Evening star. [volume], March 25, 1928, Page 12, Image 12

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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12
Coolidge’s Third Declination Figures as Week’s Chief Political News Feature
OHIO DRY CHIEFTAIN
SWINGS TO HOOVER
Split in Ranks of Anti-Saloon
i
League on Willis Now
Indicated.
Special I>‘patch to The Star.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 24—The
first indication of a division of the
Anti-Saloon League in Ohio in the
presidential primary campaign has
come in the form of an application
from Clayton L. Dickey, long the treas
urer of the Ohio Anti-Saloon League,
lor membership in the Koover-for-
President Association, Dickey, who is
the president of the Northern Savings
Bank of Columbus, is at his Winter
home in Florida and the application
was mailed to Col. Thad Brown of the
Ohio Hoover organization. The appli- | 1
cant has not only been the treasurer of j
the Ohio league, but very active as a !
worker in its interests. Up to this time j 1
it had been regarded as a certainty that , ]
the Anti-Saloon League would stand
practically solid for Senator Willis.
The league as an organisation in
politics has not seemed to be function
ing as efficiently as it did In former
(Vears. and it is attributed to the fact j
that it has lost two efficient leaders— I
IFurley A. Baker and Wayne B. Wheeler. I
leans to Hoover.
The Toledo Blade, which came out
•early in The Ohio presidential campaign
with an editorial in favor of Senator
•Mltiis. has not followed it up with fur- j
fiber support of the Senator, and reli- j
•»ble reports from Toledo are to the i
effect that it has gone over to Hoover j
«nd will soon make its jaosition there j
(Unite. Its early declaration for Sen- 1
ptor Willis is sajd to have been due to j 1
«:slike of Secretary Hoover on the part!
vs the owner of the Blade. Paul Bloch .
<cf Newark. N. J.. rather than to ad- ‘
miration for the Senator. The silence J
of the Blade—even if it does not be- '
-come outspoken for Mr. Hoover—leaves i
Toledo and the ninth district without i J
a newspaper advocating the candidacy ‘
of Senator Willis—the Morning Times j ‘
and the Evening News-Bee being out- ! 1
spoken for Mr. Hoover.
Though publicity was given In Ohio; [
to the fact that Secretary’ Hoo* er was j \
married by a Catholic priest, no doubt ! *
with intended effect upon the Ku Klux ;
Klar, vote in the State, still evidently
of considerable volume, and although ! 1
the story was followed by the explana- i
tion of how it happened 'and the state- i
men: that the Secretary is not a mem- <
ber of the Catholic Church, it probably
will result in the indorsement of Sen
ator Willis by the State Klan organiza
tion Sensing this situation. Shaxnus <
O'Slattery of Canton, presumably aj i
Catholic, has addressed a letter, copies; <
of which have been given to the press.{
to Senator Willis, demanding that the I i
Senator publicly state his attitude to- t
w-ard the Klan. So far the Senator has ] s
not replied and probably will not. There i y
ia a general disposition on the part of I
the newspapers of the State to ignore t
the Klan issue and probably for that
reason the O'Slattery letter has not
been printed except in the Klans own j
publications. , »
Klan Still A Power.
The Klan has suffered some hard; j
knocks here and probably has lost in *.
membership, but it is no doubt still a j .
factor in Ohio polities. As it stands, it
lo«ks as though its strength would be
thrown to Senator Willis. <
The surprise of the week has been the <
indorsement of Hoover by the Republi- 1
can committee of Lawrence County, t
That is the old home county of Col. i
C*rmi A. Thompson, head of the Willis
for-President organization, and his en- <
trance into State politics was secured i
by election to represent that county in <
the Legislature. It is supposed that if]
there was a county in the state that'
would stand for Senator Willis it would I
be Col. Thompson's. '
By a vote of 18 to S. the committee ;
adopted a resolution indorsing Sec re- !
tary Hoover. The Willis supporters ;
charged that it was accomplished by a ;
trick the meeting of the committee '
basing been hastily called and so timed j
thgt Willis supporters in it would not j
be able to attend. This seems to have I
ao*ie support in the fact that but 27 I
of the 47 members were present.
Grant Denman, formerly attorney
federal of Ohio, brought down from i
ha home in Toledo this week the state- i .
mem that there was no question what- j
ever but that Secretary Hoover would I
carry both Toledo and the ninth con- ‘
gressionai district in the presidential 1 1
prtet&ry. and secure the two delegates 1
there.
Fount on 24 Delegates.
The Hoover managers here now count! *
on ejecting at least 24 of the SI dele- <
gates to which the State is entitled ■ <
They are confident of carrying the j I
S*ate as a whole, and if they do that, i
wiS add 7 delegates at large to the <
17 district delegates, making 24 In all. ' 1
Henry O Brunner, chairman of the j 1
Democratic State committee, has writ- 11
ten Francis W. Durbin of Lima, candi- I
caV for delegate to the Houston con
ventior. criticizing him for announc- j 1
ing hi* intention to vote for Gov. Don- !
aney—the State delegation being'
pledged by resolution of tne State com- l
iruttee to support Atiee Pomcrene for ? <
ferft choie* a.od George White second i 1
chgwice—out Durbin has expressed re- j
acaunent at interference on the part of
the State chairman and a* he t* nun- J
r.Jhg independently and not as a seine- j 1
t»or. of tne state committee, says he
viif do a* he pleases
A siigm change of plan on the part j
cf Senator While as to speaking m his
campaign hat been announced at his |
L*adq uartera He stated at first that j
It order not to permit hi* campaign !
work to interfere with his duties in the
fcetate he would come to the State
each Friday night, speaking, and re- i
turning to Washington Sunday night, f
but now dates through the week are
being made for him Former Repre
aerttot.v* Ralph D Cole was announced I
to apeak in the Willis campaign, but *o ]
Jar hat not been assigned speaking
Cape Just one month of the primary ;
campaign remains.
J H GALBRAITH
lOWA ENEMIES OF SMITH
RALLY AROUND MEREDITH'
Open Battle to Bar FJedg ing of j
State s }Jelegation to $e w
York Governor.
fie* *•’ w-epat- * to Tl* Ku.
DBS MOINES lowa March 24—j
W4h the announoemcot from Howto |
T JAercdJ'b March 17 that he would j
a.,®w tiie 'it* of du name as a fawrito j
mn tiand’.dale it. lowa the ba*tle to'
prevent lit* pi<oifir.g of lowa's delegate*!
to lit* national convention for Gov j
fenQltt got weh under way
Mr. Meredith won served as Score- j
tury of Agriculture under President I
WiLor. nad previously refused to allow i
Lie narn* to be Used a* a candidate and
gr.acs it «..<-ar an hi* inter accepting th* j
jxaCtkjfi of a favonto son 'hal It* .
wotito expect to serve to hold th* low# j
a* legation only until it f>ouid go to com*
in** other than Gov. Smith
Leader* of the dry wing of th* j
Democratic party in lowa who have'
ooatrohed the party in recent years,,
are jubilant at having pressed Mr ;
edith into wrv *<e and are work big j
Jntrnelveiy to obtoUJ precinct dele*#-:
Lore pledged to him in U*e caucus**
tbe field bet* een now and April J j
i/jtm tttui with the effort of the
Liked in Alabama
x
- V
• N
'itSk
SPEAKER LONGWORTH.
Who figures as a "dark horse" possibil
ity with Southern Republicans.
WILLIS CHARGES ~
ATTACK ON PARTY
• j
- " ■— ■ ■■■■ -
Says Opposition Is to Ohio
I G. 0. P. Organization Rather;
Than to Him.
i Br the Associated Press.
ASHTABULA, Ohio, March 24.—Con- j
tinuing his speaking campaign to gain
control of Ohio's delegation to the Re
publican national convention. United !
States Senator Frank B. Willis declared
j in an address here today that opposi-
I tion to his candidacy is directed at the
j State Republican organization rather
j than any individual.
Senator Willis, who is contesting for
Ohio's 51 votes at the Kansas City con
vention with Secretary of Commerce
Herbert Hoover, reiterated his claims
: that those opposing him are making a
1 "sorry pretense" of "alleged hand pick
; ing of delegates.'*
He asserted that "all the hand-pick
ing had been done by those who are
opposing me."
Attacks Hoover's Stand.
"As a matter of fact.” Willis de
clared. “this contest is not against any j
individual, but against the Republican
organization of the State of Ohio.”
Willis attacked Hoover's stand on
i American investment in foreign na
tions, his record as head of the food
administration agency during the World
War and his position concerning the
proposed St Lawrence waterway and j
the Chicago lake diversion case.
Urges Farm Relief.
The Senator* asserted that the "woes
from which agriculture suffered were t
; tremendously aggravated by the unfair
treatment meted out to the farmer
in wrar-time” and that it was the busi
! ness of the Republican party to bring
' about better conditions for the farmer.
Concerning the Chicago lake water
diversion case he said. "Ohio is inter
ested in the development of the St.
Lawrence waterway. That development;
will never come so long as the water
steal at Chicago oontinues.”
He criticized Hoover’s stand “in favor j
of granting to Chicago perpetually the
right to divert water through the j
drainage canal ”
WYOMING EXPECTED
COOLIDGE’S REFUSAL
-----
Hoover Men Say Request to Presi
dent Was Unwise, as It
Hit Secretary.
| Special Dispatch u> The Star
CASPER. Wyo . March 24 —Presi-)
i dent Cooiidge’s reply to Wyoming’s Re
! publican State central committee,
which recently sent the President a
resolution calling upon him to be his
‘ party's candidate, was generally ex
pected to be as negative and final as
the contents of the courteous letter of
declination to L. C Hinkle, State i
1 chairman, proved The action of the
: state committee did not by any means
j receive unanimous indorsement of
Wyoming Republicans notwithstand-
I ing the fact that up until the issuance
j of the famous “I do not choose" state
i ment. and its repetition before the Re- j
| publican national committee. Coolidge
! was by Jong odds the favorite in this j
: State among ail the Republicans men- i
I Uoned for the presidency.
Hoover Republicans, who are greatly
in the majority, have expressed the
f opinion that Jt was unwise at least to
i detract from Hoover* prestige in this
j State by a request that the President
• consent to be ’drafted." although St is j
i conceded that 85 per cent of the State j
committee are Hoover supporters How
ever, Wyoming political leaders feel <
that the action of this Bt#te through j
its Republican State committee, has set
at rest all specula ion regarding possi
bility of the Coolidge candidacy
Fred W Johnson of Rock Spring.
I credited with having been the original
Far Western "Smith for President"
booster, has publicly forecast that
Arizona California. Nevada, New M»x
-| ico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and
Wyoming will, in all probability, be for
fimlth in the Democratic convention at
Houston Democrats have been ex-
I tremely slow to put candidates for State j
offices forward It is conceded that
i United States Senator Kendrick again i
will be a candidate to succeed himset!
and it is claimed by Democratic lead- !
er* that he will poll almost a solid !
vote in hi* own party, with many Re- j
publican ballots to swell the total
EMMETT FULLER
# -*■**- ■ -
Democratic dry* to obtain precinct
and county delegation* who will oppose
fcrni’h in the State convention to be
held here April 20, there is movement
on foot to oust Senator Stock of
Ottumwa as temporary chairman of j
u>* State, Democratic convention,
Senator Stock was invited to deliver
i the keynote address to tine convention
• at tii* time of the post-Jackson day
1 1 banquet here last month A lew days i
j afterward tie came out with a dear j
declaration to the effect that he favored I
.Gov Smith a* the party's candidate
, ] This announcement followed, tie said l
! conferences with leading Democrat* of j
I lit* State who believed Smith to be the
! ■ only Democrat with soffit lent strength j
. , to be elected.
This action on the part of Senator
J Stock has iieen branded a* scarcely
. ! less than presumptuous by active dr y
I Democrats who however, see no i/o~
■ sib'iity of avoiding what wiii ixe for
- 1 them an embarraasing situation when
1 the Senator deliver* his expected
I eulogy of hmiti) before the convention
f ! Mis Wft Mauistjy chairman of Ui*
-. Democratic fttote centra) committee, is
r. | an avowed dry, as are the majority of
i the committee member#
a C. 0. curio*.
TTTE SUNDAY STAR. WASHINGTON, D. 0.. At ARCH 25, 1028—HART L
MIRTH BOOM
GAINS IN MAMA
i
No Weakening of Hoover
Sentiment Seen. However.
Anti-Smith Men Busy.
Special Dispatch to The Star,
MONTGOMERY. Ala.. March 24.
Growing; sentiment for Nicholas Long
worth as the "dark horse" at the Kan
sas City convention is noted in Repub- s
lican circles in Alabama. While there is j
considerable talk of the son-in-law of i
the late President Roosevelt, there is
no apparent weakening in Hoover
strength among administration leaders.
The favorable expressions concern
ing Mr. Longworth indicate that Re
j publicans are not pinning their sole ;
faith on one candidate. Political ob- I
servers have taken notice of the Long- ;
worth drift and attribute it to a de- |
velopment whereby the nomination of I
Mr Hoover may appear undesirable.
While candidates for the presidency 1
are freely discussed, and Lowdenites are
making themselves heard, there is a
strong undercurrent to unhorse Com
mitteeman Oliver D. Street when the
State convention meets in May. So far
no opponent has been brought to light
and friends of the party leader in
Alabama express confidence in his abil
ity to hold his own.
In Democratic ranks the chief de
velopment during the past week was
the failure of the Anti-Saloon League
| to dominate the State committee at the
; meeting in Birmingham. The State
; superintendent of this organization
sought vainly to have a resolution
adopted providing for each delegate to
; the national convention name his own
i alternate. This was voted down by
almost 3 to 1. The present committee
1 is the first in many years which the
dry organization failed to dominate, to
a certain extent. Party, leaders con
sider the dry control definitely broken
| Another evidence of discord among
the Ku Klux. prohibition forces is the '
desperate effort made to “whittle" j
down the number of candidates for j
delegate to the national convention, j
Among the total of more than 60 can- j
didates there is only one outspoken ad
vocate of Smith as the presidential !
candidate. ATTICUS MULLIN.
COLORADO POLL CITES
BACKING FOR HOOVER
Bepublican leaders Express Senti- .-
ment—Beed-for-President
Club Organized.
! Special Dispatch to The Star.
DENVER. Colo., March 24—Herbert
Hoover s position in so far as the»
Colorado delegation to the Republican |
national convention is concerned, was j
measurably strengthened last week,
i when the president of the Arapahoe
I Club announced a mail ballot of the ]
club membership showed two-thirds of
the 500 members in favor of the Hoover
candidacy. The Arapahoe Club in
cludes in its roster most of the heavy
artillery of the Denver County Repub
lican machine.
Valiant efforts were put forth by sup
i porters of Lowden to rally the club to j
his banner, but the poll showed only a
! scattering few voting for the Illinois;
1 man. Other ' votes were distributed
among President Coolidge. Senator j
Curtis. Nicholas Longworth. Charles 5
Evans Hughes and Senator Borah ;
That Coloradoans are thoroughly con- j
vinced of the hopelessness of the;
"draft Coolidge" movement is indicated
by the fact only four votes were re- !
corded for the President.
In accordance with the temper of j
the club members as demonstrated by j
the poll, the club will actively get be
hind the candidacy of Secretary
Hoover and work for a Hoover in
structed delegation to Kansas City.
With a single exception, ail of the men
comprising the slate of delegates at
large, which at this writing appears
certain of approval by the State con
, vention, are openly and avowedly
! Hoover men. The exception is Senator
l Waterman, who has been one of the
active promoters of the draft Coolldße
j movement. Now that the President has
i informed the Wyoming Republican or-
I gantaaUon he positively will not be a ,
: candidate. It is expected Waterman will
■get on the Hoover bandwagon. -
| Others on the slate are Senator
Phipps. Secretary of Interior Work.
Prank W Howbert. collector of internal
revenue: William V. Hodges, Rcpubll
can national treasurer; George 6haw^
I former State* chairman, and Judge
A W McHendrle, party leader in
; southern Colorado
I on the Democratic side develop
ments of the week Included the or
ganization of a Reed-for-Preslden
l Club, headed bv former Representative
Hilliard, and an effort of the McAdoo
element in the party to draw from
Gov Smith’s strength bv injecting toe
' candidacy of Senator Walsh of Mon
! ! tana into the fight for control of the
Colorado delegation to Houston Smith
'! supporters say the move will help
rather than hurt the New York Oov
i j ernor s cause, by reason of the fact u
| will align Hilliard and his following
' among the dry Democrat* against |
Morrison Bhafroth. the bell cow of trie |
McAdoo forces and his cohorts among j
I the dry Democrats. Tom Anneal, State j
I , chairman and drv already has espoused ?
■ i the Smith candidacy. J P DAY. 1
. ......... - - •
CONNECTICUT STILL AIMS
AT COOLIDGE DRAFTING
Delegation May Vot * ** Unlt **
Expedient. to Aid Causa
of President.
1.,*-, ml It 1 1> the >lm,
JIARTPORH Conn , March 24 - The
Blab*-wide < aueu&es this v.»*cg for ,
ejection of delegates to tbe Republican
Btaie convention deveto|*-d few contests,
pill these personal rivalries meant noth
ing as to the bigger question of the
choice of Connecticut for President and
'the part it is to play in the national
convention
There is no change in the pia» oi
the party leaders to send an unpledged
delegation to Kansas City and there is
apparently no strength of sentiment in
favor of departing from this precedent.
J Henry ilo*abacs member of the
I national committee and chairman of
the Htate central committee will be a
delegate at large and presumably alii
be chairman of tire delegation, Ha may
be expected to do what he can toward
bringing about. President Cootldge'a
renotnlnation
It is believed that, while the Con
necticut delegation will go to Kansas
City uninatructed and unpledged it will
vote as a unit If it seems expedient to
cast the Htate s 17 votes for Coolidge
Whether tliese votes will be given for
the President at the outset nr reserved
for what may secni a more effective
time, is a matter of conjecture, but
theie ts reason to believe that the lead
ers appiplate tip position of Connecti
cut near Hie top of the roll and hope
to have their Htate get credit for atari*
trig lire Coolidge draft
H 1. HORTON.
I THE WEEK IN POLITICS I
Summary of National Developments Based on Reports
From The Star's Special Correspondents
and Staff Writers.
j » - . - - - . .
WYOMING held the center
of the political stage
during the last week,
when President Coolidge,
through his secretary, informed
the Republican State committee
thnt he would not accede to
its request that he be a candidate
to succeed himself. This, the third
declaration by the President that
he would not run, was interpreted j
by the *Republicans in Wyoming as
taking the President finally out of i
the race and a blow to the move- j
ment to "draft” him, according to
The Star’s special political corre
spondent. Wyoming Republicans
are strongly for the nomination of
Secretary Herbert Hoover, with the
President eliminated.
Other political correspondents of
The Star also take the view that
the statement by the President’s sec
retary to the Wyoming Republicans
! has aided the Hoover boom. From
Pennsylvania comes the report that
the delegation to the Republican
national convention is more than
ever likely to be for Hoover, al
though much will depend upon the
strength demonstrated by Mr. Hoov
er in the Ohio and other primary
elections in which the Secretary of
Commerce is entered.
* *
The Hoover boom in the South
took on added vigfir, it is reported,
when C. Bascorn Slemp, Republican
national committeeman for Virginia,
definitely announced that the State
delegation and hr himself would
support Mr. Hoover at the Kansas
City convention. Mr. Slemp has
long been a power among Republic
ans of the South as well as in his
own State.
Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York
definitely threw* his hat into the
ring for the Democratic presidential
nomination when he gave formal ;
j permission for filing his name in the ;
Massachusetts primary, which takes j
place April 24. Hitherto the gov
ernor, while widely heralded as the !
| party’s strongest candidate for the !
S nomination, has played a waiting I
) game. He will have the Massa- j
i chusetts delegation solidly for him.
i it is reported.
Among the interesting develop
ments of the week was the passage
by the Massachusetts State Legisla
ture of a bill providing for a direct
presidential preferential vote, at the
solicitation of Gov. Fuller, who sent
the legislature a special message on
the subject. Until this bill was
passed, the preference ror presiden
tial nominees was expressed by the
delegate candidates, so that they
might be considered "pledged" when
elected. The Bay State voters now
will have an opportunity to express
their preference by writing in the
1 names of candidates for the pres
-1 idential nominations. Hoover sup
porters there arc reported to be
; jubilant, believing that the primary
will show a large vote for Mr.
Hoover, although he did not file as
did Gov. Smith, but acquiesced in
the plan of Republican leaders to
send an uninstructed delegation to
the Republican national convention.
It is predicted he will have 28 out
of 39 Massachusetts delegates for
him in any event.
In New York State Gov. Smith's
indignant denial of charges made in
the Senate in Washington that he
was connected with Harry F. Sln
j clalr. or had benefited by contribu
tions to his campaigns made by the
defendant in the Government oil
cases, was hailed as an intention on
the governor's part to make the "oil
scandals" a principal Issue in the
national campaign if he be nomi
nated by the Democrats at Houston.
Efforts may be made to use the fact
against him that the governor ap
pointed Sinclair a member of the
State raring commission, though
| several years before the oil investi
gation, it is said.
** * *
Senator "Jim” Reed of Missouri
is to make a speaking campaign
which will take him into practically
every State in the Union. His man
agers hope to build up a large fol
lowing for the Senator, as second
choice to Gav. Smith and other
candidates. He Is going into the
South, where Smith is disliked as a
j presidential candidate, as well as
into the North and West.
The supporters of Senator Thomas
J. Walsh failed in South Dakota to
file a list of Walsh delegates to he
voted on in the primary which takes
REPUBLICANS NEAR
HARMONY IN FLORIDA
"Lily White*' Faction Assures Reg
ulars of Support—Coolidge
Still Favored.
‘•pp'-iii! h to The
JACKSONVILLE. Fla, March 24
Resolutions commending the adminis
tration of President Coolidge and ex
i pressing regret In the declination of
| the incumbent to offer again were
j among the features of the meeting of
! the State committee of the Republican
! party in Jacksonville last week The
| gathering was harmonious and an event
| of considerable moment was the com
munication from what has previously
j been a contending faction—the ‘‘Lily
White” branch of Republicanism In the
| Stale—assuring the ' regular" organi-
S sat ton that there would be no dissension
| this year.
Efforts to organize a strictly white
Republican party in Florida have been
noted the past dozen years, and con
testing delegates have sometimes gone
to the national convention. The meet
ing here made arrangements for the
I State convention, which Will name dele
j gates to national convention, nominate ,
candidates and otherwise plan for the
campaign A full ticket Is to be put
In the field for National State and some
county offices The committee avoided
! all references to possible candidates for
| president and It was said by some 1
I after the meeting that there are yet i
great hopes of drafting President Cool- j
ldge
In Democratic camp the aiiti-Mmtth j
faction Is working quietly but persist - ]
lngly and still without a favorite,
Among candidates seeking places on
the delegation to Houston, several are
; outspoken for (inv. Smith and others
have indicated their preference for
Walsh or Ritchie Several women are
In the field and these are anti-Smith
with little Indication of other decision.
State affairs continue to become more
complicated There are now seven as
pirants for the governor's chair, Includ
ing former Clov Halts, all asking for
votes in the Democratic primary In
the senatorial race, (iov. John W Mur
tin Is making the race to secure the
seat now held by Senator Trammell
Opposition fs found In three of the con
gressional contests in the Democratic
ranks The Republicans will offer eatt
dldsies, named in the convention called
for May, for various offices; not expect
ing lo win, but to make a proper snow
ing of Activity.
UKOKOV HOYT SMITH.
place there May 22. It Is reported. I
This makes it certain that a Smith
delegation will be selected.
The selection of delegates to the
Democratic national convention, just
consummated by the Democratic
'State committee in Little Rock, Ark.,
has given encouragement to the
Smith supporters. Reports are to
the effect that a poll of the dele
gates shows 90 per cent of them for j
the nomination of Gov. Smith. Ef
forts of the drys failed to shake the
| State committee in its selection of
I the delegates. Senator Robinson. ;
who will head the delegation, de
clined to permit himself to be named
as a “favorite son" candidate. He
has not declared for Smith. How
ever. if Smith goes to the convention j
with a large batch of delegates, it is
expected the Arkansas delegat ion will j
fall into line for him.
In North Carolina, however, where
a recent “Smith demonstration" tvas
staged, a poll of the principal Demo
cratic leaders of the State shows
them to be overwhelmingly against
the nomination of Smith. The dry
Democrats in lowa are rallying to the
support of E. T. Meredith. Secretary
of Agriculture during the Wilson ad- j
ministration, who has offered himself j
as a favor ltd son candidate, to pre- j
vent the delegation's going to A1
Smith. Prospects are for a brisk |
battle there Senator Stock. Demo- >
rrat. has angered some of the lowa ’
Democrats by coming out for Smith.
** * *
The Hoover-Willis bat lie* in Ohio
is growing in intensity. The Hoover
supporters lay claim to many gains
during the week. The Anti-Saloon
League is not lining up solidly for
Willis, as was hoped by Senator Wil
lis. it is reported. The treasurer of
the league there has joined a Hoover
for-Prcsident Club. Klan strength,
however, may be thrown to Willis.
The Hoover people claim that at
least 24 of the 51 delegates now will
be elected for Mr. Hoover, including
' the 7 delegates at large, carrying
with them the preference of the
j State. They further insist that
Hoover may have as many as 30 of
the delegates when the votes are
‘ all in.
If things are going well for Hoover
in Ohio, the reports from Indiana
are not so promising, where the
Commerce Secretary is opposed by
Senator Watson. favorite son.
Watson has the organization back of
him. The Hoover supporters, how
ever. are counting on recent scandals
involving the organization to help
them in the end.
Reports from farther West show
Hoover sentiment on the increase.
Lowden managers say he will not
go into the Oregon primary to con
test for the delegation with Hoover.
They believe, however, that Oregon
delegates will be favorable to Lowden
as "second choice." From Nevada
comes the word that Hoover ap
partnely 4 has the lead, though the
Republican delegation may be un
lnstructed. Colorado, Montana and
Utah correspondents say that the
Hoover boom is going well in those
States. Nevada Democrats are ex
pected to send a delegation to
Houston instructed for A1 Smith.
The Walsh following in Montana has
warned Smith supporters to keep
their hands off, despite the fact that
Smith has many followers there.
*** * •
The Ritchie following in Maryland
is playing along with the supporters 1
of Gov. Smith, hoping to inherit
Smith strength for Gov. Ritehie if
the New York Governor fails to make
the grade at Houston. The Mary
land delegation may be voted for
Smith for several ballots early in the
convention, it is said. In Virginia
the drys are launching a move to in
struct the Democratic delegation
against, a "wet.”
From Idaho comes the report that
Senator Borah, favorite son candi
dote for the Republican nomination,
may head the State's delegation to
the Republican national convention
and have a place and a voice in that
convention.
The Republicans in Florida ap
parently have made peace for the
time and the prospects are against
contesting delegations to the na
tional convention The reverse is
true in Mississippi, however, where
Perry Howard and Sheldon factions
are at war. The name of Representa
tive Nicholas Longworth. Speaker
of the House, as a possible “dark
horse" nominee of the Republicans is
mentioned in reports from Alabama.
(Oevneht, !!>■;« t*> Th« Wanhinrtnn star.)
SPLIT MISSISSIPPI
DELEGATION IS SURE
J
Factional Fight of Republicans
Now Argued in State Su
preme Court.
Spsctsl Pttpsteh to The f*tsr.
JACKSON, Miss., March 24.-The j
injunction of the Sheldon group of the
Republican party in Mississippi against
the Howard wing of the organization,
made permanent trt Chancery Court,
was argued before the State Supreme
Court here Saturday. Meanwhile the
Sheldon group, apparently victorious as
a result of the decision handed down
by a Democratic court, has called b-’at
conventions for March 31 to elect dele
gates to the county conventions
The county conventions will be held
April 2, the delegates of which will at
tend district meetings a few days pre
ceding the State convention. This ac
tion was taken by the Sheldon group,
who, becoming discontented with the
rule of Perry Howard, colored. Republi
can national committeeman from Mia-
Dlsslppt, and his associates, initiated a
movement to reorganize the party hi
the State from the "ground up." April
30 is tile date set for the holding of the
Stale convention for the Sheldon wing
j Howard and his associates have found
a loophole In tire injunction to prevent
| the group from calling convent lona in
the State, While tiie injunction was
! Issued on ground of illegality it does
j not prevent the Howard faction from
i calling new conventions, in compliance
with the law, and this is what the
Howard faction promises to do Re
gardless of what decision is handed
down by the State Supreme Court, two
separate delegations will be sent to tire
Kansas City convention, one of which
will be seated.
Tire Republican factional tight in the
Stale lias overshadowed Democratic
activities, ‘lire Democrats have given
little thought to Hie approaching con
vention at Houston aim delegates chos
en will he untnsMucted However, the
early balloting will see the State In
dorsing Senator Harrison and striving
to prevent the nomination of Oov
Smith, but Hie parly nominee will gel
Hie support of the electorate of the
State, REX H MACHOS,
•
The first Hutted States rabbit e*-
Criment station will be opened at Ton
ne, Calif, In March.
VIRGINIA’S VOTES
TO GO TO HOOVER
State G. 0. P. Convention
Fails to Instruct, but
Slemp Bares Stand.
| Siwfial Di.paffh to Ths Star.
RICHMOND. Va., March 24.—Vir- }
ginia's delegation to the Kansas City ;
convention will be for Herbert Hoover j
for President. The State Republican
j convention which met in Roanoke last j
Saturday did not instruct the delegates
| which it elected to the national con
vention. but C. Bascom Slemp. bell
wether of the party in Virginia, broke
the silence which he has maintained so
long and made an unequivocal declara
tion in favor of the candidacy of the
Secretary of Commerce.
Mr. Slemp’s declaration was regarded j
as expressing the views of the con- \
vention. On the same day Henry W. j
Anderson, former gubernatorial nominee j
of the Republican party, also declared j
himself in favor of Hoover.
The convention went on record as ,
favoring the nomination of a Southern j
man for the vice presidency, and it is I
likely that either Mr. Slemp or Col.
Anderson will be put forward by the
Virginia delegation.
Byrd Ends “Boom.”
A boom for Gov. Bvrd of Virginia
for the Democratic nomination for Vice
President was started this week, but
! quickly came to an end when the gov- j
ernor showed that he was unalterably
opposed to the idea. He not only de
clared that he would not be a candi
date, but stated emphatically that he
would not accept the nomination if it
were tendered him. The Virginia execu
tive had previously put the stamp of his
disapproval on a movement which was
designed to have the State Democratic
convention give him a • favorite son"
indorsement for the presidential nomi
nation.
In a letter to a Richmond newspaper.
Rev. David Hepburn, superintendent of
the Anti-Saloon League of Virginia, dis
closes the plan of the anti-Smith forces
to have the State Democratic conven
; tion instruct against the New York ex
ecutive and some others. He says, in
part:
“If you are more concerned about the
party than the success of the candidate. ;
you will join the dry’ forces in urging j
that the Virginia delegation be in- j
structed not to vote for any wet’ can
didate. or for any man who. notwith- j
| standing his oath of oflßc®. treats the J
Constitution as a scrap of paper.
Stand Is Demanded,
j “It is an indisputable fact that the
i people are demanding that the leading
parties t3ke a definite stand. High
sounding generalities and a compro
mising attitude on the most important
issue before the American people will
be surely rebuked in November by an
| overwhelming vote, like that of 1920
and 1924. And as for Gov. Smith
agreeing to any such compromise, that
is unthinkable. Mr. Smith is a man
of conviction, and with a consistent
’wet' record. We do not believe that, j
he would be willing to stultify himself :
even to be President, and if he did. the
people would repudiate him and the!
party as unworthy of support in a crit
ical time like the present.”
All of this means that the main bat
tle to be fought at the State conven
tion will be on the question of whether
there will be an instruction against
Smith, Ritchie and Reed.
R. L. C. BARRET.
BORAH SUPPORTED
IN IDAHO COUNTIES
Senator Certain to Lead State's
Delegation—lllinoisans Ask
His Name on Ballot.
Special I)i#n»tch to The Star.
BOISE. Idaho. March 24 —Counties
in Idaho are engaged in electing their
delegates to the Republican State con
vention at Pocatello April 10. when
delegates will be elected to the Repub
lican national convention at Kansas.
City and with but few exceptions they
are giving their instructions for Sena
tor Borah. It is now certain that the
senior Senator from Idaho and its
“favorite son” will head the delegation
' from his own State, w hich will place
him in a position to occupy the floor
of the convention, thus permitting him
to discuss Issues that will come before
the concla\e. That is a matter of para
mount importance to Senator Borah,
because he has taken a definite stand
on certain Issues. Including that of the
eighteenth amendment, which he be
lirvpa his party should recognize also.
Senator Borah's home county. Ada. ,
passed resolutions through the county I
■ central committee instructing the dele- ;
! gates to the State convention to vote j
for a delegation for him to the national j
| convention that will stand by him in j
the presidential race.
Other counties electing delegates to ;
the State convention are instiacting'
them along similar lines. This is. how- j
ever, merely a matter of form because
the State Republican committee has
already recommended that the conven- !
tion eleet a delegation to Kansas City
instructed for Senator Borah and so far
j as the entire party is concerned, it w ill I
present a united front for him
Republican leaders here are inter- ;
rated in reports from Illinois that there
is a strong movement in that State to
place Borah's name on the presidential
primary ballot The strongest possible
petitions have been sent to Borah, urg
ing him to consent to have his name
used. A J. LAWSON
——-....
WEST VIRGINIANS FAVOR |
UNFETTERED DELEGATION
Republicans to Exert Influence
Against Entries for Presi
dential Primary. i
Sjt... ml Di.nrtt.il lo Thu "lar
CHARLESTON. W Va.. March 24
—lt Is being disclosed that many Re- |
| publican leaders in the State favor an
untnstmeted and open-minded delega
tion to Kansas City, and will exert
I heir influence to discourage entries for
the presidential primary Tins atti
tude is not taken in opjmwduon to the
favorite son movement for Senator Golf
or to any of the open candidates from
the outside It Is merely indicative of
a desire to have a delegation tree to
act on convention conditions and de
velopments,
Seven prominent Republicans, which
corresponds with the number to be
chosen, have announced for delegate at
large and 20 others for the 12 district
delegate selections. In filing none of
these expressed a preference and not
until recently was a declaration qualified
in any respect,
The chorus for Gov. Hmith among
delegate candidate* became a little more
out of tuns ibis week Following for
mer Stale Senator Johnson of Charles
ton. who in announcing tor delegate
at large bespoke (lie nomination of a
genuine progressive Democrat from
live West, the Middle West or the
South," former Judge J C McWhorter
of Buekhaimon flatly declared opposi
tion to Bmtth in qualifying for the
(Rate-wide delegate (suites!. However,
Joins Hoover Camp
HK .IraNpIPIPPSIH
C. BASCOM SLEMP.
j National committeeman. who says the
Virginia delegation will be for the Sec
! retary of Commerce.
MARYLAND HAILS i
I RITCHIE STRENGTH
But Sponsors Sidestep Any
Attempt to Cut Sup
port of Smith.
| Speria! r>!*patch to The Star.
BALTIMORE March 24.—Friends of
Gov. Ritchie in Maryland believe that
he will receive this year in the Demo
cratic national convention, more votes
for the presidential nomination than
the 16 of his own State.
The Ritchie adherents are cautious
I in making predictions for their candi
date. not because they have anything
i to hide, but because they do not wish
; to do. or seem to be doing, anything
that is antagonistic to the candidacy
of Gov. Smith.
Maryland Democracy is as strong for
| Smith as it is for Ritchie. Os course
; the Maryland Governor is preferred by
the people of his own State to Gov.
i Smith, but the feeling here is that if
Ritchie cannot be nominated, then
1 every effort should be made to make
the New Yorker the standard bearer.
Relations Are Good.
The relations between Albany and
Annapolis are of the best. This was
; demonstrated several weeks ago when
Mayor Walker of New York, spoke in
I Baltimore on his trip South. The mayor
was extravagant in his praise of Mary
land's Governor. But it was what
Gov. Ritchie said that held importance.
"When the Democratic convention
j meets," Ritchie said. “I do not believe
there will be any discord when the
bands simultaneously play the ‘Side
walks of New York' and Maryland. My
j Maryland.'"
Although to maintain this harmony.
' Maryland Democratic leaders are re- .
i luetant to boast about the Ritchie I
candidacy, nevertheless they privately
admit that the Marylander this year
stands in a much better position than
he did in 1924.
In 1924 Gov. Ritchie virtually was
I unknown to the majority of the Amefi
can public. Today few persons who
■ regularly read the newspapers and
periodicals lack an understanding of
the principles for which the Maryland
executive stands. Many have heard
him enunciate what might be called
his platform over the radio.
Without a board of political strate
j gists, w ithout any paid publicity agents,
j Gov. Ritchie probably has been the
; most vigorous and aggressive presiden
! lial candidate in the country. His ap
i peal has gone chiefly to the people.
I But. his Maryland supporters believe,
j this appeal has had an effect on politi
! cal leaders, the men who will ''throw
the votes" when the convention at
Houston Anally gets ready to select a j
nominee.
The Ritchie people in Maryland for :
some time have been considering a |
I plan to give their vote to Oov. Smith ,
! for about eight or ten ballots, after
; the first three or four. The plan then
; contemplates, if Oov. Smith is unable
to get the nomination by the twelfth or
; fifteenth ballot, to go to work in earnest
for Gov. Ritchie.
Approved by Democrats.
Whether this plan will be followed
will not be decided for some months,
probably not until the Maryland dele- |
i gation arrives at Houston But it meets
I the approval of the majority of Mary*
i land Democrats.
It is feasible because Gov. Ritchie,
|as in 1924, will again have absolute
! control of the delegation from his i
! State. The ward leaders of Baltimore
have made their selections of delegates
j to the state conventton. which in turn
! will elect the delegation to the national
| convention
The leaders of Baltimore have ev-
I pressed a willingness to al!<u\ the
governor to control the delegation and
| the county leaders are of the same
: mind
With the exception of selection of j
delegates to the Democratic State con
vention. Maryland politics moved slowly
this week Charles McC. Mathias. •
Republican leader of Frederick, at- *
tacked the Broenmg-Marrhant group
but the latter remained silent.
The congressional lines of battle are j
fairly well fixed, except in the sixth j
or western Maryland district, where no
candidates have announced themselves>
so far Representative Zthlrrtan. how- t
ever, is expected to be the Republican i
| standard bearer and David J. Lewis, J
former tariff commissioner and Repre- i
sentative. his Democratic opponent
FRANK! YN W ALTMAN. Jr.
. ■ i
SLATE QUALIFIED.
SACRAMENTO. Calif , March ?4 .TV \
A list of candidates for delegates to!
' the Democratic national convention
j pledged to support the presidential can
j didaev of Senator Reed of Missouri
I qualified today for a place on the May
l primary ballot in California
Many more signatures than necessary
were tiled with the secretary of state,
together with the indorsement of the
Reed campaign committee and the af
fidavits of the 30 candidates for dele
gates
despite these and some other rebuffs, i
Smith at this tune seems to have much
the best of it Senator Reed is going
to invade the State for at least one
sjH'ech, but there arc too many Wilson
Democrats tn West Virginia to make |
the visit dangerous for Smith Most of;
the ultra-dry* of this predominating j
wing would give Senator Walsh the)
preference over Senator Reed, nidging !
by present signs
Democratic leaders ave professing
greater confidence than usual tn then
ability to overturn the normal Jk'ooo
Republican majority In the State. The
chief factor tn this optimism ta Sena
tor Neely, who will be unopposed for
renomluation white three Republicans
•re fighting for the primary honor
IXffi KtRTLANOk
HOOVER ADVANCES
1 IN PENNSYLVANIA
Mellon Control of Delegation
Seems Completely Es
tablished.
s i[*o<isl T>mpa*'h tn Th* Star. •
HARRISBURG. Pa . March 24
With President Coolidges third dec
laration that he docs not "choose" to
be a presidential candidate this year,
the likelihood that Secretary of Com
merce Hoover will get votes of the
Pennsylvania delegation .at Kansas
City increases.
j As long as there appears to be the
remotest chance that the President
could be drafted. he doubtless would
be the first choice of Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon. If he could be nom
inated but wduld refuse to ac-
I cept nomination, it is felt here Secre
tary Mellon would be aware of the
President’s desire and would not throw
Pennsylvania's 79 votes to Coolidge to
add to his chief's embarrassment.
| As matters now stand, it appears
likely that Hoover will get the solid
vote from Pennsylvania if the Secretary
weathers the primary contests facing
him. Should the Hoover boom falter
in the primary tests, however. Secre
tary Mellon will doubtless name the
candidate whom Pennsylvania will
support.
Few to Buck Mellon.
Should It happen that the Mellon
choice should be some one oth®r than
Hoover, there is a bare possibility there
would be several scattered votes for
Hoover in the delegation, nevertheless:
j but the votes who will not follow the
Mellon choice are expected to be com
paratively few.
The Mellon control of the entire
: delegation appears almost completely
established now. although the P»nnsyl-
I vania primary will not be held until
one month from today.
All contests have been elminated from
| the ballots for delegate at large, the
final one coming in court decision bar
ring the name of Franklin P. Booth.
Pittsburgh engineer, from the ballots
as a candidate. Booth, pledged to
Hoover, was the last candidate remain
ing for delegate at large not included
in the Mellon ticket. He was barred
because his nominating petitions con
tained a number of valid signatures
less than required by law.
In the 36 congressional districts Re
publican delegates will be elected with
cut oppositnon in 23 In the 13 other
districts there are 18 extra candidates,
but in nearly every instance the addi
tional candidates reflect rivalry for
) local political control rather than dif
ferences in choice of presidential can
didates. In two Pittsburgh districts,
however. there are candidates definitely
committed to Hoover, opposing organ
ization candidates who have no pledge.
Sproul's Death Is Blow.
There will be a distinct loss to the
Pennsylvania delegation through the
death Wednesday night of former Gov.
William Cameron Sproul. He was un
opposed for delegate in th- congression
al district of Representative Butler,
! chairman of the House committee on
naval affairs.
In the 1920 convention, while gov
ernor. Sproul was the "favorite son"
of the Pennsylvania delegation, polling
a maximum of 84 votes on the first
ballot in the convention, and remaining
I as a contender through nine ballot*.
He then withdrew to aid in ending the
deadlock and to permit the nomination
of Warren G. Harding. Sproul had
served in the 1916 and 1920 conven
tions.
From several sources among dry
Democrats this week, there have been
indications where some of the dry un
pledged delegate strength from Penn
| sylvania in the Houston convention
I may go. These indications have been
i in insistence that the issue of the Dem
ocratic party this year be the revela
tions of the Teapot Dome oil reserve
investigation.
While the insistence is based largely
on the desire to get away from the pro
hibition issue, and on opposition to Gov.
! Smith of New York, it may also mesn
the beginning of a boom here for Sen
ator Walsh of Montana.
Smith Ferres Gain.
The greatest handicap the Smith
, forces have as yet received came this
■ week when candidates drew lots to de
! termme the order in which their names
: will be printed on the ballots. There
are 13 candidates for delegate at large,
j with either four or eight to be elected,
depending upon whether the State ac
cepts the ruling of the national or
State committee for certification, There
are four anti-Smith candidates and
nine favoring Smith.
When lots were drawn the four anti-
Snnth candidates won the first four
- places on the Democratic ballots. Hav-
I mg the four opponents of the New
York Governor at the head of the list
on the ballots will probably mean they
will receive several thousand additional
votes, for the first positions are usually
| estimated to be valuable as a means of
; obtaining the vote of those who are
not familiar with candidates' names
! and merely mark the first names in the
printed list WAITER D ROCS
TENNESSEEANS OPEN
CAMPAIGN FOR REED
More Seen Bid for Socond-Choico
Sentiment—Stuff Still Solidly
Behind Hull.
| Special t> The Si*
I MEMPHIS, Tenn.. March 24—The
t announcement Friday that Senator
i Reed of Missouri us to speak in Mem
j phis April 6. coupled with the state
| mem that a Reed-for-President Chib
will be organised here at that time has
; started many political observer* to
I wonder what may happen next m Ten
| nessee.
This will be Senator Reed s first In
vasion of the home State of a favorite
son and the forming of a Reed-for-
President Club here probably will start
off a State-wide organisation.
It appears that the only reason tor
; this would be that some second-choice
sentiment will be played for. Ten
nessee Democrats are solidly behind
Judge Cordell Hull and there is no
movement of any kind nor a til there
be any. to take the State away from
him The Tennessee delegation will be
instructed to support him at Houston
until Judge Hull u nominated or for
mally releases his vote*.
The Reed move may brm* on a
counter move on the part of the Smith
people, as between Reed and Snuth
as second choice I* Judge Hulk there
is little doubt that Smith would lead tn
Tennessee now Whether the Senate? *
appearance in Memphis and the sub
sequent organising of a Reed-for-Fresi
dent Club wiU change the situation re
nte tna to be seen
Thousand* of Tennea.se Democrats
still revere the memory of Woodrow
Wilson On the surface it would be
safe to guess that a dm Wilson Demo
crat In Tennessee will prefer South
to Reed ts at Houston the chance
should com * to indicate It
THOMAS FAVNITJRROY.
Railroad trams m Russia are plas
tered With posters m carry poUtxal
ideas about the country,