Evening star., 1926-10-11
GALES TO FIGURE
IN COLORADO VOTE
Democrats May Lose Cath
olic Support Due to Sweets
Mexican Stand.

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
DENVER. Colo. October ll.-Gen.
Plutarcho Gales. President of Mexico.
may be the deciding factor in Colo
radios closely contested senatorial
race. That is to say, alienation Of the
Roman Catholic vote from former
Gov. William r.. Sweet. on account
or some publicly expressed opinions
about the Mexican government. NAV
be just enough To elect his opponent
harles w. Waterman. Coolidge Re
publican.
Sweet visited Mexico last Spring
with some Colorado Protestant church.
men. Of whom he is d leader 1t was
Just before Gales clash with Rome
sweet said he was inclined to think
the Mexican government attitude on
religious and other issues seemed
sound and right. That inflamed Colo
rado Romanlsts. Their determination
To punish Sweet is said to be cor
respondingly fierce. Democratic ma n
ayers acknowledge it is the principal
barrier to his victory. although enough
pro-Calles' Klan strength may ac
rrIe to Sweet 10 offset catholic defec-
tions.
Party Leaders Concerned.
Where the bulk OF the In kluX
vote in Colorado will go Is. in fact
the problem causing both Republican
and Democratic leaders grave anxiety.
The primaries left things badly mud
died. The successful candidates fpr
governor and Senator on Republican
and Democratic ticketa alike all made
70 rIx.ilx
their chief battle cry. In particular,
Senator Rice w. Means, Republican.
Tailed OF denomination mainly because
his opponent Charles W. Waterman.
colorado Coolidge pre-cnnVention man
ager IN 1924. labelled aud fought Means
as one of the darlings of the Khan
gods.
Oliver H. Shoup, successful Repub,
Hcan candidate for governor. WAS also
100 per cent anti-klan. So We're
sweet, Democratic nominee for the
Senate, and Adams. who won the.
Democratic guhernatorial nomination.
The primaries were widely hailed as
knocking the pins from beneath ku
hlux domination of Denver and Colo
lado politics. but for whom the 80. 900
or 10000 odd Khan nsmen and klans-
women of this ''rea I'm are now going
10 vote remains secret which the
shrewest politicians are not able to
solve.
Iilan Split Wide Open.
The klan meantime is split wide
open in Colorado. Its once all power
ful grand dragon, Dr. John Galen
Eocke, heads a rival khan" called
The Minute Men" II has $4,000
voters in Denver County alone. If
Locke lines up the Minute Men"
for Waterman, Republican success
will he materially promoted. Locke
Was deposed from his grand dragon
ship mainly. he allages. hecause of
the Vaccinations of Senator Means.
In gratitude for heating Means in
the Republican primary l.ocle's
Minute Men, some authorities think.
are certain To support Waterman.
The situation is quite as complicated
as these statements themselves.
Waterman is native Nermonter
who claims az his birthplace spot
moi far from President toolidge's
native heath. He is campaigning
on a straight-out support Coolidge"
platform. 1t is admitted even by
democrats to be an appealing plat
form. The President is strong in
colorado apart from his economy.
taxation and prosperity" programs
His attitude on the sugar tariff is
particularly pleasing to Colorado
Sugar beet raising is NON overw helm
inglN the states paramount INDUSTRY
II long ago displaced mining from
first rank
Neck-anti, Neck Fight.
The Sweet " atelman senatorial
night Is Il neck -and-neck affair, with
neither side at this writing brimming
with confidence. Denver is the battle
ground, as ST. Louis is the battle
ground in Missouri
The Colorado Republican Senate
seat will not be held through any
enthusiasm on the part OF the reject
ed incumbent, Senator Means left the
State shortly after his primary dis
sster. TO occupy himself with th. at
fairs OF the Spanish -American War
Veterans. Of whom he recently was
elected national commander.
Another Republican leader con.
spicuously absent from the fray. Is
William V. Hodges of Denver. treas
urer of the Republican national com
mttee. There is still another dis
ting guished absentee. Senator Lau-
renee 4. phipps. chairman of the Re
publican senatorial campaign commit
tee. Senator Phipps fitted ttyough
Denver last week after Cunfahs with
q. q. L. leaders. in the course of
his cross country survey of senatorial
conetsts. but he will take no part in
the battle to elect Waterman
II these cross currents reflect Re
publican discurd. Colorado Democracy
claims to present the most united
front in it's history. There are some
riffs IN the harmony lutte, such as
former Senator Charles H. Thomas
who Is not supporting Sweet for Sen
atOr But by and large. Colorado Dem
ocratS this year are marching solid
lv behind their senatorial and guher-
natorial tickets. They complain that
their chief woe is lack of funds and
they fear deluse of "phipps Water