Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-02-26
TO
DEFEATSMITH
Wade THINKS
Moody Has Strong
Opposition in Sec.
tons, Political OBJ
server Discovers
Nv c. ID. WADE

-
pAIIAs' Tex. Feb. 25.-Are the
KIN Klux Khan leaders going TO Try
"a utilize Abe Al Smith boom az
: means Of getting back into poiiti-
cal mower in Texasg That IS a CUES
ton being asked quite a bit over
he state. and the recent activities
of Hiram Wesley Evans, head OF the
organization, might indicate the cor
rectncss of an affirmative nswer
Changing the naEe of the order TO
Knights Of the Great Forest indicates
that some plan has recently been
Matched.
Very little has been heard OF
Evans and other of the national
officers Of the khan for many
months until during recent weeks.
when Evans has issued severai
statements on the plans OF the KAN
10 defeat Smith. The khan leaders
have some shrewd political advisers
me who are opportunists- They
sense the unpopularity OF Smiths
stand and also the fact that Cath
olics are in a decided minority In
Texas. Consequently they see an OPP
p~ortunity for the khan to claim a
lot Of credit in case Smith Is not
nominated.
While the khan is virtually dead
over most sections of the state. the
Dallas organization has more than
1000 active paid-up members, and the
Fort Worth organization rs fairly
strong. A hot fight on Smith and
his religion is almost certain to re-
viye the interest of many former
klansmen in the order.
Within the past few weeks the
writer has been in virtually all sec
lions Of Texas, and the contrast
between political thought in North
Texas and South Texas is remark
able. In a week spent in Houston
j heard a single prediction
that Moody could be beaten for re-
election, and almost no expressions
against him. In Dallas several men
Of reputed political sagscity have
said they believe it possible that
Wardlsw may beat Moody. And a
number of men expressed themselves
as being opposed to the governor.
Some give one reason. others an
ether, but North Texas seems rest
less under his administration. The
HACNaAo ~ q cNAiA FIGatGt
extent westward toward Cisco, Abs
lene and San Angelo. Many don't
seem to know why they are against
him.. but they are fighting Moody.
On the other hand, he seems popular
IN San Antonio and the Gulf Coast
section. as well as in Central Texas.
was particularly surprised to
find here in Dallas some former
Moody men and bitter anti-Ferguson
men, lined up with Ferguson for
Wardlaw.
Then take the senatorial race.
South Texas does not concede Tom
Blanton a chance at even the run
off. In his own congressional dis
trict around Abilene people really
believe he will be elected. while up
here in Dallas there is a strong feel
ing that he has a good chance to be
In the runoff. Earle Mayfield. for
some strange reason, does not seem
70 be any stronger here than in
Houston, II as strong. There is a
surprising amount of serious Owsley
talk IN Dallas, while over the rest
OF the state, even among American
Legion men, he is not conceded a
nance IN political discussions. Tom
Connally. of Marlin seems the favor
lite OF South Texas, including San
Antonio, but is not talked here in
Dallas as much as one would ex-
peet. o. B. Colquitt. another Dali
las candidate, is not conceded much
Of a chance by the Dallas people.
There is considerable serious talk
that Joe Bailey may get IN the race
for the senate. His friends are tell
ing him that neither Connally, Ows-
ley, Blanton nor n other candi-
date can beat Mayfield in the run
off, but that he can and that il Is
his duty to make the race.
North Texas is decidedly against
Al Smith, while South i-xas. as a
whole, is either neutral or for him.
Houston and Harris county may re-
main neutral on the question of in
structions. and many South Texas
counties will send delegates to the
state convention that are openly and
aggressively for Smith. But North
Texas will send larger delegations.
including one from Dallas, Just as
aggressively against him. Dallas
voters seem proud that Houston and
n Texas city got the democratic
convention, but they do not seem i'm
pressed with the idea that the laws
of hospitality demand that they re-
main neutral in the fight on Smith.
The local reaction 70 Jim Reeds
appearance here last Monday night
has not been favorable to Reed. II
sticks in the craw of North Texas
that Reed was an opponent Of Will
son, and even more that he is not
FOR prohibition. Those were enough
TO make the warmth of his reception
doubtful. But when he appeared on
the stage escorted by a group of
men who are very unpopular in North
Texas political circles, such as Jim
Ferguson. T. II. McGregor and Others
OF similar political beliefs. il put the
Missouri senator under a big handi-
cap.
Apropos the proposal OF Houston
70 build a convention hall for the
democratic donkey, an Arizona news
paper carried this headline: Jesse
TO BUILD JACKASS BARN"
Buster Jones Co. Is