Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-09
ALABAMA G. O.P.
PREFERS HOOVER
Party Well Organized in
State, With Hopes Of In
creasing Control.
ny G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. February O.
Secretary Hoover Is the choice today OF
the Republican organization leaders In
Alabama for the Republican presiden-
tial nomination. Unless there Is q de-
cided shift In the present situation tn
the state. a delegation favorable TO the
Secretary OF Commerce will be sent TO
the Kansas City convention.
The Republican leaders here explain
they would very much like TO see Presi-
dent Coolidge renominated. But they
have become convinced he does not
want the nomination and that he Is de-
termined not 70 be drafted. Mr.. Hoover
LOOKS 70 them to be the best bet for the
nomination under these circumstances.
He 10 popular not only with the leaders
here. but also with the rank and fiie.
Notwithstanding the fact that Ala
bama Is strongly Democratic. the Re-
publicans have a well organized party
In the State. indeed, In some Of the
counties Republican officials are elected
to ONCE. This Is true in northern Ala
bama. In southern Alabama. the
Black Belt" there is practically no Re-
publican vote,
Point TO 1890 Vote.
The Republicans here point with no
little pride TO the fact that In 1920
they polled upward Of $4,000 votes for
President Harding. While the vote
fell of IN 1924. the leaders are talking
OF equaling, II not surprising, the Hard
ing vote In 1928 II Gov. Al Smith VI
New York Is the Democratic nominee.
they believe the Republican vote will DC
very considerable. II any OF the Demo-
cratic leaders In the State should bolt
the Democratic ticket and cast In their
lot with the Republicans. they say that
there Is chance" OF the States 60
Ing Republican. But they admit that
this chance Is rather remote.
Mr. Hoover Is rcckoned u dry. and
Alabama Is dry politically. The w. C..
T. U. and the church people generally
arc UP In arms against the nomination
wet" Furthermore. Mr. Hoover Is
popular with the manufacturers. Many
Of them already vote the Republican
ticket In national elections. though they
stay In the Democratic party when II
comes to local elections and elections
for members of Congress Indeed. II
developed that several leading business
men were contributors TO the last Re-
publican national campaign. although
they were themselves candidates for
local once on the Democratic ticket.
They believe IN the protective tariff for
Alabama industries. and they are not
averse to the Republican Federal ad-
ministration. for they believe that It
means better business.
The Republican organization In Ala
bama. and the party generally. II a
white" party. In distinct contrast 10
the Republican party In Georgia. for
example Alabama sends TO the ma .
tional conventions white delegation,
and places white electors In the field
when the general election for President
rolls around.
THIS situation has been brought
about by a change In the method Of
representation In the county and State
conventions In earlier daya. the rep
rescntation In these party conventions
was allotted according to population
hut this was changed and now the
representation Is figured according to
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