Evening star., 1936-05-15

Latest reports from the dizzy heights
of the Empire State Building are that
AL Smith. instead of taking walk
out of the Philadelphia convention, will
STAY away from it and thus register his
protest against the New Deal. The for
mer Governor was elected a delegate
from his old home district in the region
of the Fulton Fish Market, but it is un-
derstood the place will be taken by his
alternate. who happens to be the secre-
tary of Tammany Hall. The tiger now
ranks as a supporter of the President,
and Smiths absence from the convention
floor apparently insures a unanimous
wigwam delegation in favor OF F. D. RS
denomination. Smith is reputed to have
come to the conclusion that there would
be no practical virtue in his playing q
solo opposition role. either by attempt
ing to influence the writing OF plat
form along traditional Democratic lines
or advocating someone other than Mr.
Roosevelt as the party standard bearer
If Smith Shuns the convention. its tame
ness, from the spectacular standpoint,
becomes more certain than ever. The
Governor was relied upon to inject at
least a semblance of fireworks into an
assemblage that now promises to be
relatively colorless love feast. On that
account. his decision to boycott the show
is deplored by the Democratic high
command.
His failure to make more formidable
showing in the Ohio primary is gener-
ally regarded as removing the prooaolllty
that Senator Borah will be serious
factor in the Cleveland convention. HIS
prospects for nomination, never overly
bright in light of his unproductive quest
for delegates, are now virtually extinct.
The silver-tongued Idahoan has con-
sistently maintained that his fight was
launched primarily as a symbol of pro-
test against reactionary control OF the
G. o. p, rather than as an expression
of personal ambition. He has put up
singularly gallant battle, minus an or
ganization, war chest and all otner
campaign equipment except a rugged
personality and widespread recognition
of his political idealism. Unless Boran
becomes a delegate from Idaho, it is not
clear whether or how he can take MS
crusade against old guardiSm onto the
convention floor, but in one way or an
other he will carry on. If the Repuo-
lican nominee typif1es the things he so
incorrigibly opposes, it hardly seems
likely that the Senator will be found on
the party firing line this year, despite
his reputation for regularity.
Gov LandonS avalanche progress TO
the contrary Notwithstanding, there's S
continuous speculation around Wasning-
ton about the dark horse possibilities OF
Senator Steiwer of Oregon at Cleveland.
The view persists that he is the under-
cover favorite son of Eastern interests
which brought about his selection as Key
noter in the deliberate hope and bellel
that he will attract favorable attention
to himself If and when the time comes
to select q compromise candidate. Ine
Steiwer talk, of course, is based on the
theory that Landon can be stopped
and that certain uninstructed elements
are bent upon denying him victory.
Although President Roosevelt, as an
ticipated, swamped Col. Breckinridge in
the Ohio Democratic primary, the "Jei-
fersonian" lone VOLTS achievement IN
rolling up nearly 10000 votes reveals, as
was the case in Pennsylvania and Mary
land, that there is q substantial anti-New
Deal protest movement within Demo-