Evening star., 1928-10-28
MINNESOTA DRIFT
TO HOOVER STARTS
Smith Leader Fights for Ad-
vantage, but Early 0pti-
~
mism Fades.
specla! Dispatch to The Star.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINI, OCTOBER 2t.--
The consensus in this State barring
statements of Democratic managers, Is
that Minnesota should be taken out OF
the doubtful column and be classed as a
Hoover state. The drift toward the Re-
publican candidate has been noticeable
in many sections of the State within
the last three or four weeks While
there Is much detection from the Re-
publican party on President and on
Senator, the edge is clearly with Hoover
as against Smith.
The Smith forces are fighting fiercely
for every advantage, and still hope to
overturn things. Their leaders realize,
however, that the first impressions of
an easy Smith victory in the State were
too optimistic, and that the odds now
are against them.
The latest phase of the battle Is an
open bid from both sides for the Farm
er-Labor vote, which four years ago
went to Robert M. La Toilette and put
him within 10000 of the Coolidge total
in the State. Candidates and party
managers are officially neutral, but
Magnus Johnson, former United States
Senator, was one Of the early speakers
recruited for Smith. He and 30 others.
mainly leaders in the third party in
recent years, have issued an appeal for
Smith to progressive" voters.
Forms New Leagua.
Against this, A. B. Gilbert, former
State manager of the Partisan
League, out of which the Farmer Labor
party grew, has formed a Nom Partisan
League Club for Hoover, with ten or a
dozen former league organization heads
announced as members.
Another group of Farmer-Labor
leaders, headed by Floyd B. Olson of
Minneapolis, Thomas v. Sullivan and
F. E. McAlliSter of ST. Paul, is appeal
ing to the rank and file of the third
party not to be drawn into either old
party camp. These speakers, who have
been candidates for State Office in past
campaigns stress the argument that
neither old party or candidate has
fatty indorsed the McNary- -Haugen bill
and warn voters that an effort is on to
absorb the third party organization Mr..
McAllister, In a radio speech, went
farther and asSailed the farm relief
boilers who have left the Republican
party to aid Gov. Smith, calling them
professional farm relievers'' and ask
ing how much they have received from
the $303,000 paid by the Democratic
national committee to George N. Peek
and associates.
1t is clear that Hoover will get a good
percentage of the former La Toilette
voters, though the majority will 60 to
smith. The shift from La Toilette to
Hoover viii nearly II not quite entirely
Smith.
Polls taken in Minneapolis have shown
is to 20 per cent of the former Cool
ldge voters adhering this year to Smith.
while fully 80 per cent of the La Fol.
iette voters were going to Hoover. Three
or four Minneapolis wards which have
nad farmer-labor leanings In the past
are going to give Hoover maiorities this
year. The general result in Minneapo-
us Is nKely to give Mr.. Hoover nearly
as nlucn OF margin as President Cool
loge mad four years ago. Conservative
eStInnateS give Hoover 10000 In the city.
1hls VIII be partly Offset by Smith
majority IN st. Paul. Estimates on that
range all the way from 5000 to 2S.O00
The st. Paul registration is tremendous
The gross figures at the close were
10000, though the city's population. on
a liberal estimate, is 100000. There viii
be some Shrinkage from duplication of
names under the permanent registra-
tion law, but without doubt there will
oe vast increase over the 81 900 votes
cast four years ago. The increase is
expected to help Smith more than Hoo
yer In st. Paul. "A record total of
237 900 for Minneapolis is more favor
able to Hoover.
Duluth has heavy registration, also,
and VIII 90 to Hoover by a good margin.
The eighth congressional district, in
which Duluth is located, is counted for
Hoover by several thousand.
G. O. r. Optimistic.
Reports from the first district, gen.
srally Republican stronghold, are more
optimistic In the last few days and in
dicate nearly normal lead for Hoover
there. The tenth district, partly In
will give Hoover majorities
both In the city and in the country por-
ton. The third district, south of the
Twin Cities, Is debatable ground but
II Hoover loses 1t the margin viii be
small. Central Minnesota, which is the
sixth district, has some strong Smith
counties and some Hoover counties to
offset them. Both sides claim it. and
the net outcome will be small lead for
either one.
This accounts for all but the three
western congressional districts of the
State. The greatest uncertainty is
there. A month ago they seemed to be
very strong for Smith. The situation
mas changed In most counties, with a
drltt back to Hoover. The boilers, head
ed by Frank W. Murphy and j. F.. Reed.
nave had considerable influence there,
put IL seems to be waning. Republicans
nave driven in the point that Gov.
smith has really made no definite prom
Use ana offered no definite plan on farm
reLe1. The feeling against Tamnany
anu relglous prejudice are both mani
testing themselves.
The real fireworks in the Minnesota
campaign nave been touched off by the
Senate candidates in the last few davs
Senator Henrik Shipstead had ignored
challenges and letters from his Republi-
can opponent, Arthur E. Nelson. and
when they met at Shrine luncheon in
Minneapolis Mr.. Nelson put questions to
the Senator direct, asking him whom
he favored for President, how he stood
on the Volstead law and the eighteenth
amendment. He also taunted the Sena-
tor with ignoring the Farmer Labor
party and its candidates.
Shipstead Silent.
Senator Shipstead refused to answer
the questions, but said he would deal
with them at the proper time. In
radio talk he settled his stand as to
national candidates, saving he did not
seek to ride into Office on another
mans coat tails" He still ignored pro-
hibition and failed to mention his party
or his associates on the Farmer-Labor
ticket, but retaliated with an attack on
Mr.. Nelson's campaign as violation of
the corrupt practices law. He warned
paid Nelson workers of an investigation
to follow the election and possible GRIM
inal prosecution. This brought sharp
rejoindars from the Nelson camp, ac-
cusing the Senator of flooding the State
with franked speeches and documents
and denying any large campaign ex-
penditures. So the battle is on, grow
ing hotter daily.
The opinion prevails that Senator
Is losing some ground as a