Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05
HARD BATTLE SEEN
IN PENNSYLv WANNA
II Is Not Believed, However,
That Smith Can Garry
State.

The preStdential campaign III PeHHsSI~
vania is rapidly progressing to the
point where it appears IL will be the
hardest fought battle in years.
Both parties are organizing the
State with congressional districts as
the unit in order to have campaign
sectors small enough to work with and
al tho same time devote close attention
to districts in which the congressional
fights are expected to be close and Bit
ter.
While there has been no development
as yet to indicate there is the slightest
danger of Pennsylvania slipping from
its Republican moorings, there Is every
indication that when the November
election is past. both parties will realize
they nave been through battle Of
giants.
Chairman Bolts Smith.
BY far the most important develop
mcnt Of ths week was the refusal of
Vance e. Mccormick to support Gov.
Smiths candidacy. The former Demo-
cratic national committee chairman on
TUESDAY, made his announcement in his
Harrisburg Patriot in an editorial en-
titled The Nation Comes First"
Gov. Smiths approval of the Mullen
York. his avowed wet stand and his
telegram to the Houston convention de-
claring for State Interpretation of pro-
hibition enforcement served as the
basis for McCormick's stand He
branded Gov. Smith as "a candidate
widely heraloed as the hope of the null
liflcationists." Placing Gov. Smiths
personal platform above that of the
party and still expecting party sup
port. the editorial said, sis asking too
much"
In refusing 10 support Smith, how
ever, he made no pledge to support
Hoover.
This declaration by the man who led
the party TO its last presidential victory.
dry Democratic leaders here believe.
will have as marked an effect in the
South and West, where there Is normal
opposition to Smith. as it will be Penn
sylvania. Here. is is believed, Mccormick
vocalizcd the unspoken anti-Smith
feeling among many of the country
Democrats of the large body OF interior
counties When Mccormick at the
primary backed anti-Smith candidates
for four places as delegate at large to
the Houston convention. they polled
majorities in 81 of the 81 counties, al
though only one had won when the city
vote was added. The effect of the
Mccormick bolt Is expected TO be
marked decrease in the normally Demo-
cratic vote for Smith especially in
central and southern counties. It will
have little effect, however. in the larger
cities Or in the hard and soft coal
regions. where wet candidates always
make a strong race.
Wet Xate Cause4 AIaryn
IT is not the normal Democratic vote,
however, which is projecting the Re-
publican leaders into their greatest
activity in years to carry the State for
Hoover. 1t is the wet vote which at
present Is giving them the greatest con-
Germ.
AL Of western Pennsylvania and much
If the northeast form the trouble centers
at this stage, from the Republican View
point.
Hoover rs conceded to be strong in
most sections OF the eastern end of the
State. but even prominent Republican
politicians are admitting that at present
he Is trailing In the western section.
Pittsburgh, home city of Secretary
Mellon, and usually counted upon to
give heavy Republican majorities, is one
of the spots where intensive Republican
campaigning will be needed this year.
Pittsburgh observers predict seven or
eight OF the wettest wards will 90 for
Smith. A straw vote by a Pittsburgh
newspaper shows Smith as 80
favorite over Hoover. Italians, usually
regarded as safely Republican, are
organizing Smith clubs in the city, with
virtually the entire Italian vote Of some
wards reported enrolled.
Similar conditions, on a less decided
scale, are reported in other western
sections, including some counties which
usually are dry. Republican leaders
dismiss these evidences as first feverish
activities for candidate expected to
have some popular strength and say
campaigns Of Pennsylvania Democrats
always are strongest in Midsummer;
but are beginning TO concentrate their
campaign there,
Coat Miners Are Wet
The northeastern section, comprising
the anthracite mining counties, also Is
marked for immediate attention in Re-
publican circles. A heavy wet mine
vote, including many foreigners and
Catholics. Is polled there. Republican
workers admit some Republican Con-
grcssmen are in danger in that section
at this stage OF the campaign.
Democrats, encouraged by the out
ward evidences Of Smith strength
three months before election, say their
congressional candidates have an even
chance Of success in IL districts and
that At least eight will be elected
Pennsylvania now has two Democratic
Congressman and In the 1924 presi-
Dental election sent no Democrats 10
Washington
Democratic leaders predict that By
the middle OF September 100000 per-
sons Will be enrolled In Smith clubs In
Philadelphia. but persons afflIiated with
the Ware organization Of that city are
insiStent that Hoover's majority there
viii be not less than 100000 This
figure is approximately $4,000 less than
the majority Ware polled In that city
In the senatorial campaign two years
ago.
The first estimate OF majoritieg in
Pennsylvania was advanced by Repub-
iicans this week. IT was 100000 major
ity for Hoover In 1924 President
Coolidges majority in Pennsylvania
was approximately 100000
AS an aid to Hoover. the Republicans
are relying on q sharp increase In the
total vote cast In the State this Fall
The new voters, they hold will largely
90 TO Hoover. They base this prophecy
on the belief that many OF the new
voters will be- women, some Of whom
/ will vote for the first time because they
are strongly in favor Of Hoover, others
, becAuse they oppose Smith With this
| in mind, the intensive cambaign which
/ Republicans got under way this week
/ will devote an unusually large amount
! Of attention to the U.men
/ WALTER n ROOS