Evening star., 1928-11-01
REPUBLICANS HOLD
LEAD IN ARLINGTON
Combination of G. 0. P. and
Anti-Smith Democrats In
diCateS Hoover Victory.
Note-This is the eleUenth of series
OF articles discussing the political sta
alton in nearby MARYLAND and Virginia.
BY DONALD A. CRAIG,


ARLINGTON COURT HOUSE, Va.
November with the aid of the anti
Smith Democrats, the Republicans Of
Arlington County, Va, directly across
the Potomac River from Washington
are fighting to hold and improve the
slight advantage they won in the presi-
Dental elections of 1920 and 1924. Al
though there are many cross-currents
and party defections from both sides
which make the present situation in
this section difficult to gauge, an in
vestigation from an entirely detached
viewpoint indicates that for the pres
ent at least, the combined Republicans
and anti-Snith Democrats have the
advantage.
This is by no means admitted to be
true by the Smith leaders of the reg
ular Democratic organization in the
county. The presidential campaign this
year is being conducted with unprecc-
dented vfgor by adherents of both Gov.
Smith and Herbert Hoover.
Alexandria Is Studied.
The Star correspondent also looked
into the political situation in the in
dependent city of Alexandria, which is
always counted upon to go Democratic.
There the Smith Democrats appear to
be in the lead. The anti-Smith Demo-
Gratis and old-line Republican leaders
of Alexandria confine themselves to
statements that no one can predict the
result there, but that there is chance
that Hoover will win the city.
In the survey of Arlington County
and Alexandria City, official representa-
tiveS of the two major parties and OF
the bolting Democrats were interviewed
and members of the rank and file OF
all parties and factions expressed their
views to The Stars representative. The
unusual conditions in this section are
declared to be due to the religious and
liquor issues, just as they are in other
portions of Virginia and in most other
parts of the Nation. No one denies
that
The hope of the Smith Democrats
that they will be able to carry the
county this year lies in the fact that
the combined vote of Davis and La
Toilette four years ago was slightly
more than 800 greater than the vote
for Coolidge, and also in the efforts of
the Smith adherents to induce the So
called La Toilette vote" to swing this
year to Smith.
Republican in 1920.
For the first time in many years
Arlington County went Republican in
the election of 1920. Harding received
996 votes and Cox 835, SO that the
majority was only 161. In 1924 the
vote for President was as follows: Cool
idge, 1907; Davis, 1909; La Toilette
405. President Coolidge failed to obtain
majority and his plurality was only
98. The combined vote for Davis and
La Toilette was 307 more than the
vote for Coolidge.
The total vote four years ago was
slightly over 5000. This year it is quite
evident from new registrations that the
total will far exceed that figure. Some
persons think it will double it. Airing
ton County is constantly attracting
homeseekers from Washington and Its
population is rapidly increasing. 1t has
already attained point where it ha,
asked the State Legislature to erect il
into Arlington City,"
1t is the new factors which enter
into the present situation such as the
increase in the total number of voters
and the injection into the campaign o1
issues largely unknown in a presiden.
tial campaign that make it difficult t.
forecast what will happen next Tues
day and afford ground for hope to both
sides.
Bragg Heads Committee.
The chairman of the county Demo.
cratic committee, who is also president
of the Smith Robinson Moore Club, i.
William L. Bragg of Clarendon.
II believe" said Mr.. Bragg to The
Star, that in this election we stanC
a very good chance of carrying the
county. The situation from the Smith
standpoint has undoubtedly improved il
the last month"
j. E. Spaulding, whose home is il
North Braddock, is chairman of the
Continued on Page 4, Column H.