Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02
r every point along the pol
n itical battlefront pickets are
n being drawn in and the main
forces of the opposing

n itical battlefront pickets are
~ being drawn in and the main
IA forces of the opposing
parties are coming rapidly
into sharp collision, according to the
latest dispatches to The Star from
ITS correspondents In all parts Oh
the country.
Both presidential candidates, hav-
ing completed the formalities and
made n few preliminary campaign
speeches, are resting Hoover IN
Washington and Smith In Albany
while the Republican and Demo-
cratic national committees complete
mans for their further participation
in the fight.
While the battle is likely 10 be
close almost everywhere. 1t is becom-
ing apparent that it will be sharp
est In the East and In the strip OF
States extending from Ohio west
ward 10 include the corn and wheat
belts. Overshadowing every other
issue I'm the East. from New England
to Maryland, is the liquor question
The Democrats hope to win many
electoral votes for Smith in this sec
tion because OF their candidates
wetness. The Republicans In these
States realize they are In the hard
est fight OF years and are hurrytng
no their reserves In readiness to
strike back with their heaviest pro-
jectiles.
In the Ohio Valley and Midwest
he HNttnp f1slIa he char
ing importance with farm relief
Each party Is trying to make the
farmers in this section believe Its
candidate is more to be trusted than
his opponent to remedy agricultural
conditions.
Although the religious issue, out
side the South. Is not being discussed
so openly as the two other issues, 1t
is Just as much alive in the North
east, Midwest and Far West as II
is below the Mason and Dixon line.
But the national campaign managers
on both sides seem to have con-
Guided that public debate will not
change religious convictions nor
votes based upon such convictions,
and is, therefore, futile. There is.
however, every indication of worry
in both camps over the effect of
the religious question, which is tear
ing down party lines, helping Smith
in some sections and Hoover in
others.
An increasing reluctance on the
part OF seasoned. observers to hazard
predictions about the outcome of
the election is everywhere notice
able. Such predictions as are being
made-outside OF the meaningless
claims OF partisans--are so hedged
about with qualifications as to be
almost vaiueless 10 any one who Is
sincerely trying to catch the drift of
sentiment.
With the Maine State and con-
greSsional elections only nine days
off. both parties are keeping up
their drives to poll as big vote as
possible. Unusual activity on the
part OF both Republican and Demo-
cratic campaign managers Is re-
ported from Massachusetts,. where
conservative observers say the race
viii be extremely close Republicans
under new management In the Bay
State are putting forth every ounce
OF effort, while the Democrats, led
by the popular Senator David l.
Walsh. are organizing enthusiast
cally everywhere, even In the vest
ern part of the State. which is
counted great Republican strong
hold
New Hampshire continues TO be
called debatable ground, and so
does Connecticut, where the Repubh-
cans are reported to be encouraged
by the figures OF the recent State
wide caucuses at which were chosen
delegates to the State conventions
The Republican vote came out In
somewhat surprising strength. con-
sidering the lack Of contests in most
of the 169 towns. The Democrats
are looking to the cities TO give
Smith pluralities and the Connecti-
cut Republicans are relying on the
smaller towns to Offset them
*#
Gestures toward the farmers of
New York State. who usually vote
the Republican ticket, have been
made during the last few days ny
both sides. Smith visited the State
fair at Syracuse before settling
down at Albany to attend to State
business and decide upon his speak
ing itinerary. Senator Curtis. Re-
publican vice presidential candidate.
also visited the State fair and spoke
of what the Republican party has
done for the farmers in the past
and will do In the future. Upstate
reports indicate that Smith will
probably have hard time to carry