Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-18
FARMER CONTINUES.
M|DWESTERN ISSUE.
Agricultural Vote, Declared
Still on Fence, PerpIexes
Political Leaders.
BY BYRON PRICE,
Associated Press STAFF Writer.

Associated Press Stan Writer.
SPRINGFIELD. III :, September 10
The ultimate choice of the farmer as
! between Hoover and Smith remains the
! highly speculative element in the whole
range of Midwestern presidential
| politics.
! other factors weigh heavily, but un-
, like the farmer vote they are more or
less fixed quantities. It is conceded
, for instance. that Smith will run we'll
in the larger cities. that Hoover will
run we'll among the woman voters, and
that there will be certain switches on
the prohibition and religious issues. and
for other stated reasons. When they
talk privately about these matters, the
politicians are pretty much in agree
ment. II is when they speak OF the
farmer that Republican and Demo-
cratic forecasts come most violently into
conflict. and 1t is the farmer about
whose intentions both parties now are
seeking all of the information procur-
able
Many Declared Still on Fence.
All sorts of stories come from the
rural districts into Republican Mid
western headquarters at Chicago, and
Democratic Midwestern headquarters
at St Louis. Both sides are hearing
things that please them, and things
that do not please them. In some in
stances they are hearing of whole
groups of country and small-town voters
who still are on the. fence weeks after
the acceptance speeches of the nomi-
nees. reluctant to take either Smith or
Hoover. and in mood to stay at home
on election day
The root of this matter appears to
lie much deeper than such surface
issues as farm relief"-however much
or little that term may. mean-"Mc-
ary-HaugeniSm' or the equalization
fee" Many farm leaders take the view
that the whole agricultural economic
structure is at fault and that its rec
tification will Be tedious and delicate
operation, not to be accomplished by
overnight legislation and not to be in
trusted to the hands of any one who
is not the known friend of agriculture.
The voters who feel that way about
1t are not talking so much about spe-
cif1c cures or party platforms, or even
the promises of candidates, but are ask
ing, will Smith or Hoover, in the
White House. be more likely to APP
proach the agricultural problem with
sympathy and understandings"
Attack on Hoover Attitude.
Looking at matters thus, they are
told by Democratic spellbinders and by
a goodly number of the constituted
leaders of Midwest farm organizations
that Hoover was not the friend of
agriculture rs food administrator or
cabinet member, that his party already
has failed to solve the problem, and
that during the Hoover Republican con-
vention at Kansas City the farm repre-
sentatives were not only outvoted but
ridiculed and outraged as well. BY the
Republicans these same voters are told
f1of Cvaifh EYNnuys Nothing ahO1lt farm
troubles, that his whole political back
ground is devoid of everything that
would make him friendly to the farmer,
and that nothing need be expected
from "Tammany cure" for Midwestern
rural ills.
In States like Illinois, the outcome
of this tangle Of emotions is of vital
consequence. 1t is to the dry Repub-
lican downState farmer that the Re-
publicans look to overturn any major
ity Smith may roll up In Chicago and
thus keep safe for Hoover this State
which has been going overwhelming
for Republican presidential nominees
for years.
G. o. p. Claims Illinois.
The Republican managers scott at
all suggestion that Illinois is doubtful,
however disappointed it may have been
over the defeat of its favorite son,
Frank o. Lowden, for the presidential
nomination and the failure of the farm
crusade at Kansas City.
The Democrats insist similarly that
their hope OF carrying the State for
Smith is no dream.
Just how much of an organized Re-
publican effort will be made to stem
OBJECTIONS to Smith In Chicago itself
remains to be seen. The celebrated
quarrel between the big Bill Thomp-
son Republican faction and that led
by Senator Deneen continues, with
various smaller feuds on the side. and
has reached a pass where Thompson
and his enemies are maintaining sepa-
rate campaign organizations within the
city.
Chicago Decidedly Republican.
Not since 1892 has Chicago returned
majority for Democratic presidential
nominee, although it was under Demo-
cratic city rule for years. Four years
ago Coolidge took the city by 10000
more votes than were given Davis and
La Toilette together.
This complex city situation Is to re-
ceive studied attention and undergo its
real baptism OF spellbinding later. At
the present writing, the Illinois poll
ticians are not looking so much to
Smiths later speech in Chicago as to
what he may say on the farm issue at
Omaha tomorrow night, and what
Hoover may say on the same subject
between now and November