1928 Vote Is Cited.
In the tremendous vote cast in Penn
sylvania in 1928 Smith polled far more
votes than any other Democratic
candidate. He received
/ ,O67 .5S6 votes. President Hoover at
the same time polled 2,055.382, or al
most a million more votes than Smith.
The Democrats supporting Smith insist
Smith is still greatly popular with the
Democratic voters and that he can and
u ~
tial primary.
They look for him to roll up big
eads over Roosevelt in Philadelphia, in
County, which includes Pitts
burgh, in the coal districts and several
other populous centers. Smith re-
ceived 276,000 votes In Philadelphia
alone four years ago.
There Is a great rural population In
however, and 1t is there
hat Roosevelt is expected to make his
yrest gains over Smith. Although little
las been said about the religious issue,
t is charged that both sides expect to
oenefit by that issue, depending upon
he location. Both sides are putting a
great deal of energy into these last
,wo days of the campaign.
The Democratic organization Of the
States is backing Lawrence H. Rupp
If Lehigh County for the senatorial
He is opposed by Lewis c.
Cassidy of Philadelphia, but 1t Is gen.
rally agreed Rupp will win easily.
The primaries in Pennsylvania may
nave a great deal of significance ma
ionally. for the Republican party as
veil as the Democratic party, although
President Hoover is expected to have
he great bulk of the delegation and
perhaps all Of it when the convention
meets.
Dry Fight Indicated.
If Senator Davis, as a wet candidate,
iefeatS Maj. Gen. Smedley D. Butler,
he Pinchot dry candidate in the con-
est for the senatorial nomination, it
S expected the Pennsylvania delega-
ion will go to the national convention
ind take leading part in the fight
o put q wet plank in the Republican
national platform.
The Republican slate for delegates
1t large for the national convention
includes Gen. Edward Martin, State
chairman. who is backing Davis along