Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26
BAY STATE IS REAL
CAMPAIGN ARENA
Industrial Depression Is Apt
to Prove Blow to Repub-
IiCan Chances.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


BOSTON Mass, August 25.--Putting
the old Bay State in the doubtful coi-
umn In a presidential election seems
little short Of political heresy, Certainl5
it is Republican political heresy. Mas
sachusetts has cast its electoral vote for
the Republican candidate for President
since the days of Lincoln, except in 1912
when its vote went to Woodrow Will
son. Even then Taft and Roosevelt
combined polled about i14,000 more
votes than did Wilson
But there are conditions existing in
this present presidential campaign that
make Massachusetts a real battle
ground Briefly summed up they are:
Strong wet sentiment. heavy Cath
ole population, and depression in the
mill towns and cities. There are other
contributing factors. but these are out
standing Not all of the vets arc going
10 vote for Gov. Smith, the Democratic
nominee, nor all the Catholics. but a
very large number of both groups Will
support the Democratic national ticket
Many members of these groups are
Democrats already But Gov. Smith viii
draw Republicans from both the groups
That is the information which | have
received from Democrats and Repub-
licans alike here Gov. Smith has made
the issue clearly between himself and
the Republican nominee on the wet AMI
dry issue. He may. on the other hand,
lose some dry and Protestant Demo-
cratic votes. One thing is quite clear If
he Is to carry MassachuscttS~he must
do 50 with the aid Of Republican votes
For there are more Republicans than
Democrats in the State.
Depression Is Factor.
The industrial depression factor Is If
great importance, Hard times bring
political revolts Whatever may be said
Of the country at large, there are COM
munltleS II Massachusetts which are
not enjoying prosperity To talk TO the
textile mill operatives about prosperity
during the present campaign would be
Ike waving a red flag before bull.
Conditions IN these Massachusetts, mill
towns have not improved. except in
isolated cases. during the last four years.
As matter Of fact, IN many cases they
have grown worse
Take the case Of New Bedford. one
Of the large mill cities which has
usually gone republican, An effort was
made 10 bring about 10 per cent re-
dnction in wages In the mills there
several months ago. The operatives
promptly went on strike. They re-
NAMED on strike for months An effort
has been made 10 reopen the mills but
many Of the strikers have made no
move 10 g0 back 10 work
Fall River Lawrence, Lowell are other
cities in which the depression In the
textile Industry In New England has
hit hard Even If mill owners are in
clined to stay with the Republican
party, the operatives are more festiye,
seeking a change anything TO better
conditions Wages have been reduced,
mills have operated on half time and
others have shut down completely The
ground seems right for an upheavaL
l. may come and II may not A Demo-
cratic platform and Democratic lead
er9 urging tariff reductions would not
appeal To these textile workers Their
dlificuliy today Is that IN spite Of the
protective tariff wall the importationa
from abroad ana The competition OF
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