Evening star., 1932-07-11
The About Face.


head and forefront of the anti-Roose-
velt movement In the pre-convention
carlpaign, has already begun explain
ing to the voters that he did not really
mean what he said about the New York
Governor in those hectic days before
Roosevelt was nominated for President
by the Democratic National Convention.
In vehement language Mr.. Hague, the
Democratic boss of New jersey, as
serted that Gov. Roosevelt could carry
none OF the great Eastern States if he
should be the presidential nominee.
This included New Jersey. Mr.. Hague
even undertook to explain why Gov.
Roosevelt would fail to appeal to the
voters. He charged the Governor,
among other things, with being dou-
ble-crosser and gutter. Mayor Hague
was desperate in his effort to stop
Roosevelt.
And now what a difference in the
tune of the astute Mr.. Hague. The
mayor of Jersey City has recanted. He
insists that he will carry New Jersey
for Roosevelt and he is laying plans, II
is reported, for an even bigger out
pouring of enthusiastic Democrats in
support of Roosevelt when Roosevelt
day" is held at Sea Girt than turned
out for Al Smith on similar occasion
in 1928. Perhaps there will be need
of a greater demonstration. At all
events. Mr. Hague failed to carry New
jersey for Smith four years ago, and
failed by a rather impressive figure.
Mr.. Hague and his supporters will
seek to explain away their unkind
remarks about Gov. Roosevelt on the
ground that, after all they were merely
trying to prevent his nomination and
to bring about that of Gov. Smith.
Newton D. Baker. Gov. Ritchie or
some one else. However, the voters
who listened to the heated remarks OF
Mr.. Hague in June may wonder If he
really means what he has to cay n
July, August, September and October
about the New York Governor. After
all. Franklin D. Roosevelt is the same
man, presumably, that Mr.. Hague IN
sisted would make the weakest OF all
candidates whom the Democrats could
put forward. 1t may be difficult 10
make some of the Hague-Smith follow
ing in Jersey execute such an about
face; and therein lies the danger of the
Democratic campaign in the States OF
the East 1t applies not only in Jersey,
but also in New York, in Massachu-
sets. Connecticut and Rhode Island,
Tc arouse the hatred Of large number
Of voters against Roosevelt in early
Summer and to allay that h1tred and
turn it into affection in November is
ZEAL task
AL Smith. in half-hearted manner
and without mentioning the name OF
the presidential nominee, has declared
his support of the Democratic party IN
the coming campaign. As his soreness
wears of and as the Republican attack
becomes more insistent and irritating,
Mr.. Smith may become more partisan
himself: may really campaign for his
former friend and more recent politi-
cal foe. But these schisms in the DEM
ocratic party run deep. 1t is true that
the Democratic National Convention,
swept by wet tidal wave, adopted the
kind of a liquor plank that Mr.. Smith
advocated. There the Roosevelt moder-
ates had to yield or risk an uncomfort-
able fight and perhaps defeat in the
convention. But it may take more
than this wet platform, on which Gov.
Roosevelt has now taken a firm stand,
to swing some of these Eastern States
to the Roosevelt column in November