Evening star., 1928-02-04
State Leaders See Rally,
However, if New Yorker Is
Chosen by Party.
ATTACK ON GOVERNOR
TO CENTER AT HOUSTON
Republican Support of Presidential
Aspirants Reported Divided Be-
tween Hoover and Lowden.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,

SIAN correspondent OF Inc StdT.
RALEIGH, N. c.. February 4.-Can
North Carolina. dry and Protestant,
swallow the AL Smith pill?
The answer is it probably can and
vill, in the event the New York gov
ernor is nominated for President by the
Democratic national convention IN
Houston NEXT June. But there seems
no doubt but what the swallowing proc
ess will be accompanied by a good deal
of political indigestion. Party lines and
ties will be strained. The Democratic
majority, which has ranged in recent
years from $4,000 to 10000, will be cut
materially Some estimate the 1aiiing
OFF at 40 per cent or more.
What the Democratic leaders who are
opposing Smith fear is that Democrats
who vote in 1928 for the Republican ma
tional ticket may continue to vote Re
publican in the future. and particularly
in 1880. The Republican party IN Nortn
Carolina is growing as the state De-
comes more and more Industrial ana
more and more wealthy. Indeed. II IS
said that some of those who have voted
Democratic for many years may wei
come the opportunity which the nom
ination of Smith will give them TO vote
the Republican ticket on grounds otEer
than strict party grounds.
Religious Issue Strong.
II Gov. Smith is the presidential
nominee, a bitter fight VIII be mace
against him by many of the church
people who are strongly ory ana
strongly anu-Catholic. But even one
of the mos. rabid of these anti-Smith
gentlemen told me that he did not
really believe that enough Democratic
votes would be turned to the Republican
column to take the State away from the
Democrats.
Smith has support in the State. not
withstanding the opposition OF many OF
the leaders. the churches and the drys.
His candidacy has been well sold to the
Democrats on the theory that he alone
Of the men prominently mentioned for
the Democratic nomination has a
chance to be elected President next
November It Is very likely that some
of the members of the North Carolina
delegation TO the national convention
viii be Smith supporters.
This Is trie in the Ashevflle district
and also 1t Is not unlikely that one Of
the delegates from the Raleigh district
will be a Smith supporter. But the
belief generally expressed here Is that
the delegation will be an anti-Smith
delegation 1t Is likely TO be bound by
the unit rule. and. II so, the Smith dele
gates will have no opportunity TO vote
for the New York Governor. certainly
in the early balloting at Houston. and
perhaps not at all.
The delegates are chosen by the con-
s,nathnl in fha A3ctFtrfc nfld the
State convention. which selects the four
delegates at large. The State conven-
ton is TO be held in April and such
instructions as are given will be given
at that time.
The silence OF Gov. Mclean Is pug
zling some OF the politicians at present
No one seems TO know definitely
whether the governor would welcome
a favorite son instruction Of the dele
gates or not. There have been threats
that If he seeks the instruction Of the
delegates for himself he viii have oppo-
Sition.
Vice Presidency Attractive.
In some quarters It Is believed that
this Is giving the governor cause TO
hold off / found in certain quarters
close TO the governor 1t Is believed he
would welcome the nomination for Vice
President. But the governor has yet TO
speak for himself.
Senator Simmons Is the acknowledged
leader of the Democratic party in the
State. He has made his position against
the nomination OF Gov. Smith very
clear Many Of the other first line
leaders. however. have held off, But not
withstanding the declaration of Senator
Simmons against Smith. II Is quite clear
that II the New Yorker is nominated
the Democratic organization is going 10
take It's coat of and work for his cleo
ton Organization men are unit in
this prediction. This may be the reason
some of them are slow IN making an