The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-10-06
DIXIE TO CAST.
! PROTEST VOTE
| AGAINST SMITH
Dry Element and Religious
Groups Shift Political Senti.
ment to Hoover
LIQUOR ISSUE RAISE
Democratic Leaders Work to
! Preserve Tottering Party
Fences and Groups
By GEORGE D. MANN


BY GEORGE D. MANN
Pensacola, Fla, Oct. 2.-There will
be q large protest vote cast In Lou
isiana, Alabama and Mississippi
against Alfred E. Smith, according
to those who have watched the shift
of sentiment through the Solid South
since the Houston nominations.
Charles Brewer, Z former editor
of the Fargo Forum, secretary Of
the old board Of regents, and prom
inent in Dakota politics for years,
senses . strong undercurrent for
Hoover among the dry element and
those who are inclined to be swayed
politically by their religious convic-
tions.
Mr.. Brewer is with the Tines
Picayune, New Orleans, one Of the
South's leading newspapers. He is
now the librarian Of the newspaper,
and part of his job is to answer
questions-all sorts Of them-so he
keeps his nose pretty close to the
political trend. He has carried his
Republicanism to the South with
him, and, while an out-and-out Hoo
verite, he sees no chance Of the Re-
publicans making . very heavy dent
in the states which normally are
Democratic all the way from $4,000
to 100, 1000, or even more.
Hoover Organisations
The Hoover organization is main
taining fine headquarters in the
Roosevelt hotel, New Orleans lead
ing hostelry. Those holding federal
positions are combing this section
Tor Hoover support, but the only
hold the Hooverites are getting lies
in the ranks of the militantly dry
forces and those who object to the
religion Of Governor Smith.
Particularly strong are the polit-
ical religionists in Alabama, Missis-
sippi, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and
the Virginias. The Baptists and
Methodists are especially militant
In their opposition to Governor
Smith. There is Rev. Bob Jones Of
Montgomery, Ala, who ID militantly
opposing Governor Smith. DR.. Bar
ton, an Atlanta Baptist, and Bishop
Cannon of Virginia are two leaders
in the church political drive over
this area. Rev. Straton Of New
York is touring the South attacking
al Smith virulently. So bitter has
the contest become through church
influence on the politics Of their
communicates that in many districts
the Democratic machine has been
badly shattered. designations have
been forced on those who won't sup
port AL Smith, and Hooverites have
been more or less dramatically read
out Of the party.
But loyal Democrats declare the
Interference Of the church will have
the ultimate reaction Of solidifying
Smith sentiment in the South. For
the first time in Dixie, the loyal
Democrats are alive to the situation.
In the past there has been little
color to the campaigns down here
as far as the presidential situation
is concerned. Democracy was taken
rs q matter Of course-there was
no denying the existence Of . Solid
South; the voters here in Dixie Just
sat back and wondered "what
you all's gwine to do up moth. -"
Now that the ministers have
raised the liquor issue chiefly, and
now that It is = common occurrences
Tor minister. to be "egged" out 81
. political rostrum, the Democratic
leaders Of this section have 4 nasty
situation on their hands, and more
work Is being done 10 conserve party
fences than for many years past.
Extra sessions are the order Of
the day through the South. The
writer encountered ono in Arkansas,
and motoring today through Missis-
sippi, the headlines Of the news
papers told Of how that state
through m extra session was seek
ing to formulate = highway program.
The whole highway commission Il
70 be reorganixed and funds raised
Tor system Of hard-surfaced roads.
The state now has practically .
paved highway along the Old Span
,ish Trail facing the Gull 81 Mexico
practically I'll the way from the east
70 the western boundary. For ! por-
ton Of tho way the gasoline tax u
= cents. A high sea wall % protect.
the scenic highway has placed =
special burden upon tho STATE.
4 Mississippi finds IT. finances II
FATHER bad shape. The extra session
plans to raise about 988, ,O00, 900 "a
kinanco the next biennial period. and
b& this amount $500, 900 IL neces-
eary b care for pension obligations
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