Evening star., 1932-01-28
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

ing the Democratic presidential nomi-
nation race as the days pass III there
were no presidential preferential pri-
maries il States where Smith sentiment
still Is strong, the former Governor
might be in better position to retain
his Sphinxllse attitude. But In Mas
sachusetts anc several other states his
friends would AXE to enter his name in
the primaries. If he consents, then he
is an avowed CANDIDATE. II he refuses,
then 1t will be saiG he Is not a cahdi-
date. AS a matter Of fact, there are a
great many Democrats today who insist
that Gov. Smith has no intention of
becoming a candidate, despite the pres
sure which Is being brought upon him
In some quarters to get into the race,
and despite the anxiety Of some OF the
anti-Roosevelt Democrats to use him as
battering ram to breach the Roosevelt
presidential walls.
The Smith supporters in MasSachu-
sets, if they cannot get Gov. Smith to
permit the use of his name in the pri-
nlaries, may undertake to elect and send
to the national convention group of
uninstructed delegates who will be for
Smith for President. But despite such
tactics, 1t appears that there must be
a showdown before long, with Gov.
Smith clarifying his own position with
regard to the nomination. Furthermore,
it is believed in Washington that there
will have to be some Qualification of
Gov. Smiths attitude toward the cam
didacy of his old friend, Gov. Franklin
d. Roosevelt. The recent incident
growing out of statement made by
Gov. Roosevelt that he expected to have
Gov. Smith as a guest in Albany before
long on the occasion of Mr.. Smiths ex-
pectad visit to his daughter, has made
some of the Democratic leaders in
Washington, as well as in New York
rGStive. The curt annCuncem from
the Smith Offices in New York that the
former Governor had no plans Whatever
for visiting Albany seemed direct slap
at Roosevelt.
Certainly Mr.. Smith has given no
indication up TO date that he approves
the candidacy of Roosevelt. On the
other hand, there have been other in
cidentS beyond that already mentioned
which have seemed to indicate de-
cided hostility to Roosevelt. OF one
thing there seems no doubt at all
Chairman John j. RaSkob OF the DEM
ocratic National Committee, whom Mr.
SilIlIll p4Chtu W IldtlulS Ills
in 1928, does not desire the nomina-
ton OF Roosevelt, believing, it is said
by those who should know what they
are talking about, that other potential
candidates are better qualified for the
presidency. And yet, despite the oppo-
sitton OF Raskob to Roosevelt and the
cavalier manner in which Mr. Smiths
friends, II not Mr.. Smith himself, treat
the Roosevelt boom for President, there
are those who insist Smith eventually
will emerge as a Roosevelt supporter.
Some go SO far as to say that the
Smith Roosevelt performance is merely
staged in order to bring to Roosevelt
support of the anti-Smith Democratic
faction in the South and the West.
These wiseacres hold that If Roosevelt
for the presidential nomination it
would initiate against Rooseve!ts
chances for the nomination. Should
they be correct. the game has been
we'll played. But it does not seem pcs
sible. And, further. it looks as though
opponents Of Roosevelt have moved il
every possible way to bring break
between Smith and Roosevelt.
Newton D. Baker has gone to Mexico
for a rest after leaving behind him
statement which hes been interpreted
pretty generally as bid for the proSi-
Dental nomination of the Democratic
party. The Baker people, and there
are a lot Of them who wish earnestly 10
see the nomination of the Ohioan. as
sert that he has effectively escaped the
League Of Nations issue by his state
ment. If he has, the Republicans re-
fuse to admit it. They see the League
issue raising its head effectively If the
Democrats nominate Baker. There was
some puzZlement in New York news
paper circles over the manner in which
the Baker statement on the League vas
released. In an interview with news
paper correspondents just before he
sailed Mr.. Baker said nothing about the
League statement. But soon after Mr.
Baker had left New York the New York
World Telegram, which has been boost
ing Baker for President, made the state
ment public, and it was then given to
other newspapers and press associations
for release 1t seems to have been pre-
pared on the solicitation, therefore, cf
Baker supporters for the presidential
nomination. This adds to the signif-
canoe Of the move, it is believed.
IlC bdhcl LIZ que SldlIlneuI, now
ever, must be coupled with remark
made by the former Secretary of War
to a group of newspaper men before he
sailed. He was asked if he was a
candidate for the presidential nomina-
ton. After fencing reply, Mr. Baker
became direct. He said no he was
not a candidate for the nomination.
While Mr.. Baker may have helped
himself with those Democrats and in
dependent voters who are opposed to
American entry into the League of Ma
tions by his statement, on the other
hand he may have lost friends among
the League die-hards in this country
who still urge strongly that the United
States become member Of the League.
The North DtkCta situation. from
Republican point of view, is decidedly
mixed There are three groups, the
Non-Partisan Laaguers. the regular Re-
publicanS and the So-Called Progressive
group, newer affair. The Non-PartiSan
Leaguers group, with which Senator
Nye is af1iliated, fas decided for a list
OF uninStructed delegates TO the Re-
publican n2tiOnal convention, though
holding itself in readiness to support
Hiram Johnson of California or William
IL. ASA GA Va S1lOulu ILlSy DCtOIAC
active candidates. The regular Re-
publican outfit, when it holds its con-
vention is expected to indorse the
Hoover administration. Whether it will
undertake to enter the Presidents name
in the presidential preferential primary
remains to be seen. Certainly it will
seek to elect delegates to the national
convention faVore BILE to the renomina-
tion of the President. The Progressive
group so-called, has come out for for
ner Senator Joseph l. France OF Mary
land for the Republican presidenti9'
nomination. Frances name has been
entered in the prim'ry. If there is no
entry but France in the Republican
primary, it is believed in some quarters
that the regular Republicans will enter
President Hoovers name in the same
primary.