Evening star., 1928-04-22
DRYS IN VIRGINIA
WELD BIG STICK
Threaten Political Punish
ment to Those Who In
dorSe Smith.
eneelsl nisratch q rhe s,ar.

Special Dispatch 20 The star
RICHMOND. va, April 2I,--with
the present slow rate of the presiden-
tisl nomination campaign in this
State the Impression grows that Vir-
ginia viii play but minor part in the
Houston conventions selection of a
Democratic standard bearer Most of
the politicians believe that the noni-
nation will be virtually determined by
action Of other States by the time that
the Virginia State Democratic conven-
ton meets at Roanoke June 81, And
politicians admit they hope matters
viii turn out this way. They declare
IT is the only escape from situation
which is charged with dynamite so
are concerned,
From the standpoint of patronage
and national political expediency, most
politicians would like to be lined up
behind the candidacy Of Alfred E.
Smith. and they are predicting his
nomination. hu. they admit they fear
the political punishment threatened by
Bishop James Canon o. the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South and other
leaders Of he Anti-Saloon League and
allied organizations. AS consequence,
ersnce for any Of the dry" men who
haze been mentioned in connection
with the Democratic presidential NOM
inst;oa
Alliance Formed.
Beginning about 1914 an alliance
was formed between the Anti-Saloon
League and the dominant Democratic
faction OF the State which was popu-
ss~,,, -t.sv
entente functioned smoothly until
few years ago Since 1924 there have
been many evidences Of lack of har-
mony between the two allies, but the
alliance has never been broken OH
cially The question they seem to be
debating is which element. the Anti
Saloon League or the organization" is
stronger in the State.
There is much political wire-pulling
going on in the State. There never
was presidential campaign in Virginia
in which there was 50 great proper
ton of ''undercover" work being done
The anti-Smith element is the most
aggressive. The Smith element is play
ing a purely defensive game, but ii is
piaving il rather ShTewdiy and well.
The anti-Saloon League plans to in
troduce at the Roanoke convention
resolution inStruct3ng the Virginia dele
getion TO vote against Smith. Reed ana
Rifclaie The opposition plans to stand
pat" on its proposal that the delegation
80 TO Houston uninstTucted. Right
there viii be ths main fight of the con-
yentlon.
ESks Earlier Date.
United States Senator Glass proposes
that the Safe Democratic committee
reconsider its action in setting SO late a
date for the State convention. but there
Is little evidence that any change viii
be made. According TO Senator Glass,
the date selected is so late that the
Virginia delegation viii have no oppor-
tunity to take part in the Houston pre-
hminarieS and viii be virtually without
influence.
Prominent Republicans say that while
supposedly IN the Hoover camp it is
very uncertain how the Virginia dele
gates TO the Kansas City convention
viii cast their votes. c. B2Scom Slemp'S
declaration for Hoover made at the time
OF the holding of the Republican State
convention was considered then as
meaning that the delegation would sup
port the candidacy of the Secretary
Since then considerable Lowden senti-
naent has been in evidence in the State
and there is talk of Dawes and Long
worth R. L. c. BARRET.