Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-01

tCOntmued from FIRST Page
State, Is also not too good. There are
signs here and there of Improvement
and some of the mills which have been
running part time. or not at all, are
now running fun time. or have opened
FOR part time at least. So far this year,
there has been no industrial disturb
ance, nothing which has forced the
calling out OF the State Militia as in
1922 and other years The Republican
leaders tap or wood" when they point
this out. For a call of the militia to
handle conditions during industrial
strikes has been an omen of Democratic
success IN State elections In the past
II there is religious issue. with Gov.
smith, o Catholic running for Presi~
dent, 1t is soft pedalled here by both
sides. Neither will admit that there Is
Surfl All issue And both Republicans
and Democrats insist that the voters
are broadminded and will not bring
their religious affilistions into the cam
paign and carry religious prejudice to
the voting booths. Senator Metcalf,
Republican, and Judge Felix Hebart,
probable Republican candidate for the
Senate against Senator Gerry. and Pat
rick II. Quinn, Democratic national
committeeman, all contend that church
animation Is not an issue In the cam :.
paign here. The voters, they say. will
with few exceptions stick to their party
tickets, unless they shift for some rea-
son other than religion.
Many Foreign Born.
Rhode Island has a large foreign :
born population. The census for 1920
gave the State 420 AL native born ami
l73,499 foreign born Many Of the ma
i've born are the sons and daughters
of European stock recently arrived In
this country The French groun has
been an important factor in politics In
this State for number of years. Thou
sands OF workers of French extraction
have come from Canada. The great
bulk Of these French families is located
In two valleys, the Blackstone Valley
which includes Pawtucket, Central Falls
and Woonsocket and the pautuxet VAL
ley containing many small mill towns
In some of these places the French
american vote Is more than a majority
| OF the total vote. And the French vote
| mas been more solid, perhaps. than any
other racial group. of voters with thr
exception Of the irish Americans, anc
Lhs French have usually voted Re-
| publican
| Whether the religious issue SO called
enters into the campaign this year IN
Rhode Island or not, there is n RACIAL
antagonism between the French and the
4rlsh Americans that gives promise OF
playing Its part This crops out par
! tlcularly IN things political II Is found
| IN Massachusetts as well as In Rhode
Island Here 1t has existed over a lone
| period OF years. during which the
French Americans have been Republi.
| can, the Irish Americans. Democratic.
The dissension between the two racial
| groups has been somewhat intensified
| i'll the last year because OF row over
the diocesan high schools The Catho-
| lie bishop of the State, Bishop Hickey
! called for funds from the various par
| ishes TO be used to erect high schools
| in Providence. The French population
| Is located largely outside Of Providence
| These French Americans got 1t into
| their heads that their money was tn
be used for schools which would not
, benefit the children OF the French, but
| of the Irish Americans. Furthermore
| Bishop Hickey has taken the position
| that the basic studies In the parochial
| schools should be taught IN the English
| language, and this has been resented
| by the French, too. So strong became
| the feeling that r.. Daigneault. lawyer
of French descent, entered suit against
| Bishop Hickey in connection with the
| expenditure OF the funds raised from
The French churches The suit was de-
eided by the courts in favor OF the
bishop. and Daigneault journeyed To
Rome to protest against the action OF
Bishop Hickey. but he received no en-
couragement there.
Daigneault Is president OF the Franco
American Society and has a very con-
siderable following While the Repub~
lieans are not mixing IN this row, they
are inclined to believe that the quarrel
between the French and the Irish
Americans will not incline the French
voters in Rhode Island TO support Gov.
Smith