Evening star., 1928-08-12
r INCREASING political activity in

IA lHGulhE VI itlC ~
reported In the latest dispatches
to The Star from its correspondents,
who are watching the week-by-week
developments in this unusually in
tcresting presidential race.
With Hoover's speech OF accept
ance yesterday, to be followed by
Smiths speech August %, the cam
paign Is entering upon more criti-
cal phase. The political skirmishing
of recent weeks Is rapidly attaining
the proportions of a general engage
ment involving the whole line.
Republican and Democratic man.
ayers everywhere are consolidating
their front-line positions In prepara-
ton to begin heavy drum FIRE.
More confidential reports are be-
coming available from scouts sent
by party chiefs into debatable ter
ritory Their gist Is that the politi-
cal tanele Is even worse than was
at first suspected. Party lines on
both sides seem to be yielding to
the pressure of private opinion Re-
publicanS In many States are declar~
ing their intention to vote for
Smith. while Democrats In the same
States are openly boiling their party
and announcing they will vote for
Hoover
The controlling factors. as reported
by observers everywhere. continue
10 be the liquor and religious issues.
The farm question, Government
economy and reform. the tariff, or
any other issues that are brought
forward, still fail to arouse the inter-
est of the multitude.
Y 4 X
Although it is quite customary in
every political campaign for party
managers, as matter Of course, 10
exude supreme confidence and in
dulge in roseate predictions. regard
less of what they really think. there
appears this year TO be a curiously
sincere conviction on both sides, Tor
the present at least, that success is
in sight
Democrats and Republicans arc
equally able. observers report, to dis
cover what they regard as valid
reasons for believing in victory At
the polls in November This conf
dence in each camp seems To be
furnishing a violent stimulus for
action in the other camp. II Is
driving both sides to prepare for a
bitter struggle In the final stages OF
the campaign.
AT the bottom both Democratic
and Republican chieftains are
doubtful whether the situation has
has yet been correctly diagnosed.
Some observers say 1t has not devel-
oped sufficiently In many States TO
warrant an attempt at diagnosis at
this time.
The political atmosphere every
where is surcharged with an electric
premonition that anything may
happen: that the last weeks OF the
campaign will witness some political
fireworks that will compel national
attention 10 a greater degree than
usual. For that reason neither SIDE
seems willing to take chance OF
losing n single vote anywhere. Ma
tional and State managers all over
the country are apparently deter
mined to leave no political feld
uncultivated,
Massachusetts is still the political
storm center of New England, Both
party organizations have begun their
drives for campaign funds and report
that the interest in the campaign Is
80 keen that the usually arduous
task will probably be comparatively
easy this year. Republican leaders
insist recent reports that Massaehu-
satts, Connecticut and New Hamp-
shire are doubtful are all wrong
Such reports. they declare, are based
upon nothing more tangible than
Democratic hopes Nevertheless dis
patches keep coming In from those
States showing more than the ordi-
nary amount OF Democratic enthu-
siasm and activity. The Bay State
appears to be debatable ground, at
least at this time. and New Hamp-
shire is again reported as doubtful.
The political pot continues to boil
merrily In the normally Republican
state Of Maine. where the voting
for a Senator. four Representatives
and State officers takes place earlier
than in any other State--tn Sep
temher Republicans Of the Pine
Tree state expect Senator Curtis,
Republican vice presidential candi~
date. present in person 10 assist IN
their campaign. They want TO roll
up as big a. vote ss possible to en-
courage Republicans elsewhere in
the country. mindful of the old po-
litical slogan, AS Maine goes, so
goes the Nation" which has been
strictly true. however. only In Re-
publican years. Nevertheless the
size OF the early Republican vote in
Maine has always been considered
by both parties as significant OF the
drift Of sentiment outside OF that
State.
At a meeting OF the Republican
State committee OF Connecticut a
few days ago resentment was eX-
pressed that the stats would havc
been reported as doubtful They
are apparently fully aware however,
Of the dangers OF overcOnfldence,
especially when the Democrats
are showing new signs Of life and
seem likely TO have plenty Of money
10 fight with No important new
developments are reported from New
Hampshire, Rhode Island or Yer"
mont.
True to expectations Gov Smith
keeps crashing into the newspapers
with front-page news. The battle
IN New York Is getting decidedly hot,
although the leaders insist 1t has
not even started yet. Smiths chal-
lenae TO Rev Or John Roach
Sraton of New York City 10 en-
gage In a joint debate In Calvary
Baptist Church on the question OF
Smiths moral influence and Dr,
Straton's prompt acceptance, Sug-
gesting Madison Square Garden,
hold the promise OF sensational news
In the early Fail.
The next important sensation In
New York State is the mix over
the farm question. especially the
equalization fee. George N Peek,
corn belt Republican from Illinois
and rrDutnd cniner Of the phrase