Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23
ALABAMA PLACED
IN DOUBTFUL LIST
Preachers Take Stump to
FIay Smith-ReIigion Is
Real State Issue.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, September %.
With As days intervening before the
November election, Alabama may right
fully and justly be considered very
doubtful State. ..
Democrats have been engaged in a
strenuous speaking campaign in Ala
bama for 16 days. Democratic speak
ers have spoken to large crowds In the
cities and towns of the State. Demo-
cratic enthusiasm has been manifest
at ali of these speaking engagements
No Alabama leader of any Statewide
note has bolted the ticket. Two United
States Senators, Black and Helm, nave
not said how they stood
While the Democrats have been cam
paigning, the Republicans, through
their Alabama allies, the Khan, have
been campaigning also. Speech after
speech is being made. Preachers are
in the main the stump orators OF the
Republicans. On the Democratic side
are arrayed all the old-time Democrats,
former governors, former Senators, Rep
esentatiVes in the main, and State Of
fee holders, with the exception Of Gov
| Bibb Graves, who is known as the Khan
Governor of Alabama.
The writer has attempted to make
an analysis of the situation, and from
| his information has reached the con-
| clusion that if the election were helc
| tomorrow Alabama would go RepuDIlc-
an. The State would not go Republic
an by the same majority it would have
gone early in August before the Demo
| Gratis became organized. At that time
| it is the writer's belief that $4,000 would
have been a conservative estimate Of
the Republican ma jority in Alabama.
So far as can be ascertained As day:
before election, there is but one con-
gressional district in Alabama abso'
| lutely safe for Democracy. That dis
trict is the eighth, where Muscle Shoals
81 situated Gov. Smiths declaration
of policy relative to the water-poWel
resources of the Nation has swung thu
District-the Tennessee Valley-to TIT
Democratic column.
In Birmingham, the ninth congress
sional district, where the veteran
George HuddleSton is Representative
the situation appears to be clearing 81
far as Democracy is concerned. Mr.
HuddleSton has always been able U
garner the labor vote of that heavl.
industrial section, and he has conn
out fiat footedly for the ticket and tn
ninth district appears to be safe. HOW
ever, the majority of the ninth distric
will not be in proportion to the eight
district, even with the powerful aid
Mr.. Huddleston.
The first congressional district, wher
Representative McDuffie is making
fight for Democracy, is expected to fal
into line in November with majorit
for the Democratic ticket, but not
heavy majority. Mobile, the heavles
voting county in the district, Will POI
a large majority for Smith and ROBIN
son, but there are other counties in tn
: district where the outcome at presen
is doubtful.
The third congressional district
honeycombed with the anti-Catholi
spirit and Ku KluX propaganda. i
the second district, Montgomery Coun
ty will cast majority for the Demo
cratic ticket, but there are other coun
: ties in the district in doubt as to tn
, outcome Representative Lister
: speaking theoretically for Smith.
The campaign in Alabama is reall
> not a campaign between Smith an
! Hoover. 1t has developed into a cam
= paign of for Smith and against Smith
n The issue in Alabama is Catholicism
|, and statistics show that less than
i per cent of the population of Alabam
$ are numbered in Catholic Churc
ranks. The outward issue is prohibition
# but no such issue has ever been raise
: nationally, so far as Alabama is cor
!. cerned. ATTICUS MULLIN.