The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-15
BY THOMAS L. STOKES,
United Press Staff Correspondent
DOWNRIGHT. 1923. by United Press


Democratic political organizations
in the South will be tested in the
coming presidential campaign to
keep their States in line for Gov
ernor Smith, but they go into the
test eagerly, for the rewards would
be satisfying if the New York Gov
ernor became President.
Leaders there believe Smith has
the best chance of any Democratic
presidential candidate in recent
years because they think there is
a chance for him to crash into reg
ular Republican strongholds in the
North. BY the same token of
course, the South must be kept in
line and victory, in the last an
alysis, may depend upon this.
Hope for Spells
e Political machines are built on
self-intereSt. Politicians of the
rank and file who have labored at
their small party posts through the
lean years since the Wilson admin
istration are hungry for the rewards
that would come to them, in jobs
and other preferences, if Governor
Smith we're elected.
This will be a motivating influ-
ence in the campaign.
The more important leaders are
thinking of the better jobs, as cab
met officers, bureau chiefs and
numerous other positions which
carry prestige and influence. To
those down the line, they are hold
ing out the lure OF Federal court
jobs, poStmastershipS, and other
posts of minor Importance in the
vast Government machine, either
at Washington, or in the States.
Work to Get Out Vote
There is much talk of the prob
able rewards now as the machines
are beginning to function. 1t usual
ly isn't necessary to do much hard
work for Democratic presidential
candidates in the South. But Smith
must have the solid South. The
loss of one or two States there
would offset inroads into regular
Republican strongholds he antici-
pates elsewhere, and would probably
mean a Democratic defeat.
The task is the more difficult this
year, too, because Smith leaders
must get out more than the nor
NAL regular vote of presidential
years. Many Democrats in the
South do not vote in presidential
elections, because it is not necessary.
Their interest stops with local pri-
mary fights. The regular" vote,
= which shows at the polls year in
and year out, comprises a large part
Of the vote that turns out for
presidential elections.
Pass Olive Branch
Because of the prospects of at
least number of actual "bolters"
this year and of many stay-at-
homes, political leaders must go into
fields not hitherto largely cult
waited. They will appeal also to
the new vote, the youngsters who
have turned 81 since the last presi-
dental election"
State political leaders first are
finding they must put their own
houses in order. Politics in the
South, where there is but one DOM
inant party, is a thing of factions.
Extreme bitterness often flares up
between those factions.
Influential national leaders in the
South are sending out the word
that the factions must forget their
differences. The olive branch is
being passed from hand to hand.
Faction differences are being adj
justed in many instances. A glaring
example of continued hostility, how
lever, is in Texas, which is seeing
stormy political days. There, too,
though the Smith leaders thus far
have the INNER hand