Imperial Valley press., 1928-08-14


TO the present. The Republicans
this year see q field in the south
that looks fertile.
They intcnd to cultivate it. For
tie first time in their history they
are planning a real campaign TO
break into the solid south and cap
! ture If possible, some of those states
for Herbert Hoover, who has admit
ted strength there.
Democrats. consequently, are or
ganizing AN active counter cam
paign. This campaign will be con-
Quoted through state and local lead
| ers who know the situation and
without any open direction from
party leaders in the east. The lat
ter have decided to keep hands off.
They will not open any headquar-
ters in the south for this reason.
With tho south battle-ground
for the first time, what do Repub-
licans find there as encourage
mcnt!
They find first the most pro-
nounced antagOniSm to Democrat
'c candidate which ever existed. an
antagonism that is spottv, but vir-
ulcnt and active in these spots.
lniS ant"goniSm is compounded Of
several elements.
South Is Dry
There is the prohibition issue. The
south is dry politically, though gov
Il,
Of the law there as in other places.
Advocates of prohibition other than
those who support it on moral
grounds argue that it is economical
/ ~ necessary, in addition to the eco.
, nomic argument that il makes the
family happy. They argue it is
necessary to keep liquor from the
negroes.
Prohibition is effective in pro.
hibitimg its use in large quantities
by negroes as prohibition liquor is
high priced.
There is the religious issue Sew.
eral southern leaders have said
publicly recently that this is tho
real issue, and that the :" wet = and
"dry issue is merely a canon
flagc in MANY instances. There is
an historical BACKGROUND here. Pro
testants Of many denominations set.
tied along the Atlantic seaboard in
the early days of the country's his
tory seeking refuge from persccu-
ton il, other lands. Their desceD.
dants are widely scattered through
the Old south. They were as Puritan
as the Puritans of the New
Fnoland sta"ts. history shows
History also teaches that such pre-
JUDGES are hard to remove, especial
" in rural sections where religious
discussion occupies much time and
attention.
While the south has been regarded
solidly Democratic, there IS greater
Republican 'rcngth tfaa is rcaliz
ed. There is scattering Republican
support in all of thc states and some
strongholds. There is Republican
belt running through western North
Carolina, eastern Tennessee and a
which has an interesting history. 1t
is an heritage from Civil War days.
People of the mountains, having no
slaves and holding different sym.
pathicS from the wealthy, slave
owning landlords of the lower
country, became supporters of
Abraham Lincoln. From these
mount1in folk came many regiments
which wore the Union blue during
the Civil War.
Republicans also have strength in
the new industrial class in the south.
For one thing, the cotton textile in
duStry is moving south and taking
many northerncrS with il. Eastern
capital has hccCme iI'rrcsted III
various developments there. This
class is small yet. but of some in
flupncc.
Figures in recent presidential
elections show the Republican
strength in southern states at what
is considered its normal strength.
The II states in the "Solid south -
are Virginia. North and South Car
olina. tennessee, Georgia, Florida.
Alabama, Mississippi Arkansas
Louisiana and Texas.
Tennessee went Republican in
1920. There may be e'ose vote
this year, according to int, rmatioI
gathered by the United Press.