Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16
. Official sentiment in the
- Nation has now crystallized
= sufficiently to show the cam
4 81. pairn managers of both

sufficiently to show the cam
1 paign managers OF both
major parties what issues
must be met and to indicate where
the presidential contest probably will
be decided. This is apparent from
the latest dispatches to The Star
from its special political writer's in
every State in the Union.
st's From now until election day the
i Hoover and Smith managers and the
candidates themselves plan to con-
centrate their efforts upon those
States which both sides admit, either
= publicly or privately, to be debatable
ground, and upon the two or three
principal issues that appear to be,
swaying a majority Of the prospec-
tive voters.
8 The fighting or debatable ground
where the battle will be won-and
lost includes three, and possibly
four, States in New England the
entire Central East, with the excep-
ton of Pennsylvania; the northern
tier of States in the Ohio Valley;
several transmississippi States of
the Midwest; two or three. Rocky
Mountain States. and the border
y States lying between the North and
the "So1id" South. - =
IN all this region the two prin-
cipal issues aYe< prohibition and re-.
ligion, with farm aid running close
third In the Midwest and in part of
-. the Ohio Valley. All other issues
seem to. have been subordinated.>
~ 49,
Although neither party Is conced-
ing anything, the Democrats appear
to have decided that their prospects
are not rosy on the Pacific Coast, in
certain normally Republican inter-
mountain and Midwestern States
and In at least. two New England
States. CONSEQUENTLY they are spend
ing less money and time on these
groups than In the Fighting" terri
tory where they hope to pile up
enough electoral votes to put Gov.
Smith in the White House..
Likewise the Republicans are CEN
tering their attention upon the
pivotal States. Still, they have not
given up hope Of breaking the solid"
South, as indicated by Hoover'S de-
cision to speak in Tennessee near
the North Carolina border. Thus
far the Republicans do not seem to
be worried over the Democratic claim
that Pennsylvania and several other
heretofore rock-ribbed Republican
States are doubtful.
The battle in the debatable terri
tory Is growing flercer- Smith Will
start today on q speaking tour which
will take him at least as far as the
eastern edge Of the Rockies. Hoover
will deliver the first of a limited
series Of speeches Monday at
Newark, N. DR. The contest seems
to be rapidly approaching a climax.
Scarcely more than seven weeks OF
the campaign remain.
4***,*
In New England 1t is sharpest In
Massachusetts,, Connecticut and
Rhode Island. Some observers also
report New Hampshire as doubtful,
with the Republicans still slightly In
the lead. Maine and Vermont are
conceded to Hoover. The record
breaking Republican victory in the
State and congressional elections in
Maine last Monday has given great
encouragement to the Republicans
everywhere, but especially in the
other New England States. Demo-
cratic managers insist that the
Maine vote is robbed Of its signifi-
canoe by the failure of the Demo-
Gratis to conduct their campaign
there along national lines. In reply
the Republicans point to the fact
that their side did stress national
issues and they hail the victory as
q forecast Of Hoover's election.
Smiths undoubted appeal to many
industrial workers, to the wet ele-
ri1ent and to his co-religionists is
cited as the reason for the present
uncertainty regarding Massachu-
sets, Connecticut and Rhode Is
land. The Democrats In these States
continue to be. confident. The Re
publicans there admit they have
fight on their hands, but refuse to
concede the possibility of defeat. 4
X X X X
New York Democrats apparently
are taking 1t for granted that Smith
can carry his home State, although
they are preparing for the bitter
night which Is opening there. The