Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-10
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Republican national committee bally-
hoo wholly aside, it is difficult any
longer for impartial observers to deny
the existence of a Hoover trend" all
over the country. Dyed-in-the-wool
Democrats contest such view, but have
little that is tangible on which to base
their challenge. Straw vote polls of every
description reveal Hoover tide. Private
correspondence from various sections
indicates it. Candid admissions by
many Smith Well-wishers make but
slight attempt to conceal it. A certain
authoritative estimate originating in
conservative, non-partisan quarters
foreshadows a Hoover popular majority
of 100000 and an Electoral College
total of corresponding proportions. That
would denote a Republican landslide.
The impressive thing about Hoover
trend reports is their unanimity and
widely separated geographical origin.
They come alike from North, South,
East and West. Republicans naturally
are more vocal in claiming that Hoover's
election is now foregone conclusion.
Hardly less significant is the restraint
with which most Democrats discuss
Smiths outlook
Gov. Smiths recent foray into the
Middle West was regarded as the acid
test of his drawing powers there. To
this observer there comes a letter from
distinguished citizen of Minneapolis
Roman Catholic. 1t says:
Smith came to Minneapolis and
st. Paul and went away again. In
my humble judgment, his expenses
should be paid by the Republican
national committee. Some of Smiths
talk was interesting and constructive,
but most of his utterances dealt in
platitudes which did not fit the case.
They were delivered in such a man.
ner as to please an audience pre-
pared to criticize conditions that
exist, irrespective of whether or not
the present administration had any,
thing to do with them. When Sena-
tor Borah followed Gov. Smith few
nights later he hammered out a
great many of the latter'S far-fetch-
ed generalitieS. Smith had a great
ovation in the Twin CitieS-no ques-
ton about that. But after both he
and Borah had gone it seems that
Hoover has almost a better standing
In the Northwest than he had be-
fore.
On their own claims, the Democrats
can hardly win without a Sheaf of
Western electoral votes. If the Min
nesotan just quoted is a reliable barom-
eter Of opinion in the corn and wheat
belts-and he has natural Smith pre-
lSpositions-the New Workers. chances
In those sections are slim and going
glimmering. The Democrats pin fer
vently fond hopes on Smiths ability to
take New York'S huge vote into the
electoral college. Yet it is gradually
seeping out that Franklin D. Roosevelt.
strongly against his will because of his
intirmitieS. had to be more cr less
forcibly drafted into the Democratic
gubernatorial situation as an eleventh.
hour move to check upstate anti
Smith sentiment. The Democrats won
once without New York-when Wilson
defeated Hughes in 1916 But condi-
tons in 1928 are radically different. A
lost New York this time means for
Smith the irretrievable loss of the cleo
ton.
No one should imagine that the DEM
ocrats have thrown up the sponge They
plan, on the contrary, to fight from
now on with increased intensity. Gov.
Smith is confident that his prs ent dash
into the South not only is going to
keep Dixie solid" but will go far