Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30

times extremely personal in
~ their nature-fiung back and
forth between some Of the
leaders of both major parties during
the last few days apparently indi-
cate that prohibition and religion
are still the most important issues
with the voters nearly everywhere
in this presidential contest, accord
ing to the latest dispatches re-
ceived by The Star from its staff
correspondents and special political
writer's in every State in the Union.
Meanwhile, however, the national
Democratic leaders are making a
supreme effort to win the so-called
independent vote, principally In the
Midwest, by thrusting forward
farm relief. water power and other
issues which seem to have a special
appeal to that element.
Frankly admitting the difficulty
of winning the Presidency in the
face of the big Republican majori-
ties of the last two presidential cam
paigns, the Democratic leaders are
reported to have come to a conclu-
sion that their main chance of VIC
tory lies in capturing the vote which
went to La Toilette in 1924 in the
Midwest, and also capturing the
wet States of the East They are
hopeful that they can do this.
+ X
Republican managers, cognizant
OF this strategy of their opponents,
are countering by appeals in many
States to the prohibition element;
by pointing to Hoover's promise to
tackle the farm problem and do his
best to solve it, if elected. and by
insisting that the country has been
made prosperous by Republican
policies.
While Smith has been talking d.
rectly to the people in the
West, Hoover has been holding con-
ferences at his Washington head
quarters and preparing his remain
ing campaign speeches.
Betting odds and straw votes con-
tinue to favor the Republicans in
the country as whole, but con-
sentative observers report that Smith
has the advantage in several of the
largest OF the debatable States and
several smaller ones, as we'll as in
the solid" South
From Massachusetts, comes the
report that many observers believe
Smith has as good, If not a better,
chance to carry that State than his
own State of New York. The Re-
publicans of the Bay State are gen.
timely alarmed and are making
every effort to hold their State in
its usual place in the Republican
column. Rhode Island is also re-
ported to be leaning strongly to-
ward Smith.
New Hampshire and Connecticut
are placed in the doubtful column
with slight Republican leanings.
With the State conventions of both
parties out Of the way in the for
mer. the campaign is warming up
there. In the Nutmeg State there
will be political barometer Monday
when small town elections on local
issues will be held. The results will
be eagerly scanned for indications
as to the presidential trend. The
other two New England States.
Maine and Vermont, continue to be
counted strongly Republican.
Presidential politics in New York
is temporarily eclipsed by the local
questions involved in the Repub-
lican and Democratic State conven-
tions. When both of these are over
and when Smith returns to Albany
from his Western tour the national
campaign in the Empire State will
doubtless begin to sizzle. Local
talent has been drawn on lately by
both parties in New Jersey, where
Republicans are reported to have
split over their own candidate for
governor. Morgan F. Larson. How
much that will injure Hoover'S
chances there is problematical.
Women have registered in I'M
precedented numbers in PennSylva-
MIA, both in the wet cities and dry
rural communities. While some
danger spots" are reported in this
State by Republican scouts, it is
counted by most independent OBJ
servers as surely Republican. There
is curious state of apathy in Della
ware, which Is regarded as doubtful.
In Ohio. where Mrs. Mabel Walker
Willebrandt. Assistant Attorney
General, has been causing excite
ment by her speeches before re-
ligious organizations, numerous straw
votes Of varying degrees of credi-
bility all show Hoover in the lead.
Prohibition, religion and agriculture
have become so inextricably inter-
woven in Indiana that some veteran
observers, who have hitherto re-
ported the State as leaning toward
the Republicans. now admit COM
plete justification.
Illinois is becoming hard
fought for battle-ground. The
Democrats are launching a big drive
in Cook County in an effort to over
come the lead Hoover is expected to
get downstate. Smith himself will
co there To helm nv q snancL In, cHi.i