Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-28

STATES WHICH are mere SCI QOWn as
leaning Republican and doubtful.
are listed as surely Republican. But
il is equally true that many Rspub-
leans believe that they have good
chances of carrying several States
which are placed in the Smith column
or listed as leaning Democratic and
doubtful
So many and diverse are the cross
currents in the campaign that It may
be possible to tell which way they
are going only when the final returns
are in. In the first place there has
been a huge registration throughout
| the country this year in the presidcn-
| tial election. Possibly 100000 more
votes will be cast this year than we're
: cast four years ago, although then
! there we're three major candidates for
the presidency, Coolidge, Davis and La
Follette. If that is the case, the pop
ular vote will be about 100000.
Two Principal Issues.
How many Democratic drys will vote
| for Hoover, or refrain from voting for
| Smith? How many Republican vets
will vote for Smith or refrain from
voting foP Hoover? How many Protes-
/
Smith, and how many Catholic Re
publicans will support the Democratic
nominee? No one can give the answer
to these questions with any degree OF
certainty. The intersection of these
two issues into the campaign-and the
religious issue has absolutely no BUSH
ness in it--llas made the political stu
aticn about as clear as mud. 1t is these
two issues which are causing the mix
up and the smashing of party lines
more than anything else The farm is
sue may take some Republicans into
the Democratic ranks; the wateTpoWer
issue may operate this way or that way;
Smiths personality and Hoover's per-
sonality, and their records may influ-
ence other voters. But when it is all
religious issues and in the South, the
race issue, which are causing politicians
to tear their hair today.
The latest reports from Massachu-
sets, old citidal of Republicanism, in
dictate that the State is leaning some
what to Smith. There, by the way, the
religious issue is operating in Smiths
favor. The reports, for example. are to
the effect that the vote of the French
American Catholics is likely to settle
the election in the State The French
Catholics have usually voted Republic
can, and so have many of the Italians,
who also are Catholics.
Norris influence Discounted.
Democratic leaders see much gain in
the announcement made by Senator
Norris of Nebraska last night that he
will vote for Smith. Yet how many
voters In Nebraska have waited to learr
how Senator Norris would vote before
making up their minds what to do in
this election? And how many Nebraska
voters, having made up their MINDS low
to vote, will change now that Norris has
come out in a public speech declaring
for Smith? It is very doubtful that
many will be influenced one way or
another. Nebraska has been doubt
full, fighting State in this campaign.
The voters have taken vast amount
of interest in the election, as indicated
by the great registration there. A can
vass of many States in all parts OF the
country have convinced me that people
are voting as they please this year and
are not waiting to be told either to reg
lister or how to vote. Probably the or
ganized effort Of both parties to bring
up the registration to maximum has
had its effect. But such efforts have
been made by the organizations OF both
parties before And it is a matter CT
record that nothing like the present
registration has ever been obtained. It
is quite clear, therefore, that the peo-
pie are aroused and will vote as they
wish.
Three years ago Senator Robert M.
La Toilette. sr., of Wisconsin died. He
had a great following in many States.
To Senator Norris is generally attribut-
ed the Progressive leadership which
was formerly the late Senator La Fol-
,ette's. But it would be a rash guess
to saw that Norris has the following
that La Toilette had. And 1t is also
merely a guess how much Of this Norris
following can be swung to Smith merely
bv the announcement of Senator Norris
for the Democratic nominee. Senator
Simmons OF North Carolina has been
more influential for years in his own
party in the Tar Heel State than has
Senator Norris In Nebraska. He is out
against Smith. Yet he may not be
able to swing the State of North Caro-
lima against its traditional Democracy
Most of the politicians and many OF
the impartial observers believe that he
cannot do that thing. Will Norris take
Nebraska to Smith, or will Simmons
carry North Carolina for Hoover?
Two Progressives for Smith.
Norris and Blaine of Wisconsin are
the only Republican progressives IN
the Senate who have come out fat
footed for Smith. Norris has been out
for Democratic candidates for the
senate and House before. But this is
his first incursion into the Democratic
ranks in presidential election.
Senator Robert M. La Toilette, jr.. has
through his magazine declared there
Is no hope for the people in either
of the old parties, but that 1t lies in the
progressiyes in Congress. He has APP
proved of some of Gov. Smiths utter
ances, but he has not declared his sup
port of Smith in this election. He
probably will not But all the other
Republican progreSsives have come out
for Hoover. including Frazier and Nye
Of North Dakota, Brookhart of Iowa,
Howell of Nebraska. Johnson of
California and Borah of Idaho Even
Shipstead, the Farmer-Labor Senator
from Minnesota. has taken no stand
for or against Hoover and Smith. In
deed, it is shrewdlv suspected that If
he had to make choice he would cast
/ In his lot with Hoover rather than
with Smith.
Minnesota is moved over to the Re-
publican column this week, owing to
the growing improvement in that State
for the Hoover Curtis ticket OF the
New England States outside of
Massachusetts, all are either sure for
Hoover or leaning toward him today.
Conditions which were bad for the
Republicans in Rhode Island have i'm
proved and the State is leaning Re-
publican rather than Democratic. Con-
recticut is now regarded as surely Re-
| publican and so Is New Hampshire.
In Delaware there has been a de-
cided swing to the Republican cause,
and this is true of State in the Far
! West, Nevada. which har been regarded
! for weeks as a probable Democratic
State in this election. Wisconsin and
! Nebraska are moved into the doubtful