Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07
CONNECTICUT VOTE
IS HELD |NDEC|S|VE
"SmaII-ToWn Elections Fail
to Indicate State Doubt
full for G. OPP.
special Dispatch to nae star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
HARTFORD, Conn. October g.
Connecticut's small town" elections, ir
which all but 35 of the 1853 towns oil
the State took part this week, looked
upon by politicians as offering a politi-
cal barometer" despite the fact that
local issues largely govern, we're not
decisive enough to indicate clearly a
drift that will determine the coming
national-State election. In the shift
from one party to the other the result
was a stand-off, eight towns changing
from Republican to Democratic and
eight from Democratic to Republican
However, while the Democrats car
ried only small minority Of the towns
as usual. the results give their leaders
more satisfaction than is felt by Repub-
lican chiefs. The combined votes OF
the small towns this week give the
Republicans 58.526 ard the Democrats
42.749, a Republican lead of 15.777.
Democratic National Committeeman
Thomas J. Spellacy finds great salts
faction" in the showing made by his
party in the small towns and says that
if the Democratic strength is main
tanned in November. 1.-The vote in the
larger communities will certainly carry
the State for Gov. Smith" Republic
ans, on the other hand, declare that
no general effort was made TO poll a
heavy Republican vote at the 1923 town
elections. while the Democrats showed
unusual activity.
Figures Held Significant.
While a conservative view Of the sit
uation would not point to Democratic
victory in November, the small town
election figures are regarded as not
without their significance in pointing to
the necessity of getting out the Re-
publican vote. for it is evident that the
democrats will look to the cities to off,
set the Republican margins in smaller
localities.
That the big cities will so Demo-
cratic. as a rule, and by substantial
pluralities, can hardly be doubted az
this stage of the campaign Hartford,
which gave Harding, about 1000 plural l.
ity in 1920 and Coolidge about 5000 in
1924. is generally expected to give Gov.
Smith a plurality next month, Demo-
Gratis claiming as high figure as 5000,
while Republicans inclined TO concede
the city-although not all of the G. Q.
p. leaders do-are not disposed to adj
nit that Smith will lead Hoover by
more than 2,500. New Haven seems
likely to duplicate Hartfords Smith
plurality. while Waterbury, the fourth
city in the State in population, will do
even better for the Democrats. Bridge
port. the ether member of the big
four" in population. IS not 50 easy to eS-
innate. It is usually to be depended
upon the give the Republican ticket
solid backing but the Democrats will
make a much improved showing this
year.
Boilers Return Forecast.
All indications in Connecticut point
to the return to the Democratic party
of thousands of voters who, IN their
resentment at the failure Of Smith to
get the nomination in 1924. voted for
Coolidge. The shift to the Republican
party of Democrats who are opposed to
Smith on various grounds is expected
to be much smaller, making a decided
net gain for the Democrats. who seem
likely to give t;7e Republicans the
closest race in years, hit It must be
borne in mind th9t Coolidge carried the
state by mnre than 135,oo0 in 1924,
having more than twice the vote for
Davis. The Republicans Therefore,
have p wide leewnv and should retain
control of the state. Connecticut IS
not yet to be class"d rs Gouhtful
State. H. I. HORTON.