Bandwagon

"The first week after a national convention," said the New York Times after the Houston convention, "is always devoted to the noble political art of climbing aboard. There ought to be a rule against looking when the ungraceful act is performed."

So inevitable was the Smith nomination, however, that most Democrats of any account were aboard the Smith wagon before the self-starter was depressed. As a result, there was very little "crow-eating" in the Democracy last week.

Opposing candidates for the nomination had anticipated the "ungraceful act" by promising to support whatever ticket was chosen. Josephus Daniels, Governor Dan Moody of Texas, Governor L. G. Hardman of Georgia and many another solved the problem by saying, simply: "I am a Democrat." Thomas Pryor Gore, the blind, facetious, onetime-Senator from Oklahoma who seconded Reed at Houston, frankly switched to Smith. Even bitter little Senator Simmons of North Carolina turned the other cheek, last week. It was a silent gesture. He did not promise to work actively for Smith. But he pointed to his Democratic record, held his peace.

Leaving the Smith bandwagon in what they hoped was the lurch were:

Senator James Thomas ("Tom Tom") Heflin of Alabama, who suggested that the South nominate a new set of Democratic electors and vote for them.

Thomas B. Love, a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Texas, who said: "As between chronic corruption and acute corruption, I prefer the acute. I want strongly to turn the rascals out, but I am just as strongly opposed to turning Tammany Hall in. I intend definitely to vote against Smith. ... As long as I live I am going to stay in the Democratic party."