Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-22
Politics at Large
By G.. Could Lincoln.

cordne to his own statement, he Is
still a Republican. This despite the
fact that his party has adopted a dry
plank in It's platform and Herbert
HNbver. the Republican nominee, has
declared against the repeal OF the
Eighteenth amendment. 1t remains to
he seen whether Or, Butler will work
or vote for the election Of the Republi-
Fan ticket His recent statement TO the
New York Times attacking Mr.. Hoover
because Of his views on national pro-
hibition and national preparedness. Is
regarded by the Democrats as blow to
the Hoover cause and an advantage to
that OF Smith. The fact remains. how
ever, that 1t was already widely known
that Or. Butler did not and does not
like prohibition. He said as much In
speech at the Kansas City convention
when he urged his party to take a
stand against the eighteenth amend
ment
DR. Buffers position in relation tC
his party's nominee has some OF the
same aspects as the position of Charles
NJ Hay Democratic nominee for Sena-
tor In Missouri. Mr.. Hay is as dry as
DR.. Butler is wet. Mr.. Hay has frankly
said he will oppose Gov. Smith. the
Democratic nominee for President, II
the latter is elected, and recommends
to Congress that the prohibition laws
be modified. But Mr.. Hay he's an
nounccd he will support Gov. Smith
and do everything he can to bring about
his election. DR.. Butler =; not cam
didate for Office on the Republican
ticket this year II he were ha might
take the same course as Mr.. Hay. sup
porting the Republican national ticket
but promising IL elected himself tc
work for an amendment to the Consti-
tuition.
Democrats in New York are chuck
ling over what they claim Is Glen
Shaver" case in the Republican ranks
Miss Sarah Schuyler Butler. DR.. Butler
daughter. Is acting chairman of the
Republican State committee of New
York since the death Of Chairman
George Morris and vice chairman o.
the committee in her own right. Mis-
Butler is expected to 60 along with tht
Republican organization, notwithstand
ing the views Of her distinguished
father. Mrs Glenn Shaver. wife of thu
former chairman Of the Democratic
national committee, is out and on
against the election OF Gov Smith or
the wet and dry issue.
Gov Smith has tremendous aSse
in his campaign for election. his per
sonaiity. A hackneyed phrase, but M
other seems exactly to At his case. HI
wins those who come in contact will
him. If the Democratic national or
ganization could devise some means o
bringing him into contact with the mil.
lions of voters In all parts OF the coun
try they would aid the party cause i'm
mensely Those who see him in actor
and hear him believe In him What i'm
presses them most is his honesty o
purpose. Next to that he amazes then
with his clearness of vision and his abil
ity to cut to the bone In any problem
that is presented to him He is human
he is kindly and ne is just He ha
courage and he has great executive abil
ity
In past elections. il has generally beer
conceded that the negro vote would e.
almost solidly Republican. But the sit
uation In the presidential campaign Thu
year at this particular time. present
more of problem when the politica
leaders begin to figgSe how the coloret
voters will cast their ballots. Gov. Smit.
mas had support of thousands of colors,
voters in Harlem in his gubernatoria
races, II the reports are correct. Tit
Democratic national committee. having
canvassed the situation. is out to get tn,
colored votes in other States of tn
North and Middle West, where toda,
there are many negroes voting In In
diana. for example where the Ku Klu,
Khan has been strong in the past ant
where there is a considerable coloreC
vote. the Democrats are counting OF
the fact that the Khan has been aligned
with the Republican organization q
wean away the colored voters from the
Republican ticket. In the Hoosier State
the 1920 census showed there wer,
53,935 negro voters. Indiana has beer
battle-ground for Republicans anc
Democrats In recent years, and 1t is not
difficult 10 see that a big swing Of col
ored votes. If II can be brought about
to the Smith standard would have al
appreciable effect next November. Thu
is particularly true i'll a State where
many Republicans have been thoroughly
disguised with the scandals which have
recentlv involved some OF the Repub
lican State leaders, some of whom have
been indicted and some placed in jail
In 1920, according to the Census Blu.
reau. the negro population OF the coun'
try numbered l0.46S.13l In 1920, anc
1t Is estimated that II was ii ,se8, 900 In
1927. About one-half of the number
ho
voting age OF the total of s,522, 524
negro voters In 1920. 2.792. 006 were mer
and 2,730.274 women
The same census showed negro voter;
in New York. 1884; New Jersey
1851. Pennsylvania. 1911 1926; Illinois
10000: Ohio. l26.940; Tennessee. Gas.
3a5; Kentucky. l43.S5l; Missouri, i2l.'
32s, and Maryland. l4i.99i.
There are other States where thu
negro Is by no means negligible fac.
tor There was solored population ol
more than las. 900 in Oklahoma in 1920
and OF these more than 10000 had at
tanned the voting age. Kansas hae
7g,725 negroes within her borders In
1920, and of the number $1,000 were
entitled TO vote.
In New England the 1920 population
of negroes was: Massachusetts, As, 466;
Connecticut. 2I.046 Rhode Island
l0.036; Vermont, STA New Hampshire
62l. and Maine, 1910,
The Republican national committee
however has taken cogni2ance OF the
efforts of the Democrats 10 win over
the colored vote this year and has APP
pointed committee Of widely known
leaders among the colored people Ia
have charge Of the Hoover campaign
among the colored voters II the Demo-
Gratis succeed In bringing to their cause
many of the colored voters. tawill be
little short of political upheaval SO
far as the colored vote Is concerned
From the fact that the colored voters,
through State laws. are practically dis
franchised In many Of the Southern
States, the solid South" Is likely In the
end TO initiate against any general
withdrawal from the Republican party
by the colored voters. But 1t must be
admitted that In many individual cases
today colored voters are talking Of sup