The Washington times., 1936-02-19
SPECULATION
ON COURSE
ISVARIED
Will Hold Important
Place as Leader Of
Tammany Group
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES
International News Service

-4ANN---~~N-~-----
The designation of Al Smith to
head the Tammany delegation to |
the Democratic National Conven-
ton furnished the Capital-Demo- |
Gratis and Republicans alike
with q topic for lively political
speculation today.
There was q great diversity OF
opinion as to what Smiths par
ticipation in the convention may
portend politically. But there
was universal agreement that AIS
presence on the floor, in q bolt
ing frame of mind, Is going to
contribute immeasureably to the
dramatic and explosive posSibili'
ties Of the Democratic show.
Situation Changed
Only a few months ago, it ap-
peared the Philadelphia, conven-
ton would be something Of a
tame ratification meeting, such
as the Democrats put on in st.
Louis 20 years ago when they
renominated Woodrow Wilson,
but developments have completely
changed the picture. |
Smith has openly threatened to
''take q walk" rather than Swal-
low the New Deal at Philadel-
phia. If he does, he will have
some company. Not enough, Of
course, to block Mr.. RooSevelt'S
denomination, but enough to pro
vide the Democrats considerable
embarrassment.
Selection of Smith as the No.
man Of the Tammany delegation
was announced by James ]. Doo-
ling, the Tammany leader, who
was in Washington yesterday.
Just what Dooling'S mission was
IN Washington remains uneX-
planned. He did not appear at
the white House or at the office
Of James A. Farley, and Admins
tration spokeSmen were kept busy
denying that his visit here had
anything to do with the Smith
matter. Mr.. Roosevelt and Chair
man Farley, they said, were keep
ing hands off the New York sit
uation.
Took Walk ut Chicago
Democrats could not agree
among themselves as to how much
the Administration may be "em-
barraSsed" at Philadelphia by
Smiths participation in the pro
ceedingS. It will be q Roosevelt
dominated convention. Such being
the case, some thought that what
ever course the erStwhile Happy
Warrior" pursues will be Spectacu
lar, but not particularly impor-
tant politically. One prominent
Democrat said:
"After all, AL took . walk from
Chicago in '32. He left Chicago
before the convention had nOmi-
mated Roosevelt, and what did IL
amount tor"
Others thought Smiths Selec-
tion a good thing for the party.
Had he, the 1928 nominee and one
Of the most colorful leaders in the
party's history, been Shunted aside
and denied q place in the delega-
tion, it would have laid the Ad-
ministration open to the charge
that Smith had been "ganged"
and that the Administration was
"afraid" Of him. ...
AS it Is, Smith will be there, in
the same seat he has occupied at
so many Democratic national con-
ventionS; he may and probably
will speak his mind, either on the
convention floor or OFF it, and
when it is all over Mr.. Roosevelt
will be the nominee on platform
Of his own choosing.
Up To Brown Derby
It will then be up to the Brown
Derby" to take the threatened
walk, to go along with the party,
or to become an active opposition
ist. Smiths friends do not believe
he will take either Of the two lat
ter courses. They believe he will
take walk, which means he will
remain more or less silent in the
campaign and not life finger for
Mr.. RooSevelt'S reelection, as he
did belatedly but effectively in
1882.
The only way in which AL
could be forced to vote for
Roosevelt denomination as a dele
gate would be to have the New
York delegation operate under
the unit rule. The unit rule
sometimes has prevailed, some
times not-in New York delega-
tions. 1t did not at Chicago in
1882, being split between Roose-
velt and Smith.
But. important or not polit-
ically. the presence Of AL Smith
at Philadelphia on June % may
turn an otherwise uneventful con-
vention into a whale of show.
It all depends on AL.