Democrats’ Choice

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 9

Democrats’ Choice

SMITH SEEMS CERTAINTY American Presidency (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, Thursday. THE ascendancy of Governor Al. Smith, the Governor of New York State, as an aspirant to the Democrat nomination for the Presidency has now reached the stage where every indication points to his victory. Nothing but a political upheaval is likely now to defeat him.

T3ERHAPS the most significant in- ■** dication of this is the fact that Mr. W. G. McAdoo, the ex-Secretary of the Treasury, and a son-in-law of the late President Wilson, has announced that not only has he withdrawn from pre-convention considerations, but that he will not even attend the Democrat convention. This tacit admission of defeat is politically eloquent.

The candidacy of Senator J. A. Reed of Missouri, moreover, has failed t assume anything like importance. I cannot hinder the amazing and spor taneous popular strength that *ha mustered behind Governor Smith. Hi candidacy, in fact, which is disclosed is a tacit admission that Governo Smith is not likely to have any difti culty in obtaining the necessary twc thirds majority of the 1,100 delegate in the early ballot. FIREWORKS EXPECTED This so-called “two-thirds rule” ha always given immense power to th opposition to any aspirant for th Democrat Presidential nomination hut in the case of Governor Smith thi seems to have been overcome eve before the battle has begun. It i admitted that the definite lack of cc herent leadership has robbed the oj position of its power. Senator T. J. Walsh, of Montan has withdrawn. Mr. A. C. Ritchie, Governor of Maryland, who was also prominently mentioned as an opponent of Governor Smith, has also withdrawn, and has tendered his aid to Governor Smith. This does not mean that a fierce attack will not be made against Gov ernor Smith. The prohibition an the anti-Catholic groups deriv strength from the fact that they o tensibly are in politics because < their convictions and not simply pri fessionally. They will fight to th end for their cause. This fact is e: pected to produce “fireworks” at th convention. The choice of a candidate for Vici President will probably be dictate by the Smith forces. It is inevitabi that the former will be a Western man. This is discernable in the fact that Mr. H. C. Hoover’s managers have disclosed that Mr. Hoover during his campaign will make his principal fight in the East, believing that the West is already Republican.

It is obvious of course that Govt ernor Smith’s strength lies in the large j Eastern cities, and that the Democrats must centre their fight in the - West, and therefore must choose a ■ Vice-President who will appeal to that * section of the country. CORRUPTION CONDEMNED ’ The issues which will play a prom--1 inent part in the Democrat platform . are also fairly well dictated by in--3 evitable circumstances. Tremendous 3 and biting condemnation will be made I of the corruption of high Republican _ officials in office with large campaign - expenses from tainted sources. 3 Prohibition will also produce a fight. Governor Smith’s personal reaction to the question is that the individual 3 States shall have power to interpret 3 the ISth Amendment to the Contsitu--5 tion, but it is certain that > any such ’ plank in his platform would cause an I open schism in the Democratic Party, 3 since it would be interpreted as being ' anti-prohibition. Tammany is too good a tactician to make such an obi vious mistake. The platform therefore will doubt- ;! lessly clear the hurdle by merely de- !. daring for the enforcement of the law, !, and yet presenting an issue sufiii ciently clear-cut between the two par- ! ties, since the Republican platform specially mentions the 18th Amendment. FARMERS’ SUPPORT SOUGHT | The Democrats will make an obII vious bid for the farmers’ support with the agricultural plank, which probably, without mentioning the McNaryd Haugen Bill, will nevertheless make e staunch promises of aid to the farms' ers. if The tariff will not present difficul- )- ties. The old phrase, “Tariff for rev-' e enues only,” may or may not appear in the platform, but revision of the e tariff downward will doubtless be promised, although in mild terms, and ■- revision upward, as concerns the prod tection of the farmer, is likely to be e included.

Events and tradition seem to make all thi3 as inevitable as the open quarrelling, bitter speeches and usual warfare so characteristic of the Democrats, when the convention meets. The debacle of 1924 at Madison Square Garden, however, is not likely to be repeated.