Evening star., 1928-08-12
iishers Bring Up Heavy Artillery for Campaign Assault
THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary of National Developments Based on Reports
From The Stars Special Correspondents
and Staff Writer'S.

strong Smith sentiment In Balti-
more and the mining and indus
trial sections. not TO mention the
normally Democratic counties Of the
Eastern Shore and the usually Dem
ocratic southern Maryland.
Now comes word from Ohio that
the various straw votes conducted
In that State, some Of which have
shown surprising Smith strength in
the wetter cities and strong Hoover
sentiment in the rural sections, have
not been conducted so as to pre-
vent "stuffing" the ballot boxes and
cannot be relied upon as correct
barometers. American Legion OPP
position to Theodore E. Burton. Re-
publican candidate for Senator, on
account OF his opposition to the
bonus. Is causing uncertainty as the
day Of the Buckeye primaries. next
Tuesday, approaches. Scattering
reports from rural Ohio and In
diana show a slight trend of radical
Republican farmers toward Smith.
Apparently it is not general. IT is
admitted by the Democrats that
many ultra dry members of their
party are deserting to the Hoover
standard.
The situation in the Hoosier State
is much the same as in Ohio, with
probably a few more Indiana farm
ers going over to Smith and the
situation there a little more fa-
vorahle for the moment 10 the DEM
ocrats. Ohio and Indiana, like Illi-
ncis. are looked upon by most OBJ
servers at this writing as debatable
ground.
The death of George E. Brennan,
longtime leader of the Illinois
Democracy and stanch supporter of
Smith. is a blow TO the Democrats
but there Is no reason to believe
that 1t will affect the outcome Of
the campaign. While not yet ready
to lock horns. Republicans and
Democrats in Illinois are preparing
TO co SO in deadly earnest in a
sfew weeks.
As the result OF the recent pri-
maries in Missouri that state will
offer to its voters State candidates
with prohibition views at variance
with those of Smith. The fiery SEN
ator Jim Reeds efforts to defeat
Charles M, Hay. dry. for the
Democratic senatorial nomination
failed. Other dry candidates also
have DFEII IltIiliIldbSA lOI GbdtS W
fees. Democrats say this will help
their national ticket in Missouri.
while republicans say 1t will hurt it
badly
Kansas. too. has Just held pri-
mary election. but the contests in
both parties we're over local issues.
Nebraska is comparatively quiet. but
in Iowa there Is a row over the pu-
litical complexion of the committee
OF %, composed OF business men,
farmers and those representing many
other interests. which worked for the
McNary-H Haugen bill Enough mem
bers OF the committee have said they
will stand with Gov. Hammill for
Hoover 10 eliminate the hope of the
Democrats 10 line up the committee
for Smith, according to latest re-
ports.
The Dakotas Michigan. Minnesota
and Wisconsin are still in the prepa-
ration period. The real campaign is
to open in these States in a few
weeks. State leaders In South Da-
kota predict a very close race in that
State. while in the others of this
group the Republicans are exhibiting
the greater confidence.
Both parties will hold state con-
ventions in West Virginia next We'd
nesday. thus formally opening the
campaign. To counteract the vigor-
Gus movement among dry women OF
that State for Hoover. the Demo-
cratic women OF Charleston and
elsewhere are organizing Smith
clubs. Newspaper straw votes show
more Republican men for Smith
than Democratic men for Hoover.
In Kentucky Senator Barkley. a
longtime dry Democrat. who is sup
porting Smith has been elected
chairman Of the Democratic cam
paign committee. When the CAM
paign gets under way in this State
and in Tennessee indications are
that 1t will be one OF the hottest In
the history Of those States. with the
religious and liquor issues para
mount,
One burning question OF this cam
paign-~ilow solid is the solid South?
continues to furnish much food for
debate Virginia Democrats are dis
t,lrbed over the light vote in the party
primary especially In the second
congressional district, where a sharp
fight was on. Some political OBJ
servers deduce from this that hun
dreds of voters stayed away for fear
they might ohligate themselves 10
vote for Smith for President. There
Is a considerable body OF Democratic
bolters In the Old Dominion, but
even the comparatively few regular
Republicans there admit that II will
le sometning like a miracle II that
State goes Republican In this cleo
ton
Reluctantly Democratic leaders in
North Carolina are coming to the
conclusion that Senator Simmons.
who recently resigned from the
Democratic national committee, will
not give his full support to the
Democratic national ticket this year,
Meantime Simmons is keeping quiet,
The Democrats admit that the effect
OF bolt by the man who has ruled
the Tar He'll Democrats for 80 years
may be- far-reaching.
Democratic unrest keeps up IN
Alabama There Is to be A meeting
at Birmingham August IL when the
Aflti-Saloon League and anti-Smith
boiters will plan their fight against
tn" Democratic ticket, but thus far
there is no sign Of general move
ment In the Democratic ranks to-
ward Hoover. Louisiana Democrats
are still devoting their energies TO
soit-pedaling the religious and
liquor issues, while In Mississippi
politics has quieted down. and the
State seems safe for Smith.
Texas has been so heated over It's
r ent primary and the coming run
of. that for the time national issues
have been overShadowed, but the
anti-Smith Democratic movement
Is not dead Texas regulars are or
gani2ing tn combat the boilers, The
religious issue in Arkansas, iostered
by Baptist and Methodist ministers,
who are denouncing Smith, has
brought about an alignment Of other
churches, and local Democratic
members Of their own congregations
on the other side The result is an
unpleasant situation all around
~#
During Hoover's presence In his
home state of California reports
have been general there that he viii
l. a.