Evening star., 1928-10-28
MISSOURI IS STILL
IN DOUBTFUL LIST
Rural Voters Chief Factor as
Campaign Draws to
a Close.
special nispatch to The Star.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, october 27.-
With one week Of the presidential CAM
paign remaining, the political situation
| In Missouri Is beginning to take more
definite form. Out of the confusion of
| conflicting currents Is coming more
| party regularity and less attention to
| religious and collateral issues as election
| day draws nearer.
| Religion, prohibition, Tammany and
similar questions, of course, will figure
with the rural Missourian as he makes
up his mind on presidential candidate,
but other, more substantial issues are
receiving more consideration. The Pc
riod Of earlier hysteria passed with the
visit of Gov. Smith to the State two
weeks ago. Piror to that Democratic
State leaders admit now they believed
Smith could not carry Missouri on ac-
count Of the strong rural prejudices
among those thousands of Democrats
who followed Bryan through his politi-
Cal neanderings.
Democratic county leaders now are
making calls on wavering party voters
and bringing many of them into line.
It is what is called personal politics
Republicans Active.
The Republican organization in st..
Louis is following the same method In
seeking to keep in line the wet German
vote, which leans strongly toward Smith.
The st. Louis Republicans have organ
lied an army of 10000 workers, each
given not more than 30 names of voters
The Republicans are prepared to
make last-ditch struggle for the State.
Charles Evans Hughes opened his speak
ing campaign in the State early this
week and aided the Hoover cause. Sem
ator Borah spoke in another part of the
State. With plans made for Hoover to
/ stop in Missouri with speech Novem-
Der at st. Louis, the Republicans be-
lieve they will be able to carry the State
for the national ticket They are not
so hopeful, however, Of their State tick
ct. Undoubtedly Hoover is stronger In
Missouri than the State candidates.
After analyzing the figures given by
the managers and campaign directors of
both parties, the inevitable conclusion
is that no State can be closer than Mis-
souri,. These figures are based on conf
Dental reports from county leaders. On
the basis that the Democrats will lose
from 300 to 1000 votes in about 100 of
the ia counties, the State outside of
ST. Louis and adjacent wet German
counties will go for Hoover by from
about $4,000 to $4,000 votes, it is be-
lieved.
st. Louis Seen Smiths.
On the other hand, st. Louis, nor
mally 1000 Republican, should give
Smith from 10000 to 10000 majority
A canvass made of the eight German
Republican counties adjacent to ST.
Louis, which gave Coolidge more than
10000 majority four years ago, shows a
Hoover loss of from 5000 to 10000
votes
II there is an unexpected anti-Smith
upheaval among the rural voters. Hoo
yer may carry Missouri by a substantial
majority. But all party estimates fail
TO give more than about 10000 majority
70 eltner Hoover or Smith. It is diff
cult under the circumstances to f1oure
to the last few thousand votes, as a total
OF more than 100000 votes will be
cast this year, nearly $4,000 more than
four years ago. t. C. ALFORD