Evening star., 1932-02-11
The Political Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

sradoxically former Gov. Alfred z.
it'll Of New York by announcing |
self a receptive candidate for the |
nocratic nomination for President
practically eliminated himself from
race. The immediate reaction to
Smiths statement declaring him.
willing to make the fight If the
nocratic convention should tender
| the nomination Is sufficient indi-
ion of that fact. 1t is true enough
/ most Of the Democratic leaders
many of those who are not leaders
been well agreed Gov. Smith could
make the grade this year in any
mt. But the candidacy OF Gov.
ith, receptive but still a candidacy.
Y out in the open has given good
Ince to the public generally to OBJ
We the situation. Except in those
Is like Massachusetts, where Smith
fHent is strong and has been strong
crlong time, the attitude Of Demo-
to leaders has been decidedly averse
ther, Smith candidacy, and where
conrIs not been open criticism the
say, Il has been decidedly cold, to
Ast.
But Ii ~
self by b. Smith has eliminated him
dacy, hAtement Of receptive candi-
FRANKLIN e also eliminated Gov.
a nrobab,oosevelt of New York as
PRESIDENT? .mocratic nominee for
the RooseveHe who are opposed to
cally that tfpdidacy say emphatl.
sinking. Thosoosevelt ship Is last
ton OF the NeuO favor the nomlna-
emphatically deek Governor just as
ship will sail iIthst the Roosevelt
Chicago next JuDort victorious In
Gov. Smith, for tiighe candidacy OF
called whether he Iwhat 1t must be
A fight for delegatessonally making
been detrimental to taot. mas so ar
Roosevelt. In the flances OF Gov.
greatly encouraged tDlace. 1t has
the Roosevelt nominatioi3ponents OF
we're becming decidedly de OF Whom
progress of the Roosevelt EAST at the
second place, 1t has placed. In the
as candidates for delegate tthe REID
cratic National Convention Demo-
vocates where the delegatlIn ao-
have gone by default to Roosmight
The most puzzling occurrence
cent days in the hectic field oil re-
dental politics amCng the Den,sl-
was the call of Mr.. Smith on IS
Roosevelt at the latter's home al.
45-minute conversation between
two men soon after the publication
the Smith statement announcing
Smiths willingness to run if he sho
be nominated by the Democratic
tional Convention. The conversat
of the two men is still a matter
conjecture, for neither has detailed
So widely was Mr.. Smiths staten
heralded as a blow at the RooSe'
candidacy that perhaps Mr.. Smith :
desirous OF proving to Gov. Roose'
his neutrality. and fer that reason
call was made. For Mr.. Smith S
in his statement that he would
favor or oppose the candidacy of ;
other man for the Democratic no
nation.
Another puZZling occurrence was
interview published widely In the ne
papers ON Tuesday in which Mr. Sn
was quoted as saying that he was
a candidate for the presidential no
nation because he was not makini
fight for deegates to the National C
vention and had no political headqu
ters, etc. He was replying to widespr
! Interpretation OF his original staten
! which held that Gov. Smith had thr(
his hat in the ring. This intery
led to discussion Of the questi
! When Is a candidate?" And nov
appears that Gov. Smith denies
he Is not candidate, according to
other interview, or denies, at all eve
that he was using the word candle
in his interview in the dictionary Sc
which defines candidate as '-one who
fers himself or is put forward as
aspirant or contestant for an of
privilege or honor" Gov. Smith ins
I'd In his latest interview that his OF
inal statement was what he stood u
and would continue to stand upon.
the fight for Smith-instructed delegt
will 60 ahead in a number Of the Sta
where the former Governors frie
have come forward and declared Il
intention of making fight to no
nate him at the Chicago convention
The attitude of Tammany and
leaders in New York City has yet tc
developed, in view of the Smith cal
dacy. In 1928 the Tammany lea:
were the most enthusiastic supper
of Gov. Smith for the Democratic no
nation. No one considered asking wi
they stood on the question Of De-
cratic nominee for President. T
had their coats off working for
Smith, and had been working
months. But so far none of Tammal
most important leaders has said a
thing about the announcement of {
Smiths receptive candidacy. This {
not mean that Smith has no friend!
Tammany Hall. But it shows at /,
desire on the part Of the New Y
City Democratic organization to gel
line all its forces before 1t leaps.
divided Tammany Hall is something
be avoided, If possible Yet there s.
to be three groups in Tammany
today; g1oup that is friendly to
Smith g bup that is friendly to {
Roosevelt and a group that does
care for either one Of them. Perh
the group that is apparently friendl.
Roosevelt does not really care for
Governor at all, but merely wants to
on the winning side. 1t has been S
gested that Mayor Walkers friends
Tammany Hall would bring him
ward either as candidate for the pr
Dental nomination or as a candle
for Wire EseSidant IT Is ohyiOllS
If Mayor Walker Is the nominee
Vice President of the Democratic pa
neither Smith nor Roosevelt could h
the ticket The Constitution prohi
the election of both President ard
President from the same State u
my" Walkers chances for a place
the national ticket under all the
cumstances. however, appear to be
solutely nothing.
The plea of Jouett Shouse, chairr
of the Executive Committee of
Democratic National Committee, for
instructed delegates to the Democr
National Convention, has reused
resentment of Roosevelt followers.
Roosevelt camp has been doing all
its power to win and pledge delegs
to the convention for Roosevelt. Ol
ously the suggestion of Mr.. Sho
would strike sour note among tn
Probably favOrite-Son candidates
other States will not regard the S
gestion favorably either. The Roose'
people 60 even further and insist t
the Shouse suggestion is aimed at
Roosevelt candidacy Mr. Sh0llSe