Booms

THE PRESIDENCY

Booms

Mr. George. Georgia Congressmen announced last week that they favored "George of Georgia" for the Democratic nomination. Their action followed the issuance by "George of Georgia" (U. S. Senator Walter Franklin George) of the following statement:

"For some months mention has been made of my name as a possible nominee for vice president by the Democratic party. . . .

"I am not nor have I ever been a vice presidential candidate. ... I feel that at this time I should formally and publicly state that I am not and will not be a candidate for the vice presidential nomination."

The George announcement had been prompted by assurance that boss Democrats John Sanlord Cohen and Clark Howell of Georgia had, for the first time in a long time, agreed on something. They had agreed to try to block Candidate Smith with Candidate George.

Mr. Howell's newspaper, the Atlanta Constitution, published an editorial which said: "If we insist upon 'a Southern man' for President, it is only because the politicians force us to so describe him. The real basis of our particular claim is that a great section of the Union, rapidly advancing in population, wealth and consequence to the prosperity and perpetuity of the nation, has been definitely and persistently denied political equalities for three successive generations. . . . It is our sincere conviction that the country at large is ripe for such a political innovation. . . ."

Aged 50, lawyer and judge, no Southern demagog, respected by his colleagues, no less obscure nationally than was Senator Harding in 1920, no more an "innovation" than any other "favorite son" candidate, Walter Franklin George of Georgia will help Southern Democrats mark time. Whether or not they profit by the experiment, he will profit by the experience.

Mr. Hull. Less impressive than the George candidacy, more informal but no more mysterious as to motive, was the Presidential candidacy, announced last week by Congressional colleagues with his foreknowledge, of U. S. Representative Cordell Hull from Tennessee, another Democrat. Candidate Hull, politically sagacious, understood the plan and made no statement. His friends, who sought to do him honor rather than to block another's path, displayed the Hull record: 37 years a lawyer, four years a judge, 20 years a Congressman, four years (1921-1924) chairman of the National Democratic Committee. The purpose of the Hull candidacy is to keep Tennessee from fighting too bitterly in the primary over Prohibition or, perchance over Roman Catholicism. The third or fourth ballot at the national convention is time enough to let some state electorates know for whom they really voted.

Statements of the Week included the following:

P:"If I had a voice in saying of who shall be the next President . . . I would name Albert C. Ritchie. . . . He has earned his way into the hearts of millions outside the State of Maryland. And I know what I'm talking about"--Archbishop Michael Joseph Curley of the Roman Catholic diocese of Baltimore.

P: "After mature consideration we are of the unanimous opinion that Herbert Hoover is the best qualified active candidate for the Presidency put forward in either party by reason of his character, training, experience and cosmopolitan outlook on national and international problems. We indorse him as our choice for nomination and election.

". . . It is our informed opinion . . . that Herbert Hoover among Republicans everywhere is the preference of the rank and file. It is and will be our purpose to expose the selfish character of certain favorite-son and other insincere movements calculated to defeat the will of the people. . . .

". . . As between a Republican like Dawes or Lowden and a Democrat like Smith, we will support the Democrat"--The editors of the 26 Scripps-Howard newspapers.

P:"If the people of the United States fail to elect Herbert Hoover as the next president, they can be classed as a bunch of saps"--Thomas Alva Edison.

P:"I haven't given any indication as to the Presidential candidacy. . . . I have not intimated to any one what I plan to do in the convention. I am not obliged to take any position. There is luck in leisure"--Andrew Mellon.