Evening star., 1928-10-27
SILENT VOTE CITED
AS HOOVER'S HOPE
IN VIRGINIA VALLEY

(Continued From First Page)
dict that Hoover will carry both the
| city of Winchester and Frederick
! County unless there should be some
marked and unexpected change by elec-
ton day.
To a detached observer it seems
| hardly possible that Republican nomi-
nee can carry Democratic section such
as this, but one is left with the impress
sion that anything may happen on
election day. Undoubtedly many Demo-
cratic men who were strongly against
Smith soon after the Houston conven-
ton have been won reluctantly back to
the regular Democratic ranks. But it
| is different with the women. They c"e
not coming back so readily, and many
| of them are either openly eSpouSing
Hoovers cause or fatty refusing to say
| how they will vote.
The Star correspondent interviewed
representatives of all three organiza-
| tions-the Smith Democrats, Anti
Smith Democrats and the Republicans.
The information here given comes from
men and women in positions which
should enable them to know as much, if
not more, than anybody else about con-
| ditions. They have gathered all the in
| formation they can, but all frankly de-
clare that this campaign has got them
guessing"
T. Russell Gather is chairman of the
| Democratic campaign committee of
Frederick County and the city of VIM
chester. John w. Rosenberger is chair
man of the Anti-Smith campaign COM
mittee. The Republican committee for
the county is headed by Russell Potts,
with H. B. McCormac as vice chairman.
Hardest Fight in 50 Years.
I'VE are having the hardest election
fight this section has known in so
years." said Mr. Gather, land we expect
close result in the presidential bal
loting. I look for a Smith majority
| in Winchester of 100 and a Smith ma
jority in the county of at least 500
am quite aware that the other side
does not agree at all with these figures
Normally the city and county COM
bined give a majority to Democratic
presidential nominees of about 1000,
but not half the total vote is usually
polled, because there is usually no real
contest
This year, however, 1t is evident that
the total vote will be away above any,
thing in the history of this section.
There is in reality only one issue here,
although others are mentioned. That
issue is Gov. Smiths religion"
The pro-Smith Democratic leaders
admit the possibility that Hoover may
carry Frederick County, but they do lot
think he will. One Of them informed
this representative Of The Star that
more than rs per cent of the Prot
estant ministers of Winchester are
working openly for Hoover's election,
and that the same condition, or some
! thing very similar to 1t, obtains through
out the county. The significance of
section but the whole Valley of Virginia
| is overwhelmingly Protestant Just
| how much influence the anti-Smith
preachers will have on the result 1t is
| impossible to say. That they will have
| some, perhaps great deal, no one
denies.
Smith Sentiment Gains.
Conditions seem to have improved
| somewhat for the pro-Smith Democrats
lately, although the anti-Smith leaders
also claim to have increased their
strength A month ago the anti-Smith
leaders among the Democrats and Re-
publicans predicted they would carry the
county and city of Winchester for
Hoover by 1,500, and the regular Demo-
Gratis do not deny that they may have
been right then. The regular Demo-
Gratis think-or at least they hope with
all the power that is in them-that the
situation has materially changed since
that time.
Up to the very last minute before
election the pro-Smith Democrats in
tend to carry on their work upon indi-
vidual voters. The other side seems de-
termined to follow their example in
!
contend that liquor and not religion Is
the chief issue, others disagree with
them. Copies of the Fellowship Forum,
the Menace and other anti-Catholic and
anti-Smith literature, attacking the
Democratic nominee on account of his
religion, his liberal views of the liquor
question and other issues, have been
circulated in enormous quantities here
and throughout this and other nearby
counties A veritable flood of it has
found its way into Winchester.
One of those who look upon the liquor
issue as paramount is Mr.. Rosenberger,
who speaks for the anti-Smith Demo-
Gratis. Il regard this as a great set
ting period" said Mr.. Rosenberger to
The Star correspondent. THE time
has come to end all this fuss over pro-
hibition. It is time for us to show that
this section and this State stands fore
square for prohibition, and stop the
arg1lmcnt.
Il am not a politician. I am only
standing where have always stood
in favor of prohibition. I have always
voted the straight Democratic ticket,
but this year prefer to vote for a man
who represents my principles-my view
of life-rather than man who stands
for all or most of the things I have
always opposed, even though that man
be a Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent"
Work for Harrison.
Mr. Rosenberger hopes that Repre-
sentative Thomas W. Harrison, Demo-
cratic member of the National House
from the seventh congressional district,
Of which this county Is a part, will
pull through" 1t is against Smith as
the presidential nominee that he and
his associates are fighting, not the
Democratic candidates.
But" said Mr.. Rosenberger, II be-
lieve Representative Harrison is suffer
, ing some from the general detection ]
look upon the result for President in
this county and city as problematical
; The great silent vote will decide. Many
Democrats who intend to vote fol
Smith and many who will vote fol
Hoover do not want anybody to know
how they vote. end under the secret
he Hot cvcta am fhAp ,aof t,aya 10 ali