ASTUTE TACTICS

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1928, Page 5

ASTUTE TACTICS

HOOVER’S POPULAR APPEAL.

PRESIDENCY RIVALRY SMITH-HOOVER COUNTERING. RACIAL ISSUE RAISED. (Australian Press Association.) (Received 9 u.ni.) NEW YORK, May 19. A message from Portland says that Governor A 1 Smith had ti substantial lead over his opponents in the first returns from the Oregon primary eleetion. It is predicted that he will gain the support of Oregon ’’s 10 Democratic delegates at the National Convention. Mr Smith had a two-to one majority over Senator Walsh, the size of the latter’s vote being a surprise, owing to his previous announcement of withdrawal. Senator Reed was third, and Rend Alonzo, a workman of Missouri, fourth, with a scattered vote. Mr Hoover was unopposed for 13 delegates on the Republican side. With an apparent victory for Mr Smith in the Oregon primaries, thus adding 10 delegates to the impressive following of which he is already assured at the Democratic National Convention, efforts are being renewed to bring about arrangements by which ho will be nominated by acclamation.

SOUTHERN SWING. This intense optimism, so characteristic of American political campaigns when a favourite aspirant for nomination seems to be headed for victory, has another side to it. Mr Smith must have the solid support of the Southern states to obtain nomination, yet yesterday the Southern Baptist Church, with a membership of 3,700,000, and with immense political influence, at its annual convention held at Chattanooga, pledged itself to break the party lines rather than see “an unnamed friend of liquor interests’ ’ become President of the United States. A tremendous discussion occurred before this decision was taken, but the threat to bolt from the Democratic Party is no small menace which Mr Smith has yet to overcome before he obtains nomination.

Strangely enough, the movement for Mr Smith’s nomination by acclamation is of Southern origin. His supporters there are intensely beset by the problem of overcoming the South’s inherent suspicion of a Roman Catholic and a “wet.”

RETLIATORY MOVE. Nevertheless they are determined that an issue of similar nature may succeed in overcoming Southern disinclination to nominate Mr Smith, and have pounced with great glee upon an order issued by Mr Hoover abolishing the practice of segregating negro from Vvhite employees in the Department of Commerce.

A story is circulated in this connection that the order was due to President Coolidge’s wish, but it nevertheless brings up a race issue that may very well remove the last vestige of Southern dislike of Mr Smith, since it is being whispered that Mr Smith would revoke Mr Hoover's order if elected.

One cannot overstress the importance of the race question in the South. Many things can grow from it, such, for instance, as Tennessee, which sometimes goes Republican in the national elections, going solidly Democratic next November. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia, with 254 delegates, are classed op to date as being opposed to Mr Smith's notnination. The race issue, however, may swing them toward him. It is possible.

THE/REED FACTOR. It is understood that sonic pressure is being brought to hear to induce Senator Reed, running up in the Democratic contest, to withdraw and declare for Mr Smith, but Senator Reed’s attitude is such that he is not likely to yield. He hoUls that a good general does not surrender his army when his "skirmish line" is driven back. Senator Reed may not succeed in getting nomination himself, but since 734 Democratic delegates are needed to assure nomination, it can be seen that ho may possibly control enough delegates who, added to the delegates of the Southern opposed 'States, may block Mr Smith's nomination at the last moment. "THE DAWES GAME." Mr Hoover's position, despite his Indiana defeat, continues the best of any Republican aspirant. His friends claim 500 delegates for him, and only 545 are required for nomination, but his less optimistic supporters are inclined to be a little bitter over what they call the "Louden Dawes game." This consists in keeping Mr Louden before the public eye as an important contender for presidential nomination, while his honour is sought for the Vice-President, Mr C. G. Dawes, who himself continues to bo the least discussed of all possible nominees. THE FARMERS ’ FRIEND. Mr Loudon’s line of political argument is the same as it was in 1920 and 1924. It must be said, in justice to his advocacy of agricultural relief, that ho came three days ago to Now York, and in this frankly and even brutally industrial and financial centre he would talk of nothing but the farmer and his needs. Some commentators went so far as to say he was a farmer come to the citv.

Mr Hoover’s friends are far from losing sight of Mr Loudon’s sharp and unrivalling line of attack. They counter it by stressing Mr Hoover’s great popular appeal. Pronouncements issued last night by Mr Hoover’s Washington manager stated: "The convincing thing about his candidacy has been the fact that his strength is confined to no class." Probably the manger of the Hoover campaign did not forget that this very same argument will be advanced on behalf of Mr Dawes, -of Kansas City. Mr Hoover’s supporters would like it better if the Dawes candidacy came out into the open.