Evening star., 1936-01-27
Member Of the Associated Press.
The Smith Threat.

The Smith Threat.
Alfred E. Smith has appealed to the
Democratic Congress and to the Demo-
cratic National Convention next June to
repudiate the New Deal. He seems to
have overlooked the Chief Executive.
President Roosevelt, however, is the
important figure in the picture. Con-
gress has done his bidding and is ex-
pected to continue to do it. The Demo-
cratic National Convention will jump
through the hoop. The Smith appeal,
therefore, falls on deaf ears.
While the Democratic Congress and
the Democratic National Convention
may not listen to the former leader Of
the Democratic party, there is the chance
that some of the millions of Democrats
who idolized Smith a short time ago
may do so. Indeed, many of them were
greatly impressed by the clear-cut
attack which Mr. Smith made on the
Roosevelt New Deal at the American
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The former New York Governor spoke
in the same chamber, although to a
different audience, as did President
Roosevelt in his Jackson day dinner
address less than three weeks ago. The
fundamental difference between the
men reveals itself in their speeches. It
is found in their conceptions of the
province of government. Extension Of
the power of government along New
Deal lines, Mr.. Smith warns, means an
overwhelming bureaucracy and Dictator
ship. It is not, he insists, democracy.
President Roosevelt in his jackson day
address spoke as candidate for re-
nomination and reelection. Mr.. Smith,
on the other hand, made fiat declara-
ton that he is candidate for no Office
and has no intention of becoming one.
To the President, his opponents were
q gang" the mouthpieces Of intrenched
interests. To Mr.. Smith the New Dealers
had merely caught the Socialists in
swimming and stolen their clothes. Both
men had something to say about Andrew
Jacksonville President great deal, and
by inference presenting himself in the
role Of the jackson of today. Mr.. Smith,
however, said that the disciples OF
jackson could no longer stomach the
New Deal.
Not only was it impossible for the
Democrats who believed with Jackson,
Jefferson and Cleveland to go along with
the Roosevelt New Deal, but, said Mr..
Smith, they were prepared to "take
walk" That is a definite threat to split
the Democratic party wide open. AS
such 1t will be regarded by the Roose-
welt Democrats. Quite, naturally, they
will 20 cunning for Mr.. Smith. The
more they fear him, the more furious
will be their attacks upon the man they
ut one time followed.
Answering the speech OF Mr. Smith
will be no easy task. It is job to which
more than one Democrat will be assigned.
It may be that the head New Dealer OF
them all will find it necessary eventually
to enter the arena Mr.. Smith was careful
to keep away from personalities in his
address. He confined himself to attacks
on policies, not men. Judging from the
comment already put forward by the
Roosevelt leaders, Mr.. Smith will receive
no such treatment at their hands. And
vet, In the minds Of the people who have
followed Alfred E. Smith in the past, it
will be difficult for his attackers to paint
his picture as foe to the Common man
and woman, and as a tool Of selfish
interests.
Never more clearly has the American
conception Of freedom of opportunity
for the poor boy and girl been described
than by Mr.. Smith. His plea is to keep
the gateway Of opportunity open. It
cannot be kept open If, as Mr.. Smith
said, the Government undertakes to
control all business and activity.