Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-21
ILLINOIS IS HELD
PIVOT STATE FOR
REPUBLICAN CAUSE
COP. Counts State as Won.
While Democrats Claim
Fighting Chance"
EFFECTS OF SMITHS
VISIT BEING STUDIED
Cook County Has Long History of
Victories for Party Support
ing Hoover.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,
Stan Core pondent of The Star.

ing Illinois is Just about as vital to the
carrying New York to the Smith candi-
dacy. It's possible, but highly improb-
able, that Hoover might carry New York
and lose Illinois. It's possible that the
Republican candidate might carry both
States. But however the political sit
uation may be regarded, Illinois seems
to be pivotal State for the Republican
cause. 1t might almost be said that
if Mr.. Hoover should lose Illinois, Gov.
Smith will be elected President, just
as it is said that if Gov. Smith fails to
win in New York, his chances are gone.
This State has 20 electoral votes, the
third largest in the Union.
The Republicans here count Illinois
as safe for Hoover. The Democrats in
sist they have a fighting chance. Some
of them, including Thomas A. Donovan,
the Democratic national committeeman,
who has succeeded the late George Z.
Brennan, say they have more than
fighting chance; that they are going to
carry it.
nuEG NdtuO1kC 1OpuAotAVAh
AL Smith has just completed a three
day stay here and has gone his way:
But he has left greatly encouraged
Democratic organization behind nun:
The Republicans, although their faith
in their ability to carry the State is
not shaken by the great reception given
Gov. Smith in Chicago, are neverthe-
less checking up to see just what Ell
feet. if any, Gov. Smiths visit and
speech here may have had.
It is nothing new for Democratic
presidential candidates to come to Chi
cago. the second largest city in the
country. john w. Davis was here four
years ago and had great reception,
though not to compare with that given
Gov. Smith. But in the Democratic
campaign strategy in Illinois, the SUI
prerne effort is to be made in this city.
It is in this city that are found many
of the groups, in large numbers, which
are supposed to make up Gov. Smiths
hacking in this campaign. 1t has
tremendous population of foreign birth
It has a huge Catholic population. IL Is
supposed to be Overwhelmingly wet In
sentiment.
Two wears ago, the late George z.
Brennan, then Democratic boss OF COOK
County. which is Chicago along with
in the senatorial race against FRANK l..
smith. Republican, with vote of Az
400 to 1914, a lead of approximately
10000. Brennan ran on wet ticket,
and Smith had the Endorsement OF the
Anti-Saloon League. An Independent
Republican was in the field in protest
against the use of public utility mag
mates money by Smith in his campaign.
Brennan was Catholic, but the re-
ligious issue was not raised.
But in presidential elections, COOK
County has usually. gone republican
Four years ago President Coolidge car
ried the county with 688,973 votes to
226,141 for Davis and 196,149 for La
Toilette, In 1920 Cook County gave
Harding 5,197 votes to 1877, 499 for Cox.
Has Long G. O. p. Record.
Illinois has not gone Democratic in
presidential elections for more than half
a century, except in 1912, when the
Republican vote divided between Tart
and Roosevelt and Wilson won with a
minority vote. President Coolidge had
a tremendous lead over Davis four years
ago, some $4,000 votes. Harding had
a similar lead over Cox in 1920.
It would require, it appears, a polit-
zeal revolution to shake Illinois from
its Republican n1oorings despite the
cross-currents at work in this election,
despite the personal popularity of Gov.
Smith with many of the voters in this
State, despite the OBJECTIONS of some
of the German-Amerlcan voters and nd
other foreign groups which have usually
voted Republican, and despite the
fact that a considerable number of the
colored voters, who may run as high
or higher than 100000 may go to
Smith, there seems good reason to
put Illinois safely in the Hoover
column at this time. On the sur
face there are as yet no signs of a
real political revolution here. There
will be dry Democrats and Protestant
Democrats who will help to Offset the
OBJECTIONS from the Republican ranks
this year. Frankly, though privately,
the Democrats are saying that If it
were not for the religious issue, Sc
called, Smith would sweep this State.
Of course, the Republicans deny this.
But the Democrats say that the State
is wet in sentiment, that Smith appeals
to labor, that he is receiving support
Of the farmers on the farm issue, and
that Mr.. Hoover has the opposition Of
many of the German Americans 3es
cause of his war record.
Illinois had its political revolution in
the primaries last April, and that poiti-
sal revolution was of a character that
Is inclined to help Hoover rather than
Smith in this present fight. The peo-
pie of Chicago and the people of down
State" which is all of Illinois outside Of
Chicago, rose up on their hind legs anc
turned out the Grove Thompson ma
chine in the city and the small fac.
ton in the State. They were sick anc
tired of crime and violence in the cit,
and of corruption in the State govern.
nent. The people turned out and reg.
istered in unprecedented numbers ant
voted. Uprising was not calculated Il
give hope to any candidates who stant
for the wet cause. That seems clear
The people at that time named candi
dates for governor and senator, TO
state and county Offices. It is not likel
that having cleaned house so thorough
in April these same voters are going T.
turn right round and vote agains
those candidates, and those candidate
will be running on the same ticket a
Mr.. Hoover.
Defeated Thompson Group.
The Republicans nominated Louis I
Emnerson for governor. beating Coz
small. and State Senator Glenn owe
Frank L. Smith. They defeated tn
Big Bill Thompson and Grove nominee
for States attorney and for sheriff i
Cook County.
The Democrats are relying to som
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