POLITICAL SCRAMBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 75, 29 March 1928, Page 17

POLITICAL SCRAMBLE.

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

BITTER ATTACK ON HOOVER.

PROHIBITIONISTS ACTIVE

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO, March 7.

The contest for nomination in the two leading political parties of the United States for the fight for President is becoming more perplexing daily by reason of the entry of innumerable •spirants to the honour of presiding at the White House, and the whole affair ha* resolved itself into one wild scramble for the position of either standardbearer of the Republican or Democratic parties.

Two movements, one designed to put • (Hamper on the presidential aspirations of Governor Al. Smith, of New York, the other to force both the Republican and Democratic parties to toe the mark on prohibition in the coming campaign, are under way in Washington under the direction of a group of dry leaders. The offensive directed at the two political parties was launched at a conference in which representatives of thirty or more national temperance organisations participated. Resolutions were adopted demanding clear-cut prohibition planks and standard-bearers genuinely

While th*- meeting was in progress plans were disclosed for an Anti-Saloon League conference, which was later held flt St. Petersburgh, Florida, in which friends of prohibition in nine Southeastern States were present. The result was that the counter-offensive against Governor Smith took definite form, Southern Democrats have been urged to Jjolt from their party in the event of the New York Governor being nominated the national conference at Houston. Mr. C. A. ITpdiiirch, North Carolina State, "'iperintendexit of the Anti-Saloon league, minced no words in predicting that. Southern "dry" leaders will do their utmost to lflSjep the Democratic Presidential nomination away from Governor Smith, and, in the event of his nomination. to work against hie election. William G. McAdoo is fancied for nomination by the "dry" section of the Democratic patfy, for they remember his memorable, fight with Governor Smith in the 1924 convention, and of bite Mr. McAdoo, who is an avowed 'dry." b as been challenging the views of the New York executive on the prohibition question. "Dry" Plintk Demanded.

Everybody expected that the thorny prohibition issue Wbuld be omitted from the campaign battle, but the dry adv°r."*e:s are determined to make the politicians express, themselves on the •übject. "We want the political parties to come clean," is the battle cry of Deets I icket, chairman of the legislative conference of the National Temperance Council. "We want'dry' planks written into the platforms of both political parties, go that • candidate who is 'wet' cannot run and support the platform of 'is party without branding himself a '•vpocrite and sacrificing his principles," «fiys this representative of the Methodist ijoard of Temperance, Prohibition and Public Morals,

Meanwhile the "wet" Democratic presidential aspirants, Governor Al. Smith and Senator James Reed, of Missouri, are not anxious to split their party on this issue. In his Westeru campaign. Senator Reed has been advising that the Democratic party pick issues 011 which it can present a united front—such as alleged Republican corruption, but he demands the removal of "all spies, snoopers and sneaks" used in the prohibition army which is patrolling the United States.

Some of the Republican leaders say the time is not ripe for a national referendum 011 the prohibition question Senator Borah disagrees with this attitude and is sending prohibition questionnaires to candidates. Senator Willis, "favourite son" aspirant from Ohio, is apparently trying to use the "dry" issue to embarrass Secretary Herbert Hoover, of the U.S. Commerce Department. Hoover a "British Gentleman."

The blunt charge that Herbert Hoover is "not an American either in thought or action," was hurled at him by Senator Frank B. Wiljis, Republican, of Ohio, in one of the severest arraignments ever directed at a Presidential candidate in recent years. Senator Willis, who will oppose Mr. Hoover in the Ohio Presidential primary election, to be held in April, virtually endeavoured to read the Californian out of the Republican party. Concluding his bitter attack, he said: "It seems to many Americans that the fact that for 23 of the 33 years of his adult life Mr. Hoover saw America only at long intervals, and, as a writer for him said in 1917, only from the windows of our fastest trains, that his life was in all essentials that of a British gentleman and not an American either in thought or action, is a vital fact not < to be overlooked in choosing a man' now to direct the destinies of theAmerican people; that Mr. Hoover views! America from the European viewpoint! is apparent in every study of hie I remarks on pubflic questions." This blow at the former British' business connections of Mr. Hoover cameafter Senator Willis had charged the» Commerce Secretary with every "111 isdomeanonr" on the political calendar.,' Here are some of the political offences which he laid at the Californian's door: "Hoover mandates as food administrator during the World War started the farm depression in the Middle West, which has continued to this day. Hoover's economic policies are directly opposed to the Republican doctrine of tariff protection for American industries. Hoover favoured the entrance of the American nation into the League of Nations 'with<out reservations' in 1919. Hoover sup* ported President Wilson's pflea for the election of a Democratic Congress in 1918. Hoover entered the Republican primaries in Ohio because he (Willis,) refused to become a stalking horse for the Hoover candidacy." Politics on Wide Front. I

The political caimpaign is developing into actual combat over a wide front. In more than a »oore of States, as well as in the rival camps of most of the Presidential candidates, the last week or so has recorded develop -nents of more than local import. Among the Republicans, Secretary Hoover hoe been drawn into expression of his views on prohibition and flood control; Governor Lowden and Sena&or Oortis have each captured their first instructed delegates; Senator Willie has completed formalities for his battle with Mr. Hoover in Ohio; Senator Wateon has opened his campaign with a party jubilee at Indianapolis; and the battle cry of the "Draft Coolidge" brigade has

been raised once more, this time by Ma>*or Thompson, of Chicago.

Senator Reed, of Missouri, lias held the spotlight with a stumping whirl across the continent, charging Coolidgc with "malfeasance of office,"' bat moantin* George, of Georgia, has been sounding the Democratic clarion also in two Southern States besides his own. Governor Smith has received the pledges; of an tnitial block of delegates from the fairfeway Philippines. The Ohio Democrats have arranged to turn over their support to former Senator Pomerenei wilhout a struggle, and William G. MnjAdoo has renewed his prohibition war oi» Governor Smith.

Political forc-casts always are precarious, but it seems safe to say that the' political month of March promises to continue like a lion. There alre<idv is •a great deal of tall "claiming" among 4he rival political managers, who will tell inquirers that this or that State is "in the bag" for their particular candidate. As a matter of fact, although various State organisations are pledged »ne way or another, the actual number •of delegates who have been formally instructed how to vote in the nominating conventions remains almost nil. Lindbergh for Vice-President.

In two of the three big Kastern States which remain unknown quantities in the Republican problem—M«,si»achu'setts, New York and Pennsylvania — •there have been evidences of Republican The Mellon and Vare .organisations in Pennsylvania got into ft discussion over local candidacies that left the Presidential preference outlook more problematical than ever. In Massachusetts where such Republican leaders as National Chairman Butler lean toward an un instructed delegation, Governor Fuller came out for Mr. Hoover and pro|>osed Colonel Lindbergh for Vice-President.

Mayor Thompson arrived back in Chicago from Washington conferences, and at once launched an active campaign for the renonvination and election of President C'oolidge. "The people want him and the country needs him," the Mayor said. "When the people want anything they should have it. That is my idea of Government. A short re\ iew of President CooHdge's administration proves he made this country the most prosperous in the world."