New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-09-19
BORDER STATES IN
DOUBT CONSTANTLY

lt Wait TIL The Votes Are
Gust
et. Louis. Sept. - R1In every
presidential campaign. it il the for
tune Of this border" country to feel
the full play Of every political wind
that blows. north or south, east or
west, and to remain debated ground
until the votes finally have been
counted.
True Border Strip
From Maryland to Oklahoma, this
chain OF states is true border strip
both politically and geogra phically.
They skirt the fringe of the old con-
tederacy. far enough north to be ex-
posed to the issues which have kept
the north consistently republican.
and far enough south to feel the
touch Of the historic and racial con-
siderations which have kept the
south democratic. They are agricul-
tural enough to take interest in
farm problems, and industrial
enough to tune in on talk of pros
perity and the tariff. They are, in
1928, agitated and puzzled by the
issues Of prohibition and religion.
However loudly the rival party
leaders may claim these states in
September and October. the reader
OF these dispatches may put it down
that the border strip will continue
to excite the prayerful interest and
watchful effort of both sides until
the last ballot futters down in No.
vember many times before the coun-
terplay of old allegiances and new
emotions has wrought surprising
changes here overnight.
Missouri Contest
In Missouri, largest of the six
border states in electoral strength,
the democrats are struggling at the
present moment to consolidate and
hold the benefits of conceded
swing to Smith which set in imme-
diately after the national conven.
tons. The republicans say most en-
phatically that the swing now is dis
tinctly to Hoover. The net result is
that both sides are putting the state
in the safe" column, for publication
and privately are working overtime
at electioneering. On past per-
Torrance, it would be difficult to
decide who has the advantage. for
Missouri has voted successfully for
Cleveland. Bryan, Roosevelt. Taft.
Wilson, Harding and Coolidge.
Kcutucky Debatable
Kentucky carried by Coolidge but
host By Harding now is witnessing q
democratic rally to make up for the
time lost In earlier sQuabbling among
party factions within the state. and
Tennessee. carried by Harding but
lost by Coolidge, Is hotly debated
between two party organizations
which each have notable divisions
In their own ranks In West Vir-
kinia the waters have been muddied
By . fght on Hoover on the lake
CARO- coal issue, while in Maryland
Governor AL Richie is battling tc
keen his state democratic on the
prohibition issue. Finally striking
example of mixed emotions is pre-
scented In Oklahoma, farthest wes
and farthest south of the six border
states. Only in 1920 has Oklahoma
voted. republican but this year the
nomination of Smith was followed
by signs of open revolt against the
states democratic traditions. 1t II
intensely dry territory and for years
was q stronghold Of the Khan. Re
ligicn and prohibition are hotls
areued there. Democratic defec
lions include some Of the state''
leading ne~spapers and former Sen
ster Owen, whose Indian antece'
dents have been . great factor o.
strength heretofore among thelndl
an voters. estimated by some Il
number 100000 within the state
Oklahoma democrats now insist tina
the pendulum 10 swinging back
aad they hope for much from
Governor Smiths speech tomorro"
night 1t Oklahoma City. The re-
publicans profess no alarm.
Smith leaders in Missouri like
wise are looking to the governor
himself to help in the democratic
campaign here. Although no forma
announcement has been made. PLAN
are complete locally for a speech
BY the democratic presidential noml'
nee IN Ct. Louis on October Is. II
the course Of a second swing into
the west. Meantime Missouri repub
licans have appealed to Hoover Il
speak here on his way to California
to vote.
Bank on u. Louis
It. 10 in heavily republican st
Louis that the democrats hope te
roll up q winning margin for Smith
ct. Louis Is rated wet city, ant
it, large German population II
counted on by the democratic man
ayers to go almost soiidly for the
democratic ticket. Kansas City j;
normally democratic, while out ir
the state. there ID q checkerboard
Of republican and democratic spots
wet and dry spots. But this year the
reliability of the old landmarks i.
questioned
NKytJlia ~, uir{h'a Missouri Ea rrn