Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-02

A1Ott1 Hnat &h6V,J
ernor, Some of them have quit the
committees entirely and others have
working for Smiths election.
The Democratic State organization Is
working industriously to AL up ell the
gaps. Anti-Smith Democrats insist, for
example, that here in the city OF Rich
mond the city committee was bound to
be strongly anti-Smith and that UNI.
usual steps had to be taken to get the
machinery to working for the Demo-
cratic national ticket. These same anti
Smith Democrats 60 so far as to say that
Richmond will show a majority for
Hoover on election day. They say. too,
that the Democratic organization has
been hampered not only by the fact
that many of It's lesser leaders are
against Smith, but that the Democrats
have not been able to raise much Of a
campaign fund here. and that only
some sci 900 has come into the State
from outside.
The lamb and lion lie down together
located the headquarters Of the Demo-
cratic State committee and the Demo-
cratic city. committee and the anti
Smith Democratic headquarters The
last Is the organization which has been
built up under the leadership of Bishop
Cannon, an organization which Ia func-
tioning far beyond the confines of Vir-
ginla--indeed In practically all of the
solid South" and In West Virginia,
Missouri and Oklahoma. It is claimed
that the anti-Smith voters among the
Democrats are organized In every city
and town in Virginia and In q great
many Of the counties
The Republicans here in Richmond
have been few and far between. They
have local headquarters, 1t Is true, but
their state headquarters are In Roanoke.
] find that the Republican leaders here
are hopeful. but by no means so cock
sure OF carrying the State as the anti
Smith Democratic leaders. They would
look on such q victory aS rather q
miracle.
Organizations Are Separate.
The anti-Smith Democratic organiza-
ton Is working In sympathy with the
Republicans, but its members continue
to insist they are Democrats and are
not breaking away from their party
aileglance They are merely "out to
To question as to whether there
was any connection between the anti.
Smith Democratic organization and the
Republican organization one of the
leaders OF the former organization re-
piled:
We are friendly. of course with the
Republicans. Here and there Repub-
llcan speaker has substituted for our
own speakers at our meetings. But we
are conducting our own campaign"
That they are conducting 1t vigorously
no one will deny. They are keeping one
printing establishment running night
and day to put out their literature
against Smith, which is being sent out
widely.
The press of Virginia is supporting
Gov. Smith solidly. Both the anti
Smith Democrats and the Republicans
complain that they cannot get news
matter into the newspapers and that
they are handicapped thereby.
The regular Democratic organization
supporting Smith has not only the adj
vantage Of the support of all the big
daily newspapers In the State and OF
the party leaders. but 1t has also q
great advantage under the election laws
or Virginia. No one In Virginia can
vote who has not paid his or her poll
tax Tor three years prior to the election
year-that Is. for the years 1925, 1926
and 1927. Those who failed to pay
their last poll tax by May Of this
year, six months before the election,
are ineligible to vote.
Registration Nears Limit.
In other words, anti.Smith Democrats
who might wish to vote against the
New York governor, but who failed
to pay their poll tax during the last
three years and this year before May 8.
cannot vote. Furthermore, the eligible
voters who have paid their poll tax
must also register, and registration
time is almost over. The poll tax in
this State is $3.50 year.
The Virginia election laws admitted
ly were designed to discourage the vot-
ing OF the colOred people. The State
has been regularly Democratic for so
many years that many potential voters,
both Democratic and Republican, have
neglected to pay their poll taxes and
register. The result has been that out
of possible electorate of 100000 or
100000 only about 100000 have voted
in the national elections. Four years
ago only $4,000 votes were cast for
1920. only $4,000 for Harding and
Cox. President Coolidge was beaten
by Mr.. Davis by 66.438 votes and La
Toilette polled 10000 votes. Cox won
over Harding by $4,000 votes.
While there is admittedly much anti
Smith sentiment among the Demo-
Gratis of Virginia. the question Is. how
much of 1t Is found among the quail
ned voters? The antt-Smith Demo-
cratic leaders insist that there are
thousands Of yellow dog" Democrats
Democrats who would support q yell
low dog II he were nominated by the
Democratic party"-who this year are
not only qualified voters, but also going
10 vote against Smith.
Another feature Of the election laws
,IilainLa n Itanc tia DAnaoerats In tia