Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-24
TEXAS IS PLACED
IN DOUBTFUL LIST
Two GrouEs Seek to Wrest
Control of Democracy
in State.
BY BYRON PRICE,
Associated Press Staff Wriser.

Associated Press Staff Wr;ter.
FORT WORTH, Tex, September "a.
Rocked by dissension of surprising
bitterness, the dry Democratic South
| is passing through season of political
| trial and torment not easily understood
by other sections and involving posi-
bilities extremely difficult to assess.
Although wholly unable to visualize a
complete obliteration of the overwhelm-
ing Democratic majoritieS of other
years. party leaders no longer regard
the Southern bolt as the whim Of
few agitatorS. They recognize 1t as a
vital force, having its fountain head in
issues of the most explosive character.
Protestant ministers and women make
up an important element in its militant
leadership, imparting much Of the
fervor of a crusade. and its ranks in
clude also politicians of consequence,
who contribute the practical knowledge
of their years of political schooling.
Church Made Issue.
The issue of prohibition and Tam
many furnish the visible motive power
behind this Southern thrust at Smith.
Whether its real handspring is religion
is much-argued subject. The Demo-
cratic regulars do not hesitate to say
it is, despite repeated denials It is
certain that the nominees Catholicism
is widely talked about among the Vot-
ers, that anti-Catholic literature is cir
culated, and that some campaign
speakers openly attack Smith because
he is Catholic. Against this attack
the Smith leaders raise the rallying
cries Of tolerance, white supremacy and
a party loyalty in all kinds OF weather.
In Texas, largest OF the Southern
States and rated the banner Democratic
State of the Union. these consldera-
lions and uncertainties are intensified
by the States vast geographical and
political dimensions. 1t is difficult for
the best informed to make predictions.
The leaders for and against Smith have
given the Associated Press their re-
Spective estimates, and the sum total
of them all is candid agreement that
for the first time in generation TeXaS
is political battle-ground.
To understand the immensely OF the
possibilities here involved, it is neces-
sary to consider that Texas has 254
counties of an average area about equal
to that of the State of Rhode Island;
that all forms of organization are &C
cordingly Handicapped that the voters
include alike the flower of the old
Southern aristocracy and considerable
group of Mexican emigrants; that ma
terial interests are represented by Sucn
diverse symbols as the cotton field, the
ranch. the oil well and the factory, and
that the present campaign has inherited
at least a half dozen old political feuds,
like that over the Fergusons and that
over the Khan.
Three Organizations.
Over this vast expanse three con-
stitutionally weak organizations are at
tempting to spread their influence, and
incidentally to ascertain, with indif-
ferent success, what really is likely to
happen on November 6. One is the
anti Smith organization, militant
enough, but showing the lack of CO.
ordination inherent in such pioneer
ventures. Another is the Republican
State organization, so hopelessly in the
minority as to amount at times to little
more than party emblem. Finally,
there is the Democratic organization,
which for many years has faced no
need for a serious compaign, and now,
in It's hour of necessity, is handicap
ped by material defections. Apparently
none of these organizations has the
machinery just now to gauge accurately
how the voters of 254 counties are likely
to perform on election day.
At the head of the anti-Smith Demo-
Gratis is Alvin S. Moody, politician of
some experience, who says his organ
ization now has representation in $50
counties, and will be in all of them
within another week. Another leader
of this group is State Senator Thomas
B. Love, former national committee
man and an erstwhile leader of the
McAdoo- for President movement. A
third is former Gov. o. B. Colquitt,
who strangely enough, has in past times
opposed both prohibition and the Khan.
1t is asserted by the anti-Smith lead
ers that the Methodist and Baptist
ministers of the State are virtually
unanimous for Hoover. and that nearly
half of the weekly and small daily
papers are out against Smith. Large
OBJECTIONS are claimed in the cities, and
these leaders predict Hoover will carry
every important city in Texas.