Evening star., 1928-10-13
HOOVER IS FAVORED
in OKLAHOMA SHIFT.
UpheavaI in Smith Ranks
Declared Due to Religious
and Wet Issues.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, october
13.-Great shifts of Democrats In Okla
homa to Hoover and against Smith
indicate that this State probably will
go Republican in the national election
this year. There have been several
compensating shifts from the Repub-
lican to the Democratic ranks among
the German-American farmers in the
northwestern part Of the State and
among the colored people. Some of the
Socialists are going to Smith, too But
take it by and large, the Republicans
have the edge here today. Whether
they can hold 1t for the next three
weeks remains to be seen. The Demo-
Gratis are working their heads of and
claim they will be able to swing the
State into line in the end for Smith.
But the odds appear to be too great for
them to overcome.
Democratic workers frankly admit
they are having great trouble with the
Democratic women, many of whom
are opposed to Smith for President.
House-to-house canvaSSes are being
made constantly, and here and there
the Democratic canvaSsers report they
are winning women over to the Smith
cause. But for the most part the
woman Democrats are obdurate. They
Will not vote for the Democratic NOM
inee.
Several Fights on Hand.
The Democratic organization has not
only to fight the Republican organiza-
ton, but 1t also has to fight the anti
Smith Democratic organization, which
has its headquarters here and workers
in every part of the State. This anti
Smith organization has been hitting on
all eight cylinders. Its leaders claim
today they have 10000 Democrats signed
up to vote for Hoover. They are not
dealing with any voters except the
Democrats. They have been at work
since July s, and If they can hold what
they have, Smiths chances of carrying
Oklahoma are slim.
Why have all these Democrats shifted
over 10 Hoover? Opposition to Smith
on religious grounds and because he is
wet are the main reasons, with his
Tammany affiliations thrown in to make
up the measure. AS in North Carolina,
these anti-Smith Democrats insist they
are going to support the Democratic
State ticket and the Democratic candi-
dates for Congress. Their opposition
runs only to Smith. It is an against"
vote rather than any great desire to
vote for Mr.. Hoover
Flying Squadron Organized.
Democratic leaders have organized a
n In@ n
former member of the House and at
present Democratic national COMMITTEES
man. This squadron has already COW
cred good part of the State and will
campaign intensively between now and
election day. Already, Mr.. Ferris and
other leaders maintain, there are signs
OF a swing back to the party's national
ticket.
Oklahoma has had a curious political
history in recent years 1t is largely
due to the strength which was deVel-
oped several years ago by the Ku Klux
klan 1t Is due, also to a very large
Socialist vote The trouble in the State
when Walton was Governor. five years
ago, are still fresh in the memory. Wal
ton was violently anti-Klan. He was
nnally impeached, but he won the Dem
ocratic nomination for Senator in 1924
emies fell upon him like an avalanche
His Republican opponent, Senator Pine,
was elected by the largest vote ever
given in an election here. His, lead was
l45,000 over Walton Now the Klan
has disintegrated into a considerable
extent in this State. as 1t has elsewhere.
But the underlying sentiment which
gave the Klan its great strength here
and membership perhaps 10000
strong; is still extant, and the Repub-
licans say that this present fight against
Smith is very largely the same this
year as the fight against Walton four
years ago.
Declared Walton Over Again.
"It's the Walton fight all over again, +"
one Of the Republicans here told me.
And Gov. Smiths membership In the
Catholic Church has, he said, simply
intensified It, Confidential reports from
county committeeman all over the State
show that Smith is losing heavily among
the Democrats and that while there
have been some deSertions from the Re-
publican ranks, the lineup will be
| strongly against Smith.
The leaders of the Democratic or
ganization, however. take different
view of the matter. They insist that the
| party leadership has solidified this year
as It has rarely done in recent years
OF the seven Democratic Governors who
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