Evening star., 1927-04-03
SMITH DECLARED
GAINING IN SOUTH
Representatives Claim Sup
port of Numerous Dixie
Politica! Leaders.
BY GEORGE ID. RILEY,

News Editor Of the Birmingham news
Special Dispatch to The Star
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. April 2:-Th'
tide of AL Smiths presidential hopes
tapping over the Mason-Dixon hne
has seeped into seven Southern States
which three years ago stood with tne
phalanx supporting William G. Nc
Adoo.
Instances lately have come thick
and fast to support the assertion OF
Dartisans of the New York Governor
that their campaign is making prog
ress against desperate odds.
A South-wide survey, just completed
shows that the Smith forces may rea
sonably look for aid in the titanic bat
tie coming in the 1928 Democratic Ma
tional Convention from Maryland, Nlr
einia. Florida and Louisiana. Gov
Smith may swing support from unln'
structed delegates representing North
Carolina, Georgia, Texas and Ken
lucky.
Allied With Strong Leaders.
In their maneuvers to gain support
for a Roman Catholic wet, as against
several Protestant drys from the
South. who probably will be put for
ward to succeed Mr.. Coolidge, cham
MONS of Gov. Smith have allied them
selves with an inDosing array of Dixie
political leaders.
Among the outstanding figures
claimed by Smith agents as among
their adherents are Gov. Albert Ritchle
of Maryland, Gov. Harry Flood BYRD
of Virginia, Clark Howell. Atlanta
publisher and power in Georgia pol
itics; former Senator Oscar Under.
wood of Alabama, Senator Edwin 5.
Rroussard of Louisiana. and two
Texans, members of President VIII
sons cabinet-T. w. Gregory, former
Attorney General, and Albert Burle-
son. one-time Postmaster General.
Northern Florida, almost re-popu-
lated in the boom years by settlers
from north of the Ohio River, is
known to be at odds politically with
the lower peninsula, and is considered
fertile field for Smiths campaign
workers. Large sums have been ap-
propriated for expenditures in this
State alone, it is learned authorita-
lively.
Georgia KIan Defeat Cited.
In Georgia the recent overwhelm-
Ing defeat of the Ku Klux Klan ticket
is believed to open the way to more
liberal consideration of Smiths can
didacy. North Carolina, shaken by the
resignation of Judge William Grady
as State grand dragon OF the Klan,
and his public denunciation of the
masked order, offers another vantage
point for AIS campaigners.
The temperance In Virginia OF
Thomas Fortune Ryan. erstwhile
Cardinal Richelieu" of Old Dominion
politics, but more lately a resident of
New York City, is linked significant
ly with recent utterances by Gov.
Byrd, which are considered favorable
to the Smith cause.
Despite the personal ambitions of
Gov. Ritchie, the preponderant wet
and Catholic elements in Maryland's
electorate are cited to assure support
for Gov. Smith on the crucial ballot.
Catholic Southern Louisiana, which
outvotes Protestant Northern Lou
isiana, holds promise of another dele
cation cheering for the 'son of the
East Side.'
In the faca of outspoken opposition
from Gov. Dennis Murphre of Missis-
sippi, and Senators Hefiin and Black
of Alabama, Smiths managers might
count on a small popular vote from
the Catholic Creole communities along
the Gulf Coast from Biloxi, Miss. to
Pensacola, Fla.
An unquestioned power in Alabama
politics remarked to friend the other
day that, with Alabama's delegation
to the 1928 convention uninstructed,
II would be easy for him to deliver
the States "a ballots to Smith.
Indications are that Smith advo.
Gates may expect scant succor in
South Carolina. Alabama, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
However. Smith campaign commit
tees are being organized in every
Southern State. and Democratic ne.
tionai committee men are being t%d
by their Northern brethren that, "Al
is the only man to beat Cal"
tCopyright. 1927