The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-01
KEEPING IL
With \
THE NE WI
BY LUDWELL DENNY
XXTAsHINGTON, oct. &
Wv the election were tom

tIlIlIe SlIudIlON may pe CAa Vee. ~. ~
five weeks Of a campaign whi<rf
already produced more boiling <Fot- 7
ers and more doubtful States than
any in a generation. y
Nationally, the election is 80
being determined by the mucIR
bated questions of prohibition Aa 81
ligion, political corruption, tf14. q
personality of AL Smith. 800
questions are of actual election in
portance only in certain Sta
made doubtful by other factors,
In the main Smiths chand
overcoming Hoover's present
depends upon two economic fa
"a low price of wheat in the w.
and industrial depression in thei&
East.
That is why Smiths chances
not as good as they might be. r
is why Smith, who has aroused fN
same outward enthusiasm as Bryan,
may like Bryan get the cheers butt
not the votes.
Industrial and employment con-
ditions have been improving rapid
ly during the last two months, and
there are no signs that this pros
perity pickup will cease during
October AS for the low price Of
wheat, 1t will not be surprising If
ways are found, artifically if neces-
sary, to remove this chief danger
of a farm bolt to Smith.
TTnArrorste 4e Il
strated by the Literary Digest and
other straw votes, which in other
campaigns have been unexpectedly
accurate. 1t is also atteSted by
most newspaper observers who have
swung around the circuit or studied
separate sections of the country.
THERE is almost daily statistical
Il evidence of improved business
conditions considering the country as
whole, and no politician talking
straight from the shoulder attempts
to deny the direct connection be-
tween the average voters pocket
book and ballot on election day.
Today, for instance, There are
monthly economic statements by the
United States Federal Reserve board
and the National City Bank of New
York. "Sales of wholesale firms re-
porting to the Federal Reserve Sys1.
tenn were seasonably larger in Au
gust than in July, and in most o
the lines the increases were Target
than usual" the Reserve board an
nounces.
Trade and industry during tho.
month Of September has measured
up handsomely to it's favorable ad &
vance notices" say the National City
/ Bank. There is no question bu
that a condition Of prosperity per
| vades most sections of the country
"The unemployment scare Of thdM
winter has likewise passed away
and factory employment and paw
rolls in many localities are showing
gains as compared with year agox
Production in the steel, automobile
and various other leasing industries
is breaking all previous records"
American Federation of Labor re-
ports on union unemployment show
a decrease from 18 per cent in March
to 9 per cent in August. 81
Despite general prosperity Their
are bad spots, and these bad spot
economically are roughly the same
as Hoover's bad spots POLITICALLY
The doubtful western areas are TIN
wheat States OF the Northwest. Th1
doubtful eastern States are typilek
by Massachusetts, with its prolonge
and serious textile depression.
1t is precisely in such Estates
economic stress that subsidia
questions such as prohibition
religion may be the determinI
election factor in usually safe
publican States which this year
doubtful.
TINE reason the campaign
Il portance of prohibition
the religious question is not Nat X
wide but limited to a few Stat IN
obvious. Mabel Walker Willebra
assistant attorney general, is n M
ing much noise and bad feelin
her appeal in Ohio and midland "a *
Protestants to vote Republican,
those States would 60 for lid
anyway.
Conversely in most of the sd l
ern States in which the Khan F
churchmen are raising the ID
or sect issue against Smith,
all they can accomplish Is tol n /.
some Democrats from the
without increasing the Hoover Z.
Exceptions are North Ca
Tennessee and Oklahoma.
Hoover may conceivably be a. VA.
to victory by these tactics
he has disavowed. Today
probably still holds these sl
Democratic States.
In the four principal dol
States Smith probably will be lIts|
much more than harmed byF ~
the prohibition question, whi1
has made, and by the religious
ton, raised by his enemies. St, 4.
States are: New York, As ele :. +,
votes; Massachusetts,. 10; Mi, ~
10, and Wisconsin, 10. N}
Aside from eastern industrial fg'
ditions and western wheat s<<f, :
where are the major deternl a
factors, and the subsidiary (!
Of liquor and religion. which Il
in a few doubtful States,
election might be thrown eithH
Hoover or Smith by the perk
decisions Of two progressive Il
lican Senators, Norris of Nebl NJ
and La Toilette of Wisconsin. pst K.
If Norris and La Toilette &. "a
nounce themselves for Smith /
n1rnncf nnrfn IL, LIZ mill Al,.rr.. W. ~ "